I try to do lots of my work while they’re napping and at night. But, having an online biz means customers are emailing day AND night. I just need to let some of those wait. But, will I?!

We also homeschool, and trying to make that my priority is really difficult, especially when a big idea strikes me. The only thing that works is giving myself office hours: 8-9 a.m., a big break at lunch, and then 4-5:30. The crockpot is a saver for that, because I put dinner on early in the day while I’m schooling the kids, and then use the time I’d traditionally be cooking dinner to work.

But even right now I’m not sticking to my office hours because it’s 9:04. Better get moving…

It also helps also to frontload your time with your kids so that you don’t get tugged on all day with requests to read stories, etc… So I’ll spend an hour or so after breakfast just playing and reading stories before I break open the computer to write. By then they’ll want to do their own thing, and you’ll get a little time to work.

And never underestimate the power of putting clothes out the night before, making a short list of what you need to do the next day, and getting housework out of the way by 10am, so you can enjoy the rest of the day and work your own gig.