Pat Anderson Today

As Moms we have a special challenge.  We are not only responsible for ourselves - we have committed our lives to our families, as well.

As Work-From-Home Moms we, again, have added special challenges.  All of our lives look different.

• Some of us have babies, toddlers and young children and therefore have to work around their needs and schedules.
• Some of us have chosen to homeschool our children and therefore we have a set of responsibilities that we need to consider in our schedule.
• Others have sent their children to school but along with that comes it’s own commitments, too - from being involved in school activities, volunteering and being available as needs arise.
• Other Moms have grandkids whose lives we want to be involved in.
• There are as many scenarios as there are individuals here.

There is great diversity among us but there is also a common bond that makes us all relate to one another.

So having established that none of us are sitting around with no responsibilities let’s look at how to enjoy the choices we have made.  Let’s discover how to incorporate time into our lives to pursue the avenues we have chosen in which we will make a difference in our lives and the greater world around us.

As Work-At-Home Moms it is can be difficult for us to separate work from home and family because our work happens in the midst of it all.  We do not have the advantage of leaving the home and heading into a separate place called “work”.  With working from home comes blessings and also a huge need to adapt.  So let me offer you some pointers that have worked for me.

1. Establish the importance of your business - in your own mind and then with your family.  If this business is important to you then you will have to impress that on yourself and on the people whom it will directly affect.
2. Think of your day in blocks of time. You need a block of time for family and their needs.  You need a block of time (or many blocks of time!) for household responsibilities.  You need a block of time to refresh yourself.  Etc.  Only you know what your needs and obligations are.  Arrange those responsibilities into blocks.  Then decide when in your day you can fit in that block of responsibility.
3. Determine where business belongs in your day. For instance, I have a block of time when I awake (before anyone else in the household) where I can work on business, undisturbed.  Then again, in the afternoon, I have a block of time that I return to work on business.
4. Be productive. When you are working in each block of time, focus on that chore alone.  Do not sit at your computer and wonder what to make for supper.  When sitting at your computer, focus on accomplishing your goals for work.  When working on household responsibilities focus on what needs to be done for your home.  When spending time with kids, be playful, have fun.  AND when spending time with dear husband - please focus on HIM!  (Can you tell that I have areas I am working on?!)
5. Be flexible but firm. Some mornings I cannot wake up early - Moms understand!  On those mornings I may have 10 minutes in my first block of time.  I will get busy and start in on my business, knowing I have another block of time, later in the day, to come back to it.  Some days a friend calls and asks me to go for coffee.  I determine if I need to spend time today with that friend.  If I know that my business has been suffering from lack of time or I need to be “at work” today I have the option of re-scheduling.  This is where I need to be firm - I cannot lose myself in my business, I must take time to do other things I love, but I must also decide in my own mind what I need to put into this business to make it flourish.  Then I need to stick to that decision.
6. Streamline your household responsibilities. Cooking will always need to be done.  Can you cook in batches and freeze some meals?  Are your children old enough to take on some of that responsibility?  Slow cookers are a life saver!  Cleaning - ugh!  Need I say more?  Same with laundry.  I have found that a little every day goes a long way.  A load of laundry a day; straightening the  house before I go to bed; etc.  In our home each child is responsible for a certain area of the home, eg. -oldest daughter does the cooking; next daughter is in charge of laundry and general cleaning chores; little girls straighten rooms and clean bathrooms, you get the picture.  Or you can always hire  a maid!!
7. Keep the main thing, the main thing. Never lose sight of your most important priorities.  Business can destroy relationships but you don’t have to let that happen.  Determine what commitments in your life are the crystal balls you are juggling and handle them with greatest interest and care.  Nothing matters more than the people you have committed to.  Keep your relationships healthy!

These are some of the ways I have found to gain control of my time and be more productive in all areas of my life.  If they help you in any way, please let me know.  If you have found ways that increase your productivity I’d love to hear about it.  Drop me a line, I’d be honored.

Here’s to fitting “it all” in to our day today…..

Create a Great Day!

Pat Anderson