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Tactics for Getting Things Done

Without a lengthy daily commute, home-based entrepreneurs have the advantage that they can add several extra work hours into their day.

However, for the most efficient use of your time you need to use some time management tactics in order to get as much done as possible in your online business.

(1) Goals

You also need to set goals so you know what direction you are going...The neat little acronym in the infographic above will help you set goals for your business and yur time...

Please click on it to see it enlarged, and feel free to copy it and paste it next to your laptop to refer to it whenever you need it!

(2) Steps to achieving your end dream

You need to determine what exact steps may be required to achive the goals you have set for yourself.

This makes it easier to determine what has to be done and when. Also you will analyze to see how you will get the tasks done...

(3) Allot time for the tasks...

The next step is to figure out how much time it is going to take you to get the various tasks done and also what resources you will need, to include time (time is a resource)...

This brings us right back to time management!

Owning an online business gives you the benefit freedom to choose your own working hours.

However, one of the challenges of working from home is to manage to incorporate your work schedule into a busy family life.

We need to learn how to use efficient time management methods in order to be able to spend more time with our family, friends, and people we love, while getting as much done in our online business.

Most of the home entrepreneurs are trying to balance the household chores and family responsibilities while building a successful online business.

With growing families, especially if you have young children, this is not always an easy task. Having an working schedule is essential but with little kids things may not always go as planned.

We all have many things on our “to do” list and it’s not always easy to make the transition from corporate jobs to becoming online entrepreneurs.

In the corporate world we used to be paid for our time, however in our home entrepreneur world we are paid for our productivity.

Our daily productivity determines now our income level and our overall success. That means we need to make a huge mind shift and change our perception.

We need to learn now how to better use our time if we want to achieve success sooner.

As a home business owner you need to not allow your business dominate your life and stay determined not to fall into the trap of thinking that the guarantee for success stays in long working hours.

Work-life balance depends only on your approach, now that you your for yourself and don’t have an imposed work schedule or a boss.

So let me offer some tactics to address productivity as you work from home...

Here are 5 suggested tactics for getting as much done in your online business as possible daily:

You can look at each of these and decide which are for you and which you may already have covered...

1. Establish a schedule

Planning your schedule really helps to outline time for errands, house chores, meals, quality time spent with your family, relaxing, and work.

Whether you are working on your online business sporadically, part time, or full time, ensure you set aside specific time to focus on work each day and week.

(1) Keep your work and your personal life into separate compartments, even if you work from home...

(2) Break down your work into priorities and tasks for each and every day...

(3) Try to identify three key things that you need to accomplish that day, in addition to other minor tasks that will come second...

Creating a tasks list is similar to creating an action plan.

(1) Preferably at the beginning of every week (I do this daily), make your list of priority tasks for the work week (day) ahead.

(2) Based on their importance in growing your business arrange your tasks in a logical order.

(3) If you do not set a time limit it is amazing how much time you may waste. You have to time yourself and set deadlines for each of your tasks…

(4) Break your work in small tasks and allow yourself around 20 to 30 minutes to complete each of these specific tasks.

(5) Use a timer in order to keep track of your work. This way you’ll spend more time on getting everything done and less time perfecting little details…

In planning your work at home schedule you also need to take in consideration your own rhythms. Some people work best in the evenings, others prefer to work in the morning.

Everyone has a specific time of the day when they can be more focused and productive. In scheduling your work that requires your highest concentration you need to take advantage of your best time for work.

2. Create a designated area for work and play

This is also an important aspect that should not go overlooked. Arrange your home office in a place that you’ll only use for work, whether it is just a desk or a separate room.

Find a space in your home where it might be appropriate to create your working place. This way you’ll get less distracted and will be able to keep things better organized. Make sure you will have no distractions...

3. Use productivity apps

Your iPhone can be a very useful tool for your home business. You can keep all your tasks, activities, appointments, and deadlines into your calendar of your smart phone.

Even as the owner of an online business you’ll not spend all your time at home. There are situations when you need to keep track of your business on the go.

Here are a few mobile apps for iPhone that you might found very useful in running your home business:

(1) Milebug: An application that helps you to track your parking, tools, and mileage.

(2) Cozi: This is a mobile app that manages ‘to-do’ lists, shopping lists, a shared family calendar, and family journal.

(3) Wunderlist: A list manager that can run on the iPad and other mobile devices, as well as on the web. The application allows you to connect with it from virtually anywhere.

(4) Time Log: This is the perfect application for those who needs to manage different clients and track their time.

(5) LockBox: This mobile app stores and protects your secret information such as bank accounts, credit card numbers, pin numbers, passwords, and private notes.

(6) A Personal Assistant: You can use your personal assistant app in order to access and manage in one place all your online accounts.

(7) Bump: This is a perfect tool when for conferences or networking events. The app allows you to quickly and conveniently exchange contact information on your phone

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(8) Drop Box: This is a storage application that allows you to share files on the go with business partners, coworkers, colleagues, family, or friends.

(9) Dragon Dictation: This app is specialized in converting your voice to text. You can write a text, send emails, or tweet by using your voice.

4. Identify and eliminate daily time wasters

Everyone has time wasters, whether is the cell phone, the TV, Facebook, or email. Identify the items that distract you and ensure to eliminate them.

Studies have shown that the home entrepreneurs tend to:

(1) Be constantly interrupted and distracted

(2) Lose track of time with games or social media

(3) Multitask

All of these are serious time wasters and need to be avoided when working from home. Some simple ways to fix this situation are:

(1) Avoid multitasking which has been shown to be inefficient. Focus just on one task at a time and turn off all distractions.

(2) Prioritize your goals and choose one or two things you plan to accomplish every day.

(3) Set a deadline and a start time and for each task.

(4) Use a timer in order to honestly keep you on track.

(5) Prioritize your tasks well and choose to start your working day with the most important money producing tasks.

5. Reward yourself

In order to avoid getting overworked you need to stop every once in a while and take few minutes break to relax. Also make a habit to step back and evaluate your accomplishments for the day.

You deserve a reward once in a while in order to rejuvenate and relax. It can be simply watching one of your favorite TV shows, dining out, reading a good book, buying a nice outfit, or getting a nice pedicure.

Working for yourself means you cannot expect corporate work benefits, promotions, and other job perks but rather you need to create your own rewards in order to keep you satisfied with your work.

Therefore, make it a habit to pamper yourself with little rewards once in a while.

OK That was not too bad...Next we will be covering another good set of tips and advice that can help you regarding the use of your mobile device....So much time these days is spent on these devices...

I want to help you make productive use of the phone and that time! ===>