• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Anne Samoilov

Business Launch Strategy & Courses For Creative Entrepreneurs

  • Blog
  • Programs
    • The Launch Incubator
    • Fearless Launching
  • Trainings
  • Contact
  • Free

7 Ideas You Can Steal to Smoothly Manage Your Schedule Like A True Pro Working From Home

smoothly-manage-your-schedule

Everyone already does a lot…sometimes it feels like you're putting in such a great effort to create systems and daily routines that you realize how hard it is to manage your schedule.

Whether it's getting ready to have the kids go back to school or  you've decided to take that last end of summer vacation.

Changes in a schedule can throw a wrench into your business if you haven't planned for them. Managing your schedule ahead of time can keep you and your business moving forward.

Since we're all about forward motion, we knew we needed to bring back the well-organized entrepreneur herself, Melody Granger to give us some simple, foundational tips to help you manage your schedule, get more out of your day, and feel less overwhelm.

So – turn off Facebook. Stop looking at your inbox. Grab your calendars and lets get started!

[divider_short]

Have you ever had those days, weeks or months when your anxiety levels rise because you don’t know how you’re going to get everything done?

Or do you ever have to switch your routine to adapt to other people’s presence…perhaps, when kids (or spouse/partner) are around way more than usual?

Or have you ever felt like you’re simply in “go, go, go” mode and just plain exhausted?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then steal these ideas, so we don’t have to put you in the crazy house when you’re brain and body yell “I quit!”

Here they are the 7 ideas you can steal to smoothly manage your schedule like a true pro working from home!

1. Pre-populate your calendar for the year:

Schedule personal and business commitments that you already know about, like vacations, birthday weekends, holiday trips, conferences, activities you’ll be participating in, etc. (Schedule the approximate dates, if everything isn’t confirmed just yet.)

2. Build in transition weeks:

Before and after really major launches, vacations, and busy seasons give yourself a week to transition yourself mentally and physically.  During this week tie up loose ends, relax, and take care of details that will prepare you to have a fantastic time. Don’t overcommit yourself to other people. Lay low. This transition week is especially important if you have children out of school for long periods of time or if they are heading back to school. You’ll get time to readjust to each other’s routines and resolve any kinks during the transition week. Don’t forget to add “Transition week” to your calendar!

3. Take recoup days:

After being away from home for days or weeks at a time, schedule in recoup days to get your bags unpacked, and acclimate back to your environment and routine. How much recoup time do you need? Well, everyone is different, but here’s an average formula that you can use: For every 3.5 days you’re away, give yourself a minimum of 1 day to recoup. For example, if you are away for 2 weeks, then 14 days divided by 3.5 = 4 days of recoup time. Go ahead and add “recoup” days, immediately following the getaways already noted on your calendar.

4. Schedule “silent work” days:

One day per week, I highly recommend you give yourself a full “silent work” day. Basically, don’t communicate with other people. Turn off the phone, email, Facebook…and turn on some music. Or simply enjoy the silence while working on your to-do lists. If you must, then take an hour at some point throughout the day to communicate with others. Schedule at least 1 “silent work” day for next week – right now.

5. Back fill your schedule:

Now that your schedule is shaping up, you can back fill commitments to others, projects, clients, etc. around your already known commitments, seasonal transition times, recoup days, and silent work days.

6. Manage your schedule like you mean it:

Try your best to get things done as efficiently as possible, so you aren’t playing catch up on your downtime or feeling completely wiped out on your uptime!

7. You write this one:

Let us know in the comments below what your number one trick is to managing your schedule 🙂

Now that your calendar is being proactively managed with your realistic time available and to keep your energy levels in check, you’ll probably begin noticing how much more smoothly you’re handling everything like a pro!

[divider_short]

Melody Granger Outside by TreeMelody Granger, founder of The Well Organized Entrepreneur, helps optimistic entrepreneurial-spirited women get ahead of the biz & life game, one addicting streamlining strategy at a time. Her free guide reveals…”The Top 5 Flexible (Inexpensive) Office Organizing Containers I Count On When I'm Super-Busy (& Ready to Get Things Done!)”  Get the container guide.

 

 

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenn McGroary says

    August 21, 2014 at 8:49 am

    Great tips. I was just working on my calendar last night and I made sure to schedule in plenty of “Me” time.

    Also important is ‘buffer time”. I leave a couple of empty hours in my schedule each week for those “WTF” moments, you know when things don’t go as smoothly as planned? Having that extra time buffered each week makes things a lot less stressful.

  2. Cydney says

    August 21, 2014 at 9:46 am

    Hi Melody! I love the silent workday suggestion. Just thinking about scheduling that in feels awesome. I try to take blocks of time during the day of no social/phone/computer distractions, but blocking out a day feels much less stressful.

  3. Sanat says

    August 21, 2014 at 12:11 pm

    Great ideas that I can easily implement. Thanks!
    One question though, the title says “7 Ideas…” and I’m only seeing 6.

  4. Melody says

    August 21, 2014 at 12:59 pm

    Love how you use “Buffer” time, Jenn! And, “me” time…yes, yes, yes! I do the same thing every single morning, before jumping into my day. Great to see you here, Jenn!!!

  5. Melody says

    August 21, 2014 at 1:06 pm

    Hellooo Cydney!!! Ahhh…if it feels less stressful (and easier!), then do it. Be careful, it’s addicting, lol. I do mine on Fridays. (Psst..I also try my best to be done with everything between noon and 1pm, so I transition into weekend mode fully ready to play.) Monday is another great day to have a “silent work day”, because you could get so much done that you feel accomplished for the entire week! Or do it twice a week…and watch out world. You’ll probably begin noticing that you’ve become a productive genius.

  6. Avril Oliver says

    August 21, 2014 at 1:55 pm

    Absolutely love these fabulous tips Melody! Thanks so much for sharing, especially liking the idea of transition and recoup days as I get ready for a week of holiday surfing:)

  7. Heather Allard says

    August 22, 2014 at 2:07 pm

    Melody,

    I love the idea of scheduling silent work days! I’m starting a new podcast next month, and I’m guessing that I’ll need a silent work day (or two) after doing interviews.

    Great stuff here!! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

    Heather

  8. Anne Samoilov says

    August 22, 2014 at 6:35 pm

    You’re good! We made the 7th one but forgot to number it! Good eye!

  9. Melody Granger says

    August 22, 2014 at 6:43 pm

    Hi Heather,

    You’re welcome! And, thank you.

    Congrats on your new podcast.

    After the interviews is a fantastic time to have a silent work day (or TWO ;-D ).

    Melody

Trackbacks

  1. Where’s Melody Appearing Now? | Melody Granger says:
    August 21, 2014 at 1:12 pm

    […] 7 Ideas You Can Steal to Smoothly Manage Your Schedule Like A True “Working from Home” P… August 2014 The Fearless Launcher, with Anne Samoilov […]

Primary Sidebar

Recommended Resources

  • Online Business Tools
  • Get Launch Ready
  • Case Studies
  • The Fearless Launching Show

 

Popular Articles

  • Assign This To Your Team Today: Create Your Launch Hub
  • 3 Good Business Practices That Could Help You Avoid Launch Trouble
  • Behind The Scenes: Permission To Glow with Kristoffer Carter
  • How to Use Virtual Events as Your Launch Strategy
  • 3 Bonuses You Should Offer During Your Next Launch (Even It’s Your Very First Launch)

Copyright © 2023 Anne Samoilov, LLC

  • Contact
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with our privacy & cookie policy if you continue to use and hang out on this site! Got it!
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
 

Loading Comments...