If you do not feel need for a written list, at least have a goal for that day. As a work from home mother, I find that one or two main goals are all I need. And there are always emails to check, accounting, etc. for slow times.

I also have a personal schedule for week that itemizes my main tasks: writing an article, networking in forums, checking on orders, etc. This gives me an easy to work from goal map. Although my work periods are broken up, I try to focus on one task a day through to completion.

“Going Up…..”

Once you have your main task ready to go, than try to follow it through to best of your ability. Not only will you be free to carry on with your day, but you will feel a sense of accomplishment. If your goal is extensive, for instance you’re training, researching or building on something, than break it down into smaller goals.

You will find that a concrete goal will give you ability to get ‘caught up’ in process. You had a starting point, you are driven towards finish. Without enormity of full project lying in front of you, you will feel free to focus your attention, enjoy process more and put quality time into it.

“Coming Down…”

Especially when you are working on a multi-step project, when you finish task for day, try to slow yourself down by diverting time to some of smaller tasks; filing, correspondence, telephone calls etc.

If you follow this pattern regularly, you will not only find that both large and small tasks get completed, but your ‘work day’ will come to a natural end and you will feel ready to separate it from your family life.

“Creating Balance”

As with everything, balance is key. Now that is easier said than done, so using this as a guide, find your own natural rhythm. Working with children will likely break this system up even further (I know!). If you are on your own, you may find it easier to plug on for entire project even if it takes you into night.

Whatever you do, remember your reasons for choosing to work at home. Based on your original reasons, you will find motivation to schedule a working life that benefits you and your family best.

Enjoy your Day!

Read and revise

Boring but essential. However much we enjoy writing process, reading end product over and over and making changes is not what we want to be doing. We would rather be starting next article which is bubbling up in our brains but we have to read, re-read, revise and revise again. It is easy to make mistakes particularly if you have written something over a long period . If you do not correct your mistakes before publication, you will lose trust of your audience. (I never got over fact that one of my favourite authors accidentally changed date of birth of a main character half way through a novel. How could I ever believe in his people if they had moveable birthdays?) If you were a carpenter, you would not offer your customer an unfinished piece of furniture. If you were a tailor you would not offer your customer an unpressed garment. The author should not dream of offering reader an unpolished piece of writing.

Sleep on it

Don’t be in a rush to publish your work minute it is finished. Let it rest. If it is ready for publication, it will still be ready tomorrow but, if it is not quite ready, you will have given yourself a chance to make a final amendment. This is particularly relevant when you are writing shorter things. If you have spent months redrafting a novel, you are likely to know if you have satisfactorily completed final draft but it is easy to knock out and send off short items such as articles or letters and then regret our haste. There is always scope for improvement and what looks like a work of art in evening glow, might not appear so well in cold morning light.

Pay attention to detail

If you do not pay attention to detail, you will not discover your errors and there will be plenty of people out there who will be delighted to pick out and highlight smallest error. Some people just can’t help themselves: it is way they are made (the way I react when a menu offers me a choice of "Salad’s" - salad’s what?). Other people are just waiting to see you trip yourself up. Don’t give them satisfaction: get things right before they start pointing and you will have last laugh. If you have realised that this paragraph is number eleven of my top ten and are already laughing - Well Done! If you did not notice - see what I mean?