By Tammy Embrich

Typically a work at home professional uses a work schedule to get daily tasks completed. Are they really necessary? Does one make more money by checking off a to do list? It basically depends on lifestyle, your children and ages, your business needs, your family’s needs, and how much time you need to work.

Work at home schedules aren’t for everyone. Some people don’t even follow any set routine. They just get up each day knowing what needs to be done and gets working. And yet some desperately needs a daily routine to keep them on track and successfully checking things off as the day unfolds. I for one, fall in the latter category. I’m not naturally organized, so I significantly benefit from a work from home schedule.

Below is my typical work schedule for the week (updated for the new year)

Tasks I do daily… First thing in the morning and last thing I do before turning in for the night, I check all emails and website stats. I also do my job lead search and postings in the morning after emails. Twitter networking is also on my daily things to do (depending on how my day is going). Forum rounds, for the ones I help moderate and a few of my favorites.

Monday - Website updates and backups, article idea searches, writing (for my own submissions and sites, guest blogging, ghostwriting)

Tuesday - Blog updates and blog rounds, writing (for my own submissions and sites, guest blogging, ghostwriting)

Wednesday - I try to make it to most forums on my list, then if time allows, I do more writing.

Thursday - Article idea searches and writing.

Friday - I highlight the tasks that needs doing for the following week and check for any needed site updates. If time allows, more writing.

Evenings - Sometimes I work an hour or two, only if I feel like it or if needed. It’s usually just 1 or 2 nights during the week, give or take.

Weekends - I work on weekends ONLY if I absolutely need to. Otherwise my weekends are for family and me time.

I realize that the above type of schedule won’t work for everyone, as we are all unique and have various types of home businesses. For my business, I offer free work at home job leads and advice and this routine is ideal for me.

If you find yourself not getting things done (on time), you may benefit from a set schedule. Set one up that meets your individual needs. If you already have one and still find getting things done challenging, you may need to do some tweaking and also make a few lifestyle changes. I have a large desk calendar with ample space for listing tasks for each day of the week/month. It’s in front of me at all times and I try to plan out each week every Friday. This helps me out immensely and makes me feel more in control of my business.

Article Written By Tammy Embrich 

Tammy  is the founder of Work At Home Jobs, a free work at home resource website offering free job leads, work at home articles, home business ideas, and much more.

You can also visit Work At Home Articles for more work at home job leads, articles, and more.

By Tammy Embrich

Is it really that time of year again? Time goes by so fast, especially if you’ve been relatively busy with your home business within the past year.

There are so many things to remember when preparing your tax returns, as well as knowing exactly what is considered taxable. Let’s take a quick look at what may be taxable in your work at home situation.

Here are just a few that I’ve listed below:

1. Monthly Internet bill. I know this is the number one item on my list since I work at home and I have to use the Internet to make my income.

2. Monthly hosting bill if you own your own domain name. This is another important write off for your business, especially if you own several domains/websites and your hosting bill is considerably high.

3. Monthly phone bill. If you own a business and you use your phone to run your business, then yes, you need to write off your phone bill.

4. Business transportation mileage. If you use your automobile for business, such as home parties, this is another important taxable write off. Fuel prices has went up considerably. You need to keep careful track of all your transportation expenses (including gas receipts), and file anything and everything that you can.

5. Advertising expenses. Some people pay for advertising for promotion purposes and some do not. If you do pay for advertising, then you need to file these expenses on your taxes. Depending on the type of advertising, it may or may not be taxable, but it’s always safe to file all expenses.

6. Charitable contributions. Your contributions must meet specific criteria to be considered taxable. It’s still important to record all contributions for the year and your tax adviser will sort it out accordingly.

There are definitely more that need to be listed here. I just wanted to go over a few of the top ones to consider for your business. To do a more elaborate research on what is taxable, you can visit irs.gov.

Tips for organizing your tax documents

Don’t wait until the end of the year to start getting those important documents together. Start at the beginning of the year and place all relevant papers in their proper place. There are so many people (and I used to be one of them) that just shove these documents into hiding anywhere they can find, and not where they are supposed to be kept for fast reference.

For example: I have a file folder in my file cabinet that houses my office expense receipts, ink cartridges, paper, pens, pencils, software receipts, new computer/printer receipts, and the like. When you purchase something for your business, immediately when you return home, place those receipts in their proper folder.

