How do you structure your day so that you don't waste most of it?

[bramblina]

I've been a ft Mum since having eldest dc who is now 12, the smallest dc has just gone to school so I'm now free 8-4 every day.
I am self employed, work from home so I am used to doing VAT returns and my book keeping at midnight with one eye open.....it's been hard going for 12 years, my dh works away too so it's just me and the dcs fro 5/6 days per week.
Now I have so much time....I waste so much time. Well, you could look on it as investing in myself- I have time now to shower, to drink a hot cup of tea, to file a raggy nail- all sorts of stuff I have never done in a relaxed manner for 12 years!! But I thought i would achieve a lot more but I'm wasting it, I'm spending either too long doing nothing, or walking around in circles and not having any structure to my day. How do I do it???

[InDubiousBattle]

So do you work every day, during the day? How many hours? You need to start with your working hours and plan around them. Volunteering? Do you still do the bulk of the housework?

[thecatstrousers]

I get up early so that by the time we leave the house for school I'm ready (hair and make up), the dishwasher is emptied from the evening before, a wash is on and the house is tidy.

I can either go out for the day or work for the day at home or relax. Whatever I do though I start at 9am / as soon as youngest is dropped off. I'll stop again for lunch at 12 otherwise the afternoon becomes to short to get anything decent done.