Time Management for an Unstructured Day at Home

Want to get more done? Try this new approach to managing your most valuable asset: Time

Working from home has its advantages. For one thing, it saves time by avoiding a bustling, congested, and germy commute, skipping the beauty routine, and just working in PJs.

Yet, you may find it challenging to stay focused without the structure of a work setting. Do you ever find yourself puttering around doing endless chores that prevent you from getting down to serious work? When you finally do sit down at your computer, you keep getting distracted by social media, the latest news, or going down Google search rabbit holes — looking up at the clock 90 minutes later. Where did the time go?

I’ve been on several silent meditation retreats. Of the many insights I’ve gained, the most important is how I use my most valuable asset: time.

Time segments are the sweet spot between structure and freedom. Instead of over-scheduling and muscling my way through a long to-do list or ticking off endless boxes and then feeling guilty for not getting more done, begin scheduling your days working from home as segments with clear beginnings and endings. Each delineated segment — creates space for the work to happen in — it reduces distraction, time urgency, and…