What are your Work At Home Goals for 2007? Mine is “Make More Money!” Well, that is not really my a goal, but what I want to happen by accomplishing my goals.
Here is your first goal tip for 2007:
MAKE LISTS
I am awful at this. I start out making all kinds of lists, but then I don’t follow through. Make a daily list and check off when you have completed each item. Work on only ONE item at a time. It is so easy to do each item half-way and then move to something else. What does this accomplish? Nothing, except that you have more half-way done items to complete tomorrow, or the next day, or the next day……
Choose how you will keep your lists. Here are some ideas:
Daily Planner - IF you are willing to carry around a daily planner with you, then this is the way to go. I have a small planner in my purse. Each month is divided into days and then five columns, one for each member of my family.
Small Notebook - I also like to keep a small notebook in my purse. When I am in the car, or waiting for kids to get out of school I can jot down what comes to mind. It is best if these thoughts are then transferred to a more organized list.
White Board - A friend of mine suggested mounting a white board in my office and using that. Great idea, but I haven’t had the time to do it yet.
Front Door - This is my area of last resort! I am a very forgetful person, so if it is something that I MUST do on a particular day, a note gets stuck to the front door. I don’t miss it as I am going out the door.
If you have any other ideas for keeping lists organized, please comment!
08 January 2007, 10:01 pm
A great book for getting organized is Getting Things Done by David Allen.
15 January 2007, 10:35 am
[...] Cecile shares her Work At Home Musings about the the importance of making lists to keep organized as part of your work at home routine for 2007. [...]
15 January 2007, 7:36 pm
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey is a worthwhile investment. If you can attend a seminar, do it.
I was introduced to the 7 Habits when I was working full-time, going to school, and a single parent. It saved my sanity because it made me prioritize my goals in all areas of my life.
You’ll like it. Those to do items get forwarded for as many days as you like.
16 January 2007, 4:40 am
We’re kindred spirits! i do all of those things, too, and yet am still always behind,
One added tip. If I think of something really important while I’m driving, I hit auto-dial and leave a messgae to myself on my home phone.
Oops! Another one. If something needs to be taken care of early in the day I write it on two post-it notes. One goes on the coffee maker and the other on the bathroom mirror, two places I will be looking shortly after getting out of bed.
Nice post. Good luck with all that!
17 January 2007, 1:26 am
Great list and tips! Thanks for sharing. I surfed through the Postie Carnival.
17 January 2007, 2:00 am
My mom is a freak about making lists. However, she doesn’t ever forget anything as long as it is on her list.
I am not a list person, but as I am getting older, I am finding that I should also.
18 January 2007, 4:27 am
I carry a PDA around with me and make voice memos to myself if I think of something when I’m out and about or when I need to make a shopping list.
For everything else, I keep a pad of scrap paper (recycled junk mail — the back sides are often blank) on my desk and before I go to bed each night, I make a list of everything I need to do the next day. I try to prioritize the list and then work in order.
If something doesn’t get done, I don’t beat myself up about it. It just goes to the top of the next day’s list.
Good luck to you!
16 March 2007, 2:38 pm
Use your cell phone’s clock alarm to help remind you while you’re out:
2:00 been to the post office?
3:00 been to the bank?
4:00 been to the library?
Works for me.
28 July 2007, 2:36 pm
Very informative and helpful. Though my first goal for my home job is also to earn more :). I guess the main thing that anyone working at home needs is more organization, because there is no one monitoring you or telling you what to do. So every responsibility is on your own-self. Normally people consider that working at home is easy, but I say it is tougher than other jobs, but yes being at home equals that