School’s Out & The Kids Are Home: 8 Summer Survival Tips For Work-at-Home-Moms (cont'd)

ou'll keep your business on track and moving forward while being able to close your office door behind you and enjoy some guilt free time with the kiddos.

2. Create A Daily Schedule
Why waste precious time and energy trying to figure out what needs to be done if you don't have to? Help your day run smoothly by following a Daily Schedule that includes both your household duties and your business activities. You’ll get so much more done because you're more focused
and organized. You can include family time, household chores, meals, naps, play time, quiet time, work time, etc.

3. Explore Your Childcare Options
There’s no rule that says… Because you run a business from your home, you and only you must be the sole provider... blah, blah, blah…
Every Wahms situation is a little different and you have to do what feels right to you and what works best for your family and your business. Period! Whether that means full-time or part-time, in your home or outside of your home. It's your choice! You need time to work on your business,
and you shouldn't feel guilty about that. Depending on your kid’s ages and stages, consider some the childcare options below…

In Home:
Au Pair (Summer)
Mother’s Helper
Nanny
Sitter
Spouse

Away From Home:
Boy/Girl Scouts
Childcare Co-op
Day Camp
Daycare Center
Family Daycare Provider
“Mom’s Day Out” program
Sitter
Swap with a Wahm/neighbor
YMCA
Your place of worship

4. Get The Kids Involved
You don't have to "formally" hire your kids, but you can. No really. Check with your CPA about the tax advantages. Depending on their ages, your children can help you file papers, fold letters, make copies, scan documents, stuff & stamp envelopes, and many other age appropriate tasks.
You get to spend more time with them and they learn valuable skills that will serve them for years to come.

5. Keep The Kids Busy
One of the challenges of being a work at home mom is keeping the kids busy so that you can get some work done. It pays to take a little time (Well before the cries of "Mom... I’m bored!" begin) to come up with some creative activities that will keep your kids entertained, educated, and
occupied. You’ll be glad ya did!

6. Outsource Your Administrative Task To A Virtual Assistant (VA)
Do you find yourself spending way too much time on administrative tasks like responding to email, returning phone calls, or updating your website? It may be time to hire a VA. By delegating some of these tasks, you’re able to spend more time with your family and focus more on the
activities that are actually bringing in the bucks.

7. Plan Your Meals
Saving time is just one of many benefits of meal planning, especially at the end of a long Summer day of juggling your family and business. Who needs the additional stress of what to prepare for dinner? Not this girl. Find a system that works best for you and go for it!

8. Plan Your “Work” Day Ahead Of Time
Take a few minutes at the end of each day to make a list of what task you need to accomplish the following day. Use this to-do-list to help guide you through the work portion of your day, and simply cross off each task as you go along. You'll get a lot more done in less time.

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