• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Big Ideas for Small Business logo

Barbara Weltman

Big Ideas for Small Business, Inc.

Whitepaper download

Subscribe and download our eBook, "150+ Tax Deductions for Small Business A to Z."

This field is hidden when viewing the form
Get the:

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Big Ideas For Your Business
    • Idea Of The Day ®
    • SMB Legal
    • SMB Taxes
    • SMB Financial
    • Small Business
    • Newsletter Archive
  • Services
  • Books
  • Blog
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Radio Shows/Podcasts
  • Be a Guest Blogger

10 Time Management Ideas for Remote Working

September 17, 2020 / By Barbara Weltman

Time Management Ideas for Remote Working

As the lyrics to Fly Like an Eagle by the Steve Miller Band say: “Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future.”

For those working remotely from their homes, it’s all too easy to become distracted or waste time needed for work. I’ve been working from a home office for more than 30 years and have developed some personal techniques for time management.

Here are 10 ideas to help you with time management while working remotely:

1. Check your calendar at the start of the day.

There may be special meetings or events scheduled. Take a deep breath and begin your day knowing what’s been planned. As new things come up, note them on the calendar.

2. Use single tasking.

Instead of multi-tasking (handling a household chore while trying to work), put full attention into one task. Complete it (or at least a set phase of it) before moving on.

3. Make a list of must-do items.

If there are deadlines, be sure to note them. As my mentor told me many times, “do the best you can in the time you have.”

4. Prioritize activities.

There are different theories on how to do this. Some suggest putting the most important items up front and begin to tackle them. Others say to handle the little activities first so you can concentrate on important matters.

5. Schedule time for checking email.

Those who spend hours of work with their computers or mobile devices should decide how to handle email. Some prefer to limit viewing and responding to communications at a set time (e.g., before starting on other business tasks). Others use emails viewing to break up their work time. Learn what works better for you.

6. Watch the clock.

Whether you use a wall clock, the clock on your computer or mobile device, or a wristwatch, check where you’re at. Compare the actual time to what you have done and what you need to do before the end of the day.

7. Delegate activities.

You may not be able to do everything yourself. Call upon others to help where needed. For example, those with young children at home need to arrange for their supervision. If there are two working parents, it’s likely one must take charge to enable the other to work. If there is an older child, he or she needs to lend a hand in watching a younger sibling so parents can work, noting of course the school hours of each child.

8. Communicate with employees.

Consider having daily, weekly, or sporadic meetings using Zoom or other remote options to help employees stay on task. One of the key problems for employees is understanding what’s expected of them and whether they’re doing it. Even without regular meetings, good communication can help employees with their time management.

9. Use software time management tools.

Businesses that want to track employee work hours can use software for this purpose. The Blueprint has a list of the top time clock software for small businesses in 2020. Self-employed individuals can find the best time tracking software for freelancers and the self-employed for 2020 from Fit Small Business.

10. Plan ahead.

As the day draws to a close, assess what’s been accomplished and what remains to be done tomorrow. As Scarlett said in Gone