5 Powerful Time-Saving Hacks for the Work-At-Home Entrepreneur

Numerous studies indicate that people who work from home are more productive than those who work in an office setting. But, aren’t all the comforts of home too distracting to get anything serious done?

Well, these studies cite a number of reasons why working at home can be more productive. For one, a change in scenery can increase creativity, telecommuting is less exhausting and working from home can boost your morale to work.

A large number of start-up entrepreneurs often work from home. But, the most successful, work-from-home business people do things in a particular way to save time and increase productivity.

Here are 5 time-saving habits of successful, work-from-home entrepreneurs:

Create a routine to set the mood for work

Habit is at the core of productivity. Creating a routine may seem counter-productive to the essence of working from home but it is absolutely necessary if you want to get anything done.

The main challenge with working from home is the false perception that you have so much time to complete your tasks. But, you will be surprised how fast time slips through your fingers.

A routine will be very helpful in getting you to start working at a specific time and to wrap up at an equally specific time. Obviously, for this to work, you must be committed to executing the routine day by day to develop a habit that sticks.

Organize your space as you would a real office

Organization will save you time and put you in a ‘professional’ frame of mind. A good place to start is setting aside a room that keeps you away from all the homely distractions.

Set up your home office (or office-type space) the way you would set up your office if you were working at a different location. Even though you are working in a casual environment, creating a professional space will get your mind ready for work. You will also waste less time getting settled and retrieving information.

Your work and personal life will inevitably become intertwined when working from home. However, setting boundaries will allow you and your family members to approach your work with the professionalism it deserves. Get agreement (where possible) with your significant others that you are not to be disturbed in your office area and at the times you are working, to minimize distraction.

Play into your habits to promote concentration

Are you a morning lark or a night owl? Working with your personality or productivity habit will go a long way in helping you to do more work when you are best suited to concentrate.

If you are a ‘morning person,’ use your creative energies to complete difficult tasks so you can save the afternoon or night for tasks that do not demand too much concentration, for example checking emails and making phone calls. The same applies for ‘night people.’

The idea is to work at a time when you are most productive and to stick to your chosen routine.

Prioritize three tasks to be accomplished each day

One of the major challenges in working from home is procrastination.

Just as it is easy to become distracted with all the goings-on in a typical office set up, it  is also possible to become preoccupied by different things(other than your work) at home.

Prioritizing your daily tasks sets a clear path for what needs to be done. Instead of cramming your to-do list with too many tasks, list just three tasks that must be accomplished by the end of the work day.

A goals-list simply adds structure to an otherwise flexible day.

Minimize web-clutter

The internet is a major distraction not just for people working in an office but also for entrepreneurs working from home.

One way to get rid of this internet noise is to use online filters or internet blockers that will keep you from incessant browsing during work hours. I use Rescue Time which is a free service with an upgrade for additional services. This has been the BEST productivity program I have ever used!

Lastly, you can try the ‘one browser tab at a time’ challenge to keep yourself from opening too many browsers, which obviously distract you and keep you from focusing on the task at hand. This is a great way to stay focused and minimize distraction.