Creating and Managing Your Business Schedule

Creating and managing your business schedule to coincide with your home and family life may appear to be a daunting task, however after a few valuable tips, you will find the appropriate schedule that will work for you. Not know these tips may find yourself stretching beyond your means which will cause unwanted mental and physical anguish.


To become organized you will need either a manual day planner or know how to use calendar and scheduling software such as Outlook or ACT. The manual method is easy to use and puts your schedule at your fingertips at all times because it is small and easy to carry with you. Software systems are able to avoid conflicts when you forget to write down an appointment and decide to make another one at the same time. Most software will announce the conflict before you schedule the second appointment.


Arranging time slots in half hour increments seems to be the best. This makes it easy to maintain those repeating tasks such as regularly scheduled conference call or meetings rather then keeping them all in your head with a chance of getting jumbles up with your home and family obligations. To be sure not to forget anything and meet all your obligations, keep track of every task in your calendar/planner regardless of whether it is personal or business related.


Distractions are inevitable so plan for them.

Occasionally it is inevitable that something will prevent you from meeting a deadline, which may cause you to fall behind or miss an appointment. To avoid the stress and strain this can create, it would be good to add an extra 15 minutes to each task which will give you the extra time you need. This extra cushion helps when you are running a little late and may provide some extra time for other projects when things go as planned.


Learn to plan for work and family by setting a very specific schedule. For example, if after school activities demand your attention to family activities a work schedule of 8 am to 3 pm may be appropriate. Special after school activities may require varying your work schedule to accommodate everything you need to accomplish from a business and family perspective. Never try to work when your head is not completely into it. This only leads to confusion and distractions that usually results in a less then required result. Knowing that you have allotted two hours during a specific time of the day for household chores will prevent you from throwing another load in while you are passing the laundry room.


There will be days when you will not be able to stick to your schedule as planned and this should not cause you to become discouraged at all. Just remember that you are the keeper of your time (and in charge of your life) so you will be able to adjust your schedule as the need arises and manage other important things when necessary.

by Joe Cavell -

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