One of the attractions of working at home is the vision of freedom it invokes: no time clock, no time sheets, and no one to account for how you spend your time. Yes, it is an attractive proposition, but like so many attractive propositions there is a heavy downside: you are likely wasting a lot of time.
In my years of work in the built environment realm, I spent much of my time preparing work schedules, monitoring them, and of course, adjusting them. It always felt like a chore, spending so much time tweaking and fiddling with spreadsheets and kanbans. Yet, I have to admit, it is only with them that I enjoy the overview of the numerous parties and teams on the projects; and the smooth assurance that whatever happens, we can preempt and ensure that tasks catch up, everything works in the right sequence, be it linearly or simultaneously proceeding.
I thought life would be different now that I am running my own business, and the movements and process of an individual would be much simpler – that the schedule is something I can do away with and just “go with the flow”.
“Always remember only the dead fish go with the flow.”
Vianna Stibal
The above reminder was for us to have a goal of what we want to achieve, and a plan to reach that. I would, and could, just as easily apply that with a plan / schedule for my day-to-day life as well. After studying my time and chatting with some other work-at-home folks, I discovered five reasons to embrace the schedule:
- It is too easy to waste time doing non-priority tasks.
- It is too easy to get sidetracked or distracted from your current task.
- Unscheduled work time can often overlap into your free time until you do not have any free time at all.
- Your free time can overlap into your work time until you fall behind with important projects.
- Concentrating your time and effort on highest priority projects means more gets done.
I am not the only work-at-home business person encompassing the schedule. I recently watched in an online seminar where men and women had moved to embrace it, and found it more freeing than restrictive. After all, you are still the one setting the schedule so you are free to schedule yourself off for a 3-hour lunch, an afternoon, or a whole day whenever you choose.
If you find it difficult setting up your schedule and priorities for the day and week, then perhaps your significant other or a friend can help you set your schedule.
Thank you Pexels for the background image https://pixabay.com/photos/home-office-computer-desk-display-1867761/