Routine for working from home?

[thebecster]

Those of you who work from home - do you have a routine you follow that you can share with me? I need to get A LOT more work done in the day, and also need to get a bit of housework done, and would like to take a little bit of time for myself too (to go on MN, run errands etc.) but it seems like I don't have the balance right at all - I either work flat out for 10 hours & exhaust myself or I spend all day messing about on MN, or I turn into uber-housewife and start baking bread! And recently there are more days that are a 'wash out' than not, my self-discipline is slipping and I don't have a routine. My work is entirely driven by me - my deadlines are quite fluid and mostly driven by me as my business is only just starting. I just want to stay on top of work, stay on top of the housework to a reasonable degree, and feel that the time I've put DS in childcare has been well-spent. If I haven't done enough work during the day I get so cross with myself, because DS is in childcare during this time, so I really want to make it count for something. Do any of you feel that you have achieved a balance in your day, and if so do you use a kind of timetable and if so what is it? Please help if you have any advice or experience!

I too have only just started up working from home,but whereas some of you have been working outside the home ,I haven't. So not only do I have to get back into the swing of working again after 5-6 years I also have to try to get into a work routine.

It's very difficult and I get way -laid by other things.

I design and make jewellery ,and what I'm finding most difficult is finding time to fit it all in.I have to design and make the jewellery,it's high-end items so not a quick thing,then I also have to do the book-keeping ,buy materials and promote,promote ,promote the business and website.

This is as well as all the mundane housework etc.

My biggest worry is whats going to happen in 3 weeks when the school holidays start? My Ds stays 3 days a week at Nursery till 3.30 ,then my Dc are home and I then do abit more work in the evening.
School Holidays are a different kettle of fish tho

On my work from home days:

I rarely do any housework, might put a wash on, might not
I make sure I have one big visible deliverable so my boss sees some output at the end of the day. If I can do any work on this before I work from home that gives me more messing about time
I come here FAR too much, oops

No balance in my day really! Sorry, that's no help at all is it?

I'm a freelance writer and what works well for me is:

After taking kids to school do quick tidy up of breakfast stuff, put on load of laundry, walk dog.

Then sit down to work by about 9.45 (I have separate office in attic.)

Break for lunch about 1, when I hang up wet laundry.

Try to be back at desk by 1.30 ... but this is where the schedule sometimes slips and I get distracted .. and work until time to pick up kids from school (usually 3.30, sometimes later).

Do any other household chores, working in garden etc while kids are at home, including food shopping (they come too).

If I have a really tight deadline, I start work as soon as kids are at school and leave all housework until they get back -- including tidying up breakfast!

I almost never work after dc are in bed as am usually too knackered myself. And rarely work in school holidays as don't have childcare.Have tried and ended up over-relying on TV to keep them occupied while I made phone calls etc.

If I have other stuff to do e.g. go to hairdresser I usually plan that for the afternoon-- it is easier knowing I have done 3 solid billable work hours in morning.

And I occasionally take days off to do nice things.

I think the trick is to use the time when dc are around to do non-work jobs so you can concentrate fully when they are out of the way.

Agree with lots of the excellent suggestions here. Break tasks down into little tasks. Create artificial deadlines. I find it easier when I work for client who like lots of contact as I e-mail them each morning with a list of things I plan to do that day and then have to do them!

I try and get all the essential house stuff done the night before/before I take DD's to nursery - ie dishwasher on, washing machine on, clean wash drying, work surfaces clear, beds made.

I also try to give myself breaks to look forward to and to make me have structure. I'll shoot down to our nearest mini-mart at lunchtime with a list of things we need, then post a letter and buy a newspaper. Even the small act of getting out of the house makes me feel more cheerful!

I also try and plan things for the evening - like a yoga class or even just a film to watch.

I think the hardest days are when I don't have anything planned and any deadlines, the day seems to last for ever and I feel rubbish for not having got out of the house.

And trying to limit MN works well! Even if you only log on for five minutes on the hour!

I think it helps to know how your brain and focus works too - for me I'm really on it first thing so when hubby and DS walk out the door at 8am I sit straight down at my laptop and start work - no excuses. I then power through loads of work until about 11, and run out of steam.
I take a 20min ish break during which I tidy the breakfast stuff away while the coffee is brewing and make a snack, then I'm straight back into work until about 2pm.
Lunch break - and then go to post office if needed for work, (pick up milk and bread on the way) and then it's time to pick DS up from school.
I do house work when we get home together, but having said that I've also saved my sanity by a. Getting a cleaner and b. Taking all our washing once a week for a service wash at the launderette. Before I could waste my work time on housework and laundry and then get stressed about deadlines and end up working through the night. So it's money well spent for me.

If I'm really busy I sometimes do a couple more hours after DS is in bed but that's rare as I appreciate my time to chill out, talk to DH, cook a nice meal and faff around on the internet!

If I was working in an office I couldn't Facebook or mumsnet so I try to take the same approach at home.

As others have said, I also allow this schedule to slip (as that's the benefit of home working after all) e.g to get my hair done during the week when town is quiet, go for a run, grab a coffee with my neighbour, or just take a morning off to go shopping.