Multi-tasking is one of those essential skills that every mum needs, and if you’re a work at home mum or freelancer it’s even more vital that you can juggle several things at once so that you can get things done.
But, if you have a never-ending to-do list and struggle to find enough hours in the day to get it all completed, I have some hacks to maximise your productivity. Here are my top tips for being awesome and getting stuff done…
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Take yourself away from distractions
If the house is a mess and all you can think about is tidying up, it might be best to go and work in a coffee shop for a couple of hours. If you have to be at home, make sure you turn off the TV to avoid being distracted by daytime television.
Write lists
The world can be divided into 2 types of people, those who write lists and those who don’t. As a lover of lists, I can guarantee that you’ll get more done if you write down your tasks and tick them off as you go. If you’re a bit of a stationery geek you can also use it as an excuse to buy pretty pens and notebooks!
Prioritise
When writing your lovely lists make sure you put the most important things at the top. The worst thing you can do when you’re working for yourself is missing important deadlines that your clients are waiting for. Prioritising your to-do list will help you with your time management and hopefully avoid task switching.
Try Single-Tasking
If you have a lot on your plate, maybe you need to stop trying to multi task for a bit? Pick the thing you need to get done first and focus solely on that. Turn off your phone, close down any other browser windows and concentrate on the job in hand.
Don’t promise too much
It’s hard not to see the pound signs when you are offered extra work but try to be realistic. If you can only fit 4 or 5 hours work around the school run, don’t take on any more. You’ll only end up stressed out at midnight when you’re tired and still trying to get everything finished.
Take regular breaks
The benefit of working for yourself is that you can take breaks whenever you want (that and being able to work in your PJs!). Neckache, backache and headaches are common when using computers for long periods of time, so take advantage of the fact you don’t have a boss breathing down your neck and make sure you get up, have a stretch and make a cup of coffee every so often.
Pat yourself on the back
If you manage to cross lots of tasks of your list, or finish a big project before the deadline then give yourself credit for being awesome…and maybe have a nice slice of cake as a reward!
I hope that some of these tips will help you to focus, priorities and be better at managing your workload. If you have any other good tips feel free to leave them in the comments section below.
aspiringyummymummy
Love organisation tips! I’m a list lover too and totally agree that writing a list can be super productive, a little scary at first to see everything you’ve got to do but amazing when you tick things off! x