Over the years I’ve put a lot of thought, sacrifice, and even money into figuring how to make working from home run smoothly. Just yesterday I was telling a friend, “How amazing is it that I get to do what I love [write] while also getting to spend a large portion of my day with my children?” Here are some details of how I practically manage with Simple Organization Tips for Working From Home.
Simple Organization Tips for Working From Home
I love working from home. I love being here for my kids.
I’m here when my kids wake up in the morning. I’m the first person they see when they come downstairs. I take them for walks. We homeschool and play board games. I fold their jeans and T-shirts from the dryer and set dinner before them every night. I tuck them in bed.
This doesn’t come without challenges. though. My kids at home now are ages 9, 10, 12, 15, 17, and 17. That’s a lot! A lot of noise and a lot of mess. It’s sometimes hard to concentrate. One of my organization tips for working from home has been, I’ve resorted to hiring outside help. Specifically,
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I hire a housekeeper to come once a week.
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I hire a “Manny” (My older son) to come many times a week, during the day to keep an eye on everyone while I work.
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I use assistants to be my extra hands and feet. They upload my blogs, manage my website, book guests for my radio show, etc.
None of this has happened overnight. I’ve sought out help in small ways, and I’ve built up over time. I’ve taken each step once my income has been able to sustain it. And the truth is knowing that I have others counting on me paying them has helped me be diligent about my work, too. I can’t play around on Facebook or computer games all day. I need money coming in to support those who make it possible for me to do what I do.
Simple Organization Tips for Working From Home
Another organization tip for working from home is, I depend on my handy-dandy calendars!
Digitally I use Google Calendar and Calendly to keep track of where I need to be when. I don’t schedule anything unless I consult with my calendars first. I set up blocks when I know help will be there. or when my wonderful husband will be available for the kids, and then I schedule my work into those slots.
Things don’t always go as planned, but at least I have a plan that propels me in the right direction!
Simple Organization Tips for Working From Home
But, it’s not just having a calendar that makes the difference. My 3rd organizational tip for working from home is to plan to fill your calendar wisely.
Here are a few important things about my calendar:
- Not every slot is full. There is time to homeschool, to cook, to clean, to play outside. There is also white space to nap, read, or paint.
- I schedule in time with friends- mostly virtually these days.
- I focus on a few important things. My life revolves around my kids, my writing, friends/church, and mentoring teen moms. That’s enough. I say no to a lot of things so I can say yes to the things that God has called me to. Those things are most important to me.
I also like to use a physical planner, as well, to help keep me on track of where I should be. I am currently using my friend Ruth Chou Simon’s Planner. It’s beautiful and functional:
There is one more key part to managing my schedule…
Whenever I start feeling anxious or worried, I go back to this verse.
Ecclesiastes 4:6, “Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.”
Yes, there are many additional ways I can give and serve, but one handful is enough, thank you very much.
How about you? Do you have a calendar that helps you keep track of your life and goals? Do you have any organization tips for working from home to add? I’d love to hear about it!
You might also enjoy Balancing Working From Home with Schooling From Home. Download the free printable for more work from home tips.
by Mark Batterson as I cleaned.
