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If you’re working from home, you’ll want to create a regular work schedule. Here’s why it’s important to create that schedule.
You’ll hear one of the best things about working from home is being able to work when you want. One thing I love about being a work at home mom is that I can set my own schedule. I saw when I want to work and when I don’t.
That doesn’t mean I want to work all the time. That’s not healthy, and I’ve learned over the years about setting a work-life balance. One of the things that I did was create a regular work schedule, and it’s something that I still have going right now.
How to create a working schedule when working from home
If you’re working remote for an employer, you’ll likely already have a set schedule. Your boss will set your hours, and you’ll be able to work with them. Stick to that schedule. Once your hours are done, you can turn your work emails and Slack notifications off. It’s time to stick to the life part of your work-life balance.
When you don’t have a boss, you’ll need to look at ways to create a work schedule. My schedule is mostly the same as when most other people will work. I found the 9-3 or 9-4 schedule works for me. I get all my work done during the day and I work with the kids schedule when they get home from school.
Wednesday and Thursday evenings, I work a little later. These are the days I don’t have my children in the evenings, so I can work later and not feel guilty. It aids with finishing work before the kids get home from school on the days that I do have them.
I still try to keep my weekends free. I don’t want to work on them if I can avoid it, although things may change soon as I try to run two businesses at once.
Why a regular schedule is necessary
Having the regular work schedule when working from home is important for a lot of reasons. The main one is the work-life balance. This is essential to keep your business going and to still enjoy working from home. Plus, you have a good balance with children.
The other reason it’s important is for your own mindset. You need to know when you’re working and when you’re not. If you know your work day is between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., you’ll know when you can arrange coffee dates with friends, when you can do work meetings, and when you can enjoy time for yourself. A routine is good for a lot of people to help stabilize their lives. Later in the evening, I take sleeping pills to get a comfortable night’s sleep and relax my body. You can check over here to learn more about good sleeping habits. This is my way of recharging myself from my whole-day work schedule.
Then there’s the benefit for your clients, your co-workers, and others who need to know about your work schedule. If you don’t work during normal working hours, it can throw off a few projects. Your clients may try to get in touch when you’re busy and then question why you’re not working. If they know your regular schedule is set, you’ll be able to share that with them and let them know when you’ll get back to them.
If you do work with others, they may want to set up meetings. You’ll want to share what your hours are. This helps to keep whatever projects you all have going on track, and it means you’re not trying to explain why you’re not working at 10 a.m. when they do or why the weekends are when you are available.
MORE: Are five-minute breaks good for a WAHM?
What do you struggle with when it comes to working from home? Do you have a regular work schedule? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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