Keep a Master List

As a work-at-home mom, I tend to get overwhelmed with all of my roles (wife, mother, businesswoman, housekeeper, cook, accountant, etc). So I went in search of the best way to get more done in less time. Here is what I do: Every morning I make a list of everything that I can think of that I need or would like to get done without thinking about how it is going to get done.

Then I divide the list into 3 categories: "must-do," "maybe" and "no." I cross off all of the no's and don't give them a second thought. Then I put all of the maybes on a "master list" and put that aside.

I get started on all of the must-do's and don't do anything else until they are done. Of course important interruptions come up with kids and life in general, but I try not to let anything interrupt me as much as possible. If my child or husband needs me, of course they come first, but I am talking about a phone call that can wait or mindless surfing on the internet.

I feel good about what I get done without a lot of other distractions, because I haven't forgotten about the things on my master list that are important to me. When my must do list is complete for the day, I do something from my master list if I have time. I add to my master list daily and periodically put things from my master list on my must do list for the day. Things on my master list include major projects that I would like to do around the house, activities or hobbies that I would like to start, and research that I want to do.

I hope this makes sense. It is hard to explain on paper, but is really simple!

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