Earnings and expense records

I’ve learned over the years to keep a document for my earnings and also for my expenses in safe documents on my computer. I also actively backup all my files on a regular basis. You can of course figure out your earnings and expenses at the beginning of every year, but wouldn’t it make much more sense to do this as you go along with your business and record each transaction? It would definitely save you a considerable amount of time by doing this daily.

Basic office supplies for organizing your work at home office

calendar
file cabinets
interior or manila file folders
hanging file folders and labels
Microsoft Money or Quickbooks accounting software (if you choose), you can always keep active spreadsheets for business accounting purposes
sticky notes

With careful home business planning and organization skills, you will be more career productive.

Important: Also with precise organization, you will know at a moment’s notice where these documents are if you are ever audited.

Article Written By Tammy Embrich

Tammy offers work at home articles, free work at home job leads, and other business resources on her Work At Home Articles blog.

You can also visit Tammy at Work At Home Job Leads offering more free job leads, work at home articles, work at home tips, and more.

By: Sheila Wray Gregoire

You’re home with your kids because you value mothering. You want to nurture them, care for them, and love them.

But you also need to work from home. Maybe you’re a writer, or an internet marketer, or a top eBay seller. How do you balance them both? With care, dedication, and discipline, you can thrive in both your business and your mothering! Here’s how:

1. Plan your Goals

One of the problems I ran in to was that, as an author, there were countless things I could have been doing to market my books. I’d think about them, dream about them, read books about them, but I didn’t have time to actually do them. Maybe I could accomplish one or two, but not nine or ten. And I needed to realize that and stop beating myself up over it.

When you are at home with your kids, you are at home with your kids. You will not be able to work eight hours a day productively. But you may be able to work two or three hours. So given that, what is reasonable to expect of yourself? How long will each thing take? And what can you put off until a different season in your life?

What is most important to build your career right now? Is it writing? Is it starting a blog? Is it starting articles, or researching money-making techniques on the internet? Make a list of everything you want to do, and prioritize it. Then only do your #1 or #2 priorities for a time. And forgive yourself if you don’t get everything on your list done! You’re doing what is possible, and that is enough.

2. Find Regular Hours

I know that sounds impossible with small kids, but it can be done. I used nap time for writing. Every day for two hours, even when I myself was tired, I would write. When the kids stopped napping, they still had downtime after lunch in their bedrooms. We instituted this early, and they stuck to it. That was their time to do puzzles, play in their beds, or look at books (and later, read).

Another time that works well is first thing in the morning, unless you have children who wake at 6:00. Try to stagger their bedtimes so that they do sleep until 7:30, and then you can start at 6:30 a.m. Or, if you’re more of a nighthawk, do the opposite, and work after they go to bed for an hour. Once children reach the age of 4 or 5 they can also get their own cereal in the morning, and then this can be their video time.

3. When You Do Work, Be Productive!

Don’t check emails (unless they’re business related). Don’t check Twitter, or blogs, or news (unless that’s part of your “job”). Only do what’s on your list!

If you are working at home to make money, then show up for work at your appointed time and WORK. Even if you’re tired, or grumpy, or have PMS. If an employer were paying you, you’d show up. So show up, even if you yourself are paying you!

4. Find Things the Children Can do on their Own

Keep certain toys, or the playpen, simply for Mommy’s work time. Don’t feel guilty if you’re not playing with them constantly. They can be on their own for 30 minutes, as long as you’re still supervising and know what they’re doing! You don’t have to interact with them constantly; kids do need some time to be on their own. This may only grab you 20 minutes to half an hour, but even that can be important.

5. When You’re With your Kids, Be With Your Kids

Finally, when you’re not working, be with your kids. Don’t run to the computer every moment they’re busy to see if you can “grab 5 minutes”. You’ll wear yourself out and you’ll feel like nothing is ever done correctly. The kids will get into trouble or call for you and then you’ll be annoyed.

Do something fun and active with them every day where they have your attention. Go to a playgroup. Take them to the library. Go for a walk, do a puzzle, or read some books. Have time where you really are with them, and not just supervising them in the same house, and you’ll likely find they don’t resent the time you take away from them quite as much.

If you’re a stay at home mom, you are never going to get as much done as someone who is not with her kids. You’re just not. But that doesn’t mean you can’t work. It just means you’ll do it differently. But you’re still being a great mom to your kids, and that’s irreplaceable.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

And now I’d like to invite you to download my FREE planning charts, including personal planners, organization checklists, daytimers, chore charts, and more, so that you can organize your work and your outings! Sheila Wray Gregoire is a syndicated columnist, and the author of four books, including To Love, Honor and Vacuum: When You feel more like a maid than a wife and a mother. She blogs at tolovehonorandvacuum.blogspot.com.

By Tammy Embrich

Are you often scrambling to find an important printed document? Or are you having trouble finding a simple item such as a stapler? Is your desk so piled up that you can barely see the top of it? More importantly, maybe your child’s homework is buried under the shuffle of papers that seem to be growing in front of you?

If you answered even one of these questions with a “yes” then your office needs some tender loving care organization.

I know when my desk is piled up and I can’t find anything, I sure don’t feel very productive. I find I have a much more productive day if my desk is nicely organized and tidy. I always feel better about my business when I get up in the morning and find everything in it’s place. I mean it just makes sense, an organized office is a successful office.

The following tips will help you have a more productive business

* Always clean your desk off at the end of your work day. For example, put all those papers in their proper place, preferably in a file cabinet. Put all the pens/pencils in the little cup that’s supposed to be holding them. Make sure you have a schedule made out in front of you for the following day.

* Create a home business environment for yourself that will encourage work and motivate you rather than make you want to go out shopping. If it means redecorating your home office to achieve this environment, then do it.

* Organize your documents on your computer and consistently do backups so your information is safe. Make a separate document for your income and your expenses. Keep these updated daily, weekly, or monthly. This way when tax time arrives, you won’t have to do these tasks for the entire year. You can even save these documents to a disk and keep it updated if you want to be extra safe.

* Keep your important printed documents in organized file cabinets. If you don’t own any, invest in some. With a home business, a filing system is essential, just like any other business.

* Always eat your meals at the dinning room or kitchen table with your family. Don’t eat your meals at your desk. By doing so, after your meals you will return to your work area refreshed and ready to take on the rest of your tasks.

* Establish some rules for your home office. If your work day doesn’t evolve around your phone, let your answering machine pick up those calls during the day, unless they are emergencies of course. If you have a busy household, shut your office door and tell your family to knock before entering. If you feel the need to, place a sign, “do not disturb” on your door. Just these two office rules will decrease distractions considerably.

The less distracted you are, the better your focus will be on your work each day. With the help of the tips above, try and create a method for organization with your daily tasks. While doing so, you will most definitely increase productivity, thus generate success for your business.

Article Written By Tammy Embrich

You can find more articles and other business resources at Work At Home Articles.

Also visit Tammy on her Work At Home Forums, where you will find free job leads, work at home articles, home business ideas, and more. A place to get to know others and network.

By Shelly Hill

As a Direct Sales business owner, I am often asked, “How do you find the time to work on your business?” My answer is always the same, “You need to have a work schedule.”

When we work out of our homes, we often get distracted. There are soccer games, cheerleading practices, grocery shopping, meal planning, school functions and so forth. Don’t get me wrong, these things are important, but so is your home business.

A common mistake I see in network marketing is that people ‘think’ they can work their business around family time or other things. This type of schedule rarely works. If you worked outside your home in a corporate job, you would be working a minimum of 40 hours per week and have a set schedule.

I recommend that you sit down and come up with a business plan. Figure out how many hours you can spend working on your home business, then split those hours up into 4-5 working days. Another thing to consider is…what time of the day will work better for you? (morning, afternoon or evening hours.)

Example: Let’s say you want to spend 20 hours a week working on your business. You could work 5 hours per day for 4 days or 4 hours per day for 5 days.

Your next task should be scheduling in specific blocks of time that you want to work on advertising, marketing and networking your business. I recommend that 1/2 of your working time be spent on those 3 business tasks. (half of 20 hours would be 10 hours per week) If you are working a 4 day work week, 2 1/2 hours of your day should be focused on achieving those tasks.

The other 1/2 of your working time should be spent on: taking customer calls, filing paperwork, submitting customer orders, registering new team members, mailing out catalogs, demonstrating home parties and assisting your teammates.

Once you come up with a business schedule that ‘fits’ into your lifestyle, you will find that you will become more consistent with working your home business. The more hours you put into working your business, the more successful it will be.

About The Author

Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is a manager with Tupperware. You can contact Shelly at: Web: www.classybusinesswomen.com and my.tupperware.com/Ravish30.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com.