My work is all project based, and right now I have 4 projects on the go, plus school.

A couple of weeks ago, I realized I was still trying to work the same way as when I have one project... with one, I can fly by the seat of my pants. I have a good memory, and I generally know  the status of all the pieces at any given time. But I realized my work was out of control. I couldn't remember everything, for all of the projects.

So, I came up with a system... 2 hour blocks for each project and 3 hour blocks for school. I rotate through the blocks, so that I'm never doing the same thing at the same time each day. I don't know about you, but I have some times of the day when I'm much more alert and efficient than others, and I don't want to be working on the same project in my "slow and dull" time, every day. So, here's how it works...

Projects: ABCD School: S

Monday ABCS (total of 9 hours)
Tuesday SBCD (total of 9 hours)
Wed. CDSA

and well, you get the idea. This way I can be sure I'm on top of each project, and school, all the time. The only time this breaks down is when one project is at a stage that demands more time. Luckily my projects are all for one client, so I can decide that a certain project might need 2 blocks in a day, while another is comparatively inactive right now.

The best part of this is, I've made the rule that when I have finished my blocks, I'm done for the day. No more work!

I work from home, so there's often the sensation that I'm never completely at work, and never completely at home, but always torn in the middle. Defining my time, this way, has made it easy to know when I've done enough, and I can knock off for the day.

It's made a huge difference for me!

I'm really curious about how other people handle multi-tasking... How do you stay in control of everything, and keep your balance between work, home, family, and "me" time. (I don't have all of this figured yet, just the work and school part.)

Care to share your secrets?


whisp