Getting Back In The Saddle
Posted on 03 September 2008 by Sharon
If you’re a work at home parent, as I am, then you’ve probably been making some trade-offs over the summer. It’s great to have our little darlings at home, but it’s also frustrating when we can’t work in the usual way. For me, the summer has meant paring down to essentials. I have kept working, but I have had to skimp a bit on promotional activities and new projects that have been in the works for a while.
A New Routine
Once school has started again, there’s a different kind of routine, bounded by the limits of the school day, rather than whatever time you can carve out from parenting. At first, the time seems almost limitless, but it can ebb away if you don’t have an action plan. Knowing what you want to do when is half the battle in getting anything achieved.
Getting Organized
I’ve been doing a couple of things to improve my short term organisation and to help me reach my medium and long term goals. One key change is the way I handle email. I’ve been using a GTD (getting things done approach) and I’ll tell you more about that when I see if it makes a permanent difference to productivity.
Project Plans
Another project that I’m currently working on is using the nearly 500 blog posts I have here in a different way. You’ll be hearing about one way to do that some time in the next couple of weeks. I also plan to use some of the content to create ebooks. (I know I’ve said that before, but this time I plan to finish one of my own rather than simply writing for clients.) I am going to chase up recent clients for more testimonials about my writing and I’m also going to overhaul my rates.
Working For Clients
And those are just the tasks I’m handling for myself. I also have a couple of blogging and promotion gigs for clients which will lead to big things. What are your plans now that you have a bit more time?
(Photo: Gekreutzigt)
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September 3rd, 2008 at 10:35 am
My youngest just started J/K yesterday so I’ll be looking forward to 2 blissful days a week from 8-4 of productivity one week and 3 days alternating weeks.
I’m planning to break my day up into organizational blocks of time and also spend 1 hour cleaning first thing each day so I can be more on top of household chores. Then, the rest of it working for now. Soon, I plan to start taking 1 1/2 day a week to myself to go out and shop/work off site or play but that won’t be until after Christmas.
I’m hoping to see not only an increase in daily productivity but an increase in the amount of free time I spend with family at night and on weekends. Looking forward to hearing about your productivity approach!
Dana’s last blog post..Book Review: The Secret World of Ghostwriters
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:54 am
A great post as usual, Sharon. Being a work at home parent with kids around is hard work. Like you I have many personal writing projects that I really want to get started on, but time seems to literally slip through my fingers.This is my first year with my three older children in school (I homeschooled for three years). I still have a two year old home with me, but it’s amazing what I can get done when I don’t have to play referee all day long!:)You’ve got me curious about your plans for your blog posts - I’m looking forward to hearing more about that. Also, I would love to hear any tips you have for raising your rates - such as when is the best time, how to implement it and get past client complaints. Your blog is a great information source - keep up the good work!Kimberly Ben’s last blog post..Freelance Writers: Don’t Sweat the “Competition”
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I don’t FEEL like I have more time! I thought I would, but before I know it, the day’s slipped away. So I gotta get back to some sort of routine myself. I cleaned my office this past weekend, and I feel it was a good start. Also set up a free account with 30boxes.com to help organize without paper, also helpful. Thanks for the reminder to kick things into gear!
Mary’s last blog post..Mom Bloggers: I Want To Hear Your Story!
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Sharon, please let us know how well the GTD plan works. Also, I am glad that you are doing a rate overhaul. It always feels nice to get closer to what you are worth instead of just trying to make it by. Good luck and keep it coming.
Sal’s last blog post..What do you know?
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:28 pm
As a former riding instructor, I just have to say… Oh man! Never look down while you’re riding! and if you glance, GLANCE! Don’t lean!! All your weight shifts and that’s TERRIBLE!
(Sorry. Couldn’t resist.)
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:58 pm
rofl@ James…
Dana’s last blog post..Book Review: The Secret World of Ghostwriters
September 4th, 2008 at 6:29 am
@ Dana: sounds like a good plan. I’ve been thinking about taking time off for years, but it doesn’t happen regularly. I must factor that into my plans.
@Kimblerly: I can relate - and don’t worry, I’ll keep you posted as things develop.
@Mary: I know what you mean. That’s why I’m determined to take things in hand
@Sal: Will do.
@James: lol
September 4th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
I recently had to take a vacation day, JUST to some work around the house.
I plan on being cough cough sick soon and just take a day to work on my web-ideas.
Qutting The Day Job’s last blog post..One Month Progress Report
September 5th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Here’s one of the ways in which I get organized. I’ll be writing about this and some of the other tools I’ve been using soon.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I have a ton of respect for work-at-home-moms, because I have no idea how yall do it and still stay sane.
Amy Derby’s last blog post..Fiction Friday: What the Dope Was, and other stories
September 8th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Hi Sharon,
I’ve left my daytime job for my son, and the long working hours in agencies took a toll on my son’s education. I now started off working for few clients. I really feel awkward for not getting busy all day long. Except for reading some blogs and writing my own, which I started recently.
Thanks for the nice posts!
Solomon’s last blog post..Copywriting
September 9th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
It has its challenges, Amy
Solomon, it takes time to get started, then one day you suddenly get busy.
September 25th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
You make a great point about the change in schedule, as there is a lot going on and alot always changing. With out a specific plan of action you are destine to fall into the little traps.
BlogSavvy’s last blog post..Let’s start a blog
October 10th, 2008 at 6:16 am
Two weeks of school holidays are finally coming to a close for me and I’m already feeling myself rise out of the doldrums and lethargy that seems to decent with 24/7 parenting. I think, once our kids are all in school we start to forget how tiring it can be to have them home all the time. Keeping their minds and bodies active and staving off boredom with trips outside of the house takes over any semblance of a ‘work day’.
What little I could force my tired mind to accomplish was squeezed into the stolen snippets morning, evening, or late into the night leaving me more tired than ever.
I think times like this are a fantastic wake up call however. How can I possibly go back to school hours next week with a blase attitude. Every one of those minutes of childless-bliss is a gift that can be turned into productivity.
I’m looking forward to it and preparing for it by getting organized this weekend, reevaluating my to-do lists, tossing any project that isn’t satisfying me, reacquainting myself with my goals, and returning to my normal sleeping routine.
Rebecca Laffar-Smith’s last blog post..Guest Post at Get Paid To Write Online!
October 10th, 2008 at 6:17 am
I learn something new about getting organized every day, BlogSavvy