15 Tips on How to Increase Productivity for Work-at-Home-Moms

Are you a WAHM?

Work at home moms like me have to do a lot of tasks in as little time as possible. Often when we are not careful, the precious time we have is wasted on things which are not important. We run around wanting to accomplish our day's goals and end up doing things totally irrelevant to our earlier intention. How do we increase our productivity and be happy about ourselves and our accomplishments at the end of the day? Here are some things I do to help me work fast and give me the sweet feeling of completion at the end of the day. I hope it will be of help to others.

Plan Ahead

1. Plan the evening before - I make a list of the things I want to accomplish the next day. I classify this list according to what is important and urgent, and what is important but not urgent and then allocate time for each item on the list. I find it easy to work right away the next day if I have this list. It gives me direction and purpose.

The Ugliest Frog First

2. Most difficult first - This one is something I learned from Brian Tracy's book Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time. In this unique system, Brian Tracy advises readers to identify the tasks you need to do first, and pick the most difficult one as your priority. In essence, eat that frog first; by doing so, you will make your day much easier. I found this advice very useful. Most people leave the ugliest and biggest frog for last. However, if we accomplish the hardest task first, it creates momentum and moves us faster to our goal.

This book is great help

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Focus

3. Focus - When I do house chores that does not require a lot of thinking I usually multi-task. I cook while ironing and doing the laundry, I listen to audio CDs while cleaning, I guide the kids with their homework while preparing meals.But there are things that need concentration and a lot more of brain work, like writing a lens or balancing checks. When doing these things, I am done in less time by devoting all of my attention to them. Multi task whenever possible but focus on a single task where it is needed.

Productive Period

4. Identify your most productive periods - I am very sensitive to noise, so in terms of work, my most productive time is 8pm to 1am, when everything is quiet. I schedule everything that needs mental activity during this time, and do menial tasks that do not require a lot of brain work during the day. My energy is usually low at 2pm until 4pm; that's when I slow down, relax and play with my kids.

Give Yourself a Head Start

5. Wake up early - doing so gives me a head start. By starting off my day ahead of my self-imposed schedule, I accomplish more and it sets the tone for the rest of the day. Also, waking up ahead of everybody else gives me a few minutes of meditation and a great time to enjoy the silence and the cool morning breeze.

Be organized, bundle similar tasks together

6. Be organized - It's easier and faster to get work done when files are systematic, tools are within reach and books and other resources are accessible. Ever tried looking for a document and not remembering where you put it? It happens to me all the time, so I put labels on everything

7. Bundle similar tasks together - I maximize my time by doing the same tasks together. When I go to the market, I think of all the things I need to do that is along the way so I can do it all at a go. Again, having a list gets things done faster here. I have a tiny notebook on the kitchen counter which the kids call "last drop". Anybody who uses the last of anything in the kitchen has to remind me to replenish by writing it in that notebook. That also goes for errands they need Mom to do for them.

Clear the clutter and live the good life!

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Box your time and take breaks

8. Box your time - I devote a fixed time slot for each task. I have to finish within the time allotted and not leave it for later. Knowing my time is already allocated for other things helps me focus and finish what is at hand.

9. Take breaks - I don't believe working non-stop like an automated machine is productive. I tried doing this once, and I was so fatigued my mind stopped working. I made a lot of mistakes, and the quality of my work was so poor. Rest is important; in fact experts say taking strategically planned breaks will increase your productivity.

Delegate!

10. Delegate - Don't stress out yourself by doing everything by yourself. In the past, if I wanted something done correctly, I do it myself. I had to unlearn that very unproductive habit. Teaching others how to do it the way I want it is easier and more productive than doing work that is not the best use of my time. At home, buying groceries is my eldest's chore. His passion is cooking and has also volunteered to prepare breakfast and dinner during the weekends. It took a month of meal planning tutorials and going to the supermarket with me, but the "training" period paid off, I have a very capable assistant at home!

Create a conducive environment

11. Create a conducive environment - having a personal space to work in is very important. The room I have at home is decorated with things that motivate me. My visual board, my goals book, pictures of loved ones, mementoes, my books collection and everything else that keeps me inspired is there. Their visibility reminds me of my purpose. I do more and better work here than anywhere else in the house.

Take advantage of time pockets, say no to distractions and get help from the experts

12. Take advantage of time pockets - Sitting in the dentist's waiting room, being caught up in traffic, queuing in long lines and waiting for dismissal when I fetch my son from school are opportunities I take advantage of to think of lens and blog topics, make a to-do list, scan a book or review for exams in school. Although these are short periods of time, the little things I squeeze in reduce work and increase my productivity.

13. Say no to distractions - My cell phone is eternally on silent mode unless there is an emergency at home; I just check it from time to time for important messages and calls to return. At home when I am working on a lens or a blog article, I refrain from opening my emails or social networking sites. The only show I watch on TV is the news, so this is not a problem to me. I inform family and friends about my work hours, so they know which times of the day I can chat and take calls.

14. Get help from the experts - Setting goals, being results-oriented and staying productive was a challenge when I tried to work on it on my own. Learning best practices from outside resources like reading personal advancement blogs, attending seminars and reading books has helped me a lot.

The experts

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Just do it!

15. Just do it - being productive lies in our desire and ability to stop procrastinating and just do what needs to be done. I have learned to stop making excuses. Even if I don't feel like working, I just go ahead and start; a few minutes into a task, the momentum is created and I am able to finish what I started and get on with the next one. At the end of the day, I feel good about myself and I am motivated to do more the next day. Just do it, everything else will follow.

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  • Aquavel Aug 29, 2011 @ 9:50 am | delete
    Great lens filled with useful advice! Thank you!
  • hysongdesigns Jun 5, 2011 @ 11:58 am | delete
    those are some great tips! Even now that I live alone I tend to get easily sidetracked, I still need a list!
  • Retro_Loco Jun 2, 2011 @ 8:26 pm | delete
    Great advice on time management and working from home. Thank you for sharing your tips!
  • ajgodinho May 28, 2011 @ 1:11 pm | delete
    Wonderful lens on being productive, especially in this fast-paced world that we live in where time is a precious commodity. I agree, it's important to set out a plan and break goals into smaller tasks and know when to multi-task as well when not to...well done!
  • LisaAuch May 28, 2011 @ 2:06 am | delete
    Great how you have broken things that can get in your way of productivity when working at home, and recognised your productive times, and it is important to have down time too! Great article.
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marckq

I am a work at home mom to 3 boys. I love to read and I am especially interested about personal development books. I believe learning is a life long j... more »

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