Getting what needs to be done, done! How do you do it?

[Dugsmom]

One of my biggest problems with working at home (I have done it before with a VA business which kept my semi busy, and I had a small Personal training business for a very short time....about a month before I started working at a gym) is doing everything that I want to do for my business. I am going to give this another try but I need to figure out a way to get my marketing/ad, research, etc. done before the hubby gets home.
My problem is my husband considers my little home businesses as hobbies. It really brings me down. He feels the same way about the job that I work outside of the house. So, when I'm at home, I have to focus on the house and that slows me down when it comes to work. How do you all get your housework, shopping, etc. down and still have time for your business? Any tips, ideas?

[ProMomof3]

I have a calendar on my wall that I block with time and what I'm going to do in that time. So say from 9am - 10am - Phone Calls. 10am - 11am - Filling etc. I will block times for house work too. If it's something small like laundry, I'll throw it in at the top of the hour and then at the top of the next hour, move it over. You could also set specific days to do things around the houses. Laundry on Monday, dusting on Tuesday, etc.

[maurice.cowell]

Have you told your husband about how you feel about it? Why don't you schedule your house chores, like shopping should only be done on the weekends. Set a schedule of how many hours you work in a day. If you know how to manage your time, I'm sure you can slowly adjust and be successful in your home business.

[ndswam]

Originally Posted by ProMomof3

I have a calendar on my wall that I block with time and what I'm going to do in that time. So say from 9am - 10am - Phone Calls. 10am - 11am - Filling etc. I will block times for house work too. If it's something small like laundry, I'll throw it in at the top of the hour and then at the top of the next hour, move it over. You could also set specific days to do things around the houses. Laundry on Monday, dusting on Tuesday, etc.

I work very similar. I found it to work well and almost necessary to have blocks of time (and days) set for certain tasks. The one thing I'm bad about doing is never "leaving work". I have to work on shutting things down for the day. If you did the same type of work outside of the home (whatever that work is) you would leave at the end of the business day with the work waiting for you until the next day.

That being said, the benefit of working from home is to I balance home life, the kids, husband, etc so if there's stuff to do during the day I might work some in the morning, shut it down and then go back in after dinner.

Time management and communication with your family is key to your success.

[lovemygirlies]

Trying to manage it all....my business, the kids, the pets, the house...is difficult. I think that's something everyone deals with. I'm lucky that my husband is and always has been fully supportive of my home business, but I am still responsible for making sure all my mom duties and such are taken care of. Some days it's exhausting. Others, not so bad. I have been doing this for quite a while now so I guess I'm just used to it!

Do what others said, try talking to your husband and explain how important this is to you. Also - having some form or organization helps. On top of that, the best advice I can give is make sure you are making time for your family and yourself...don't get burned out. If you can't enjoy your life and family in the process of working from home it defeats the purpose! Remember to enjoy the little things!

Good luck!

Christine

[msuggitt]

I feel sad that this is 2014, we live in America and your husband seems to not show much respect for you, your dreams and your contribution to your family.

Unfortunately, it seems like you will need to find help and encouragement from an outside source when he's not looking again I find it sad that any American woman has to hide in the closet to follow our dreams and work for success. But if that's what it takes, I say don't let anyone squash your dreams - find a way to get your stuff done while he's gone and let him see you cooking and cleaning so he will stay happy.

In this case it may be 'what he doesn't know.... wont hurt him" - and if that means building a large hidden bank acct from working online so be it!

[healthysolutions]

I think you should give yourself a timeframe each day to work your business. Even if its only an hour sometime in is better then nothing. I feel with any business at first you should treat it as a job until you get where you want to be. Wish you much success.

[Catherine L]

Time-frames are a great idea. In fact, probably the best put forth so far.

[Marci Miller]

I do my business things and neglect everything else! I know that sounds crazy, but I am on a mission and accepting NO excuses from myself and if other Life things have to wait(be paid late, missed, etc) for right now, so be it!
Also, I do neglect the housework etc. because personally my business is more important, but this summer had kind of an ah-ha moment happen. I realized my kids had to take part more and that they could be willing helpers given the chance.

What I implemented is having a chore chart for the kids as well as myself and separating the house into zones(like I learned on Hannah Help Me!) So for example, son has kitchen on Wed. Living room on Thursday etc. Then my daughter and I have each room on a day. Everyone gets one day a week "off". It has worked wonders...things are staying a lot nicer and my daughter is young elementary aged and you wouldn't believe after a few weeks how she was learning and in there just tidying up the stove etc!
I think we need to make our kids more responsible and ask hubby's for help too! After all growing a business income IS in actuality something we are doing FOR them and their future anyway, right?

You can do it!

[mwldream]

Thankfully my hubby was always supportive and now we work side by side from home

But I understand the issues with juggling everything. When I first started online I was at university, had a three year old (now 13) and a house to look after and tea to get on the table.

I would go to university an hour earlier so that I could use all my time productively and then work on an evening if I needed to.

Plus as an online business owner I outsource to save time and get as much work done as I can.