I work alone in an office that’s located 1-1/2 blocks from a New Jersey Transit bus line that travels into New York City.
If I listen closely, I can hear the bus as it passes the intersection; its motor is quite distinct.
Hearing the bus move up and down the street is not distracting. In fact, it’s a daily reminder of how a working system consistently stays on course, without fail, serving thousands of customers while earning revenue at every other street corner as it loads passengers.
How can your business maintain the same type of consistency? Here are three ways I can pinpoint about my daily schedule.
1. Rise every morning at 6:20 a.m., groom, eat breakfast, and enter the office between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. to start production.
I admit that my husband is helpful with this task, as I prepare and pack two of his meals and watch him exit at 6:45 a.m. for employment. If his schedule didn’t act as my alarm clock, I’d still rise because just like the bus route, there are people to service and a schedule to complete.
2. Segment my morning to work on a minimum of four projects before lunchtime.
A timer allows me to stay on course. Without a timer, I’d lose track and only focus on one or two projects. That’s happened in the past, and the results decreased my productivity.
The morning is when I work on my most-important tasks, as I’m known to become a bit sluggish in the late afternoon.
3. Bring a pad, pen, calculator, business phone, and cell phone with me in a wire carryall when exiting the office.
It’s almost guaranteed that the phone will ring when I step away, and I’ll need to address a situation or opportunity while enjoying a 15-minute break on the front or back porch.
The change of scenery stimulates my thoughts, and being ready at all times is a necessity for people like us.
New Jersey Transit maintains a clockwork schedule, and so do I.
What have you put in place to make sure your projects stay on course every day?
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Shirley
I like these suggestions. Its all too easy when you’re working from home to be slack about the time and spend too long on just one project. I like the timer idea. I also find that because I’m working on my own most of the day, it’s really easy to just hang out the washing or put away the washing, instead of concentrating on my work. However in saying that, this can be a good way to think through a project or idea.
Do you divide up the afternoon into the same blocks, or do you completely take on different tasks at this time Shirley?
Hi Diane,
As with the morning, I divide my afternoon time, too, in a manner that focuses on three projects rather than four.
There are times when I only finish two, but in that case, it will be the two that’s most important.
Thanks Shirley this is most helpful. Do you work into the evening as well?
Hi Diane,
My evening work hours no longer exist except in extreme emergencies for long-time clients.
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