How Do You Plan Your Work Day?

[Mickey Janzen]

This is directed at everyone, those that are IM'ers full-time and those of us that can only work at it part-time due to other considerations, such as having a job outside the home.

I find that my spare time, scarce as it is, flies by when I'm working online. Right now I'm on temporary days at work. I get home at about 4pm, walk the dog, fire up my computer, get dinner started and eat while responding to emails. Then the fun starts. With all the interruptions, it's difficult to stay focused. By the time I get my research together, it's too late for me to think properly so I'm off to bed.

My family is tired of not having any time together. This isn't something that can be negotiated. My new job pays considerably less than the one I lost due to downsizing. It's either work at home or get a part-time job outside the home.

Your advice/suggestions on time management would be very much appreciated.

[MeTellYou]

I used to do a job from 12 am to 1900 so I had to leave the house around 10.30 to get there. I work online full time so its easier now, but if I was to give you one piece of advice, it would be: Sleep man!

seriously!

Get the sleep you need. If not, you will not be effective.

kinda off topic but oh well...


Sebastian

[Gabe77]

I work the graveyard shift. Tough as it is, it's better than being unemployed. I do IM part-time. Right now, I'm checking out other ways to create income online, passive or otherwise. I spend at least 4 hours in front of the computer to do my stuff.

[Mickey Janzen]

Thanks, Sebastian.

I learned that one the hard way, worked way past tired, only to discover that I had screwed up due to lack of sleep.

I've picked up a white board, better planning will help, I'm sure.

[Mickey Janzen]

Originally Posted by Gabe77

I work the graveyard shift. Tough as it is, it's better than being unemployed. I do IM part-time. Right now, I'm checking out other ways to create income online, passive or otherwise. I spend at least 4 hours in front of the computer to do my stuff.

Yep, me too, 4 hours or more.

Midnight shift is awful but it's gotta be done.

[luciuskern]

My work day is very interesting now. Normally at the end of my day, I will have a few to-dos for the next day. the good thing is, now i dont have to rush to work or wake up early anymore.

Gotta stay moving so I use BaseCamp project management by 37signals

[Gabe77]

Originally Posted by Mickey Janzen

Yep, me too, 4 hours or more.

Midnight shift is awful but it's gotta be done.

When the headache starts to kick in, I hit the sheets. Couldn't function well when I'm sleep deprived. An hour or so of napping helps.

Best,
Gabe

[Hamida Harland]

If you've got 4 hours to spend at the computer then that's actually quite alot of time. I know (from experience) it's very easy to waste that time, but if you plan properly then you could actually achieve quite alot.

What you need to do is work out your goals - it might be a specific monetary goal you want to achieve by a certain date, or you might decide on a certain set of tasks you want completed by a certain date. If I were you I'd start with a goal you want to have achieved in the next 3 months. Then you need to break that goal down into the tasks that you need to complete each month, tasks to complete each week, and then daily tasks - all working towards your specific goal.

I don't start a day without making out my list of tasks - otherwise I'd achieve absolutely zilch! It's easy to feel like you're working when you're answering emails, sending pms, participating on forums, reading ebooks etc. but realistically you have to consider whether or not these things are going to help you achieve your goal. Certainly each of these things can have a time and a place, but they should only be part of a bigger picture.

I never work more than 2 hours at a time (although I work more than 2 hours in the day) but I divide all my time into half hour slots. For each half hour I have a task or tasks that I must get finished. When I'm doing something like writing an article I often use an online stopwatch so that I don't waste time. Using that I can write and submit an article in less than 10 minutes - without it I could potentially take up to an hour (I'm the worlds best at time wasting).

Do the tasks that will help you achieve your goal FIRST - and then once you have those sorted you can do your emailing.

[Mickey Janzen]

Thanks for the tips, Hamida.

Making out a list of must-do tasks and the stopwatch are things I need to do. Taking scheduled breaks would help with the "fried brain" feeling.

[morwanneg]

Glad someone started this thread. I'm kind of getting a burnout attack.