Ask any home-based business owner what they could use more of, and you’ll probably keep getting the same answer. The truth is, we are always going to have obligations, deadlines, and responsibilities, but if you learn how to handle your hot minutes, you can work with the clock instead of against it. Here are no-fail tips to help you make the most of your time and achieve a healthier and happier work-life balance.
1. Prioritize sleep so you can function when you’re awake. Schedule sleep like any other daily activity on your to-do list. Pencil in a stopping point in your day and stick to it without fail. Then wind down with a book or another relaxing bedtime ritual to help you drift off to sleep.
2. Establish what the “workday” means to you. It’s common for clients to call or e-mail you after hours, but it is up to you to decide whether or not you’re available after hours. Make sure you respectfully address your “workday” limits to your clients upfront, so everyone is clear on the boundaries.
3. Don’t stay on your e-mail all day. Constantly checking your inbox is distracting and slows you down. Designate a few times in your workday to check e-mail so that you remain in control of your schedule and aren’t being reactive to new messages as they appear.
4. Choose human connection over technology. Though technology has improved our lives, it comes with its own set of problems. E-mails and texts are convenient, but they create room for confusion and miscommunication. Whenever possible, talk in person in order to get your message across clearly.
5. Learn to say no and mean it. It’s okay to turn down invitations, cancel plans, or disconnect from the outside world every now and then. Saying no is a skill that will benefit you throughout life, so allow yourself to politely start bowing out of unnecessary commitments right now.
6. Set achievable goals each day. Even the most thoughtfully constructed to-do list will be useless if it is too ambitious. Make your daily goals small enough that you can actually get them done. Remember that you can always do more if you have the time.
7. Give multitasking the ax. People work best when they give focused attention to the task at hand. So aim to work on only one project at a time and give yourself permission to forget about other priorities until you are done.
8. Listen up! Active listening consists of being present and engaged when communicating with another person. Be sure to turn off that pesky inner monologue and focus when it is the other person’s turn to speak.
9. Don’t be a sheep. Stop following the herd and innovate in the name of productivity. If you can envision a way to work smarter and better, you may just create new best practices in your home office that will save time and increase quality.
10. Stop shuffling papers. Touch each sheet of paper just once and figure out the appropriate action. Either put it in a to-do pile so you can deal with it immediately, a file (for documents you must keep), or the trash.
11. Step away from the Internet. An innocent little break often turns into an hour (or more) of wasted time that you can’t get back—especially when you should be working or headed to bed. Shut off access to the Internet at a certain time each day to avoid getting lost in cyberspace.
12. Have some fun along the way. Relax and schedule “recharge time” into your life to avoid burnout. Be sure to build in time for fun on the weekends and on some evenings but try to make work fun, too.
13. Practice breathing and mindfulness. Imagine how productive you could be if you could focus, calm all anxious thoughts, and truly be present. You can find out by practicing mindfulness. Methods include tai chi, meditation, yoga, or simple breathing exercises. Find one that resonates for you and practice it daily.
14. Stop owning other people’s stuff. How often do you hear yourself saying, “Never mind, I’ll do it myself?” Hold others accountable for their responsibilities. This includes your children, your spouse, and your colleagues.
15. Let go and delegate. Learn to know when to let someone else handle a task. It can be hard to relinquish control, but it is also necessary to delegate to your employees. Remember that delegating is not admitting you can’t handle your responsibilities—not at all. Rather, it’s about maximizing the potential of your entire business.
You can either let your priorities and obligations run your life, or you can take charge of your minutes and let them work for you to achieve your goals in a timely manner. While you won’t ever succeed long-term by racing the clock, you can drop your bad habits, improve ineffective practices, and kick stress to the curb so that your whole life improves.
