My New Schedule Is Going to Take Some Getting Used To, But I Have to Start Now.

Kids just returned back to school: home-school that is, and boy is it taking its toll. It is back to planning and scurrying to fix lunches, prepare uniforms,correct school and homework, and then not to mention, there's those field trips and extra curricular activities to throw in there. Then I have to pay bills, run my business and finish the housework.

Well enough said. I have another long day ahead of me and I'm just taking it one day at a time. That's all we can do, isn't it? The next time you go down your list of things to do, and you start stressing, just think about the fact that there are only 24 hours in the day, and you can only do so much during that time. I mean you have to sleep, eat, exercise, shower, groom and then add all the other things to do; in one day.

Don't try to be superwoman, (man). Think about what you need to do and plan for it. Really, most of us put things on our lists of things to do that we really don't need to. Or some of us don't even have a list/goals. Big time waster and productivity stopper. If you are not checking off prioritized things to do, then you are not getting anywhere. You are not living. You are just alive.

For instance, think about the time that you waste throughout the day; checking email when you should be working on that important project. Watching your favorite TV show all day, when you should be studying for a test, completing a work-related task, or filling out forms that require a deadline. How about talking on the telephone or just browsing the Internet when you have other important tasks to do?

The following is a list of solutions that can help you overcome these time wasters:

• Checking Email- As a busy mother and business woman, I need to keep up with email. Simple solution. I carry my Motorola Cliq with me, in case I have priority messages. I can check my email several times per day without having to go to my computer. I can preview emails and even answer them from my phone. This way I can check email without the temptation of browsing the Internet and wasting time. Then I check my emails online once per day and delete the old messages. I then file the ones that I want to save into a folder called "Saved Emails". If I want to review an email later, I file it into a folder called "For Review". I also schedule time to review these items and decide whether to save or delete.
• Phone calls. Caller ID. I know this sounds selfish, but screening calls is a plus when you are pressed for time. Some people are not as time- concious as you are, or are trying to be. They will talk for hours if you let them. Now if you have customers or colleagues, then you want to pick up the phone for them, but still keep it short and precise, (to the point). If your best friend wants to call and have a gossip session, turn your voicemail on, and call her back later.
• Watching TV/Browsing the Internet. I run a home-based business, and it is real easy to become too comfortable at home. I homeschool my children and its the same thing. We have so many distractions and temptations that are grabbing for our attention. So what to do when you work/school from home? Turn the TV off. Put away your remotes and focus on your to-do lists. Work before play always bring prosperity.

Start now. Do these things to increase productivity. You have to start now and be persistent and consistent. Thanks for blogging with me. It's time for me to log off. Have to get some sleep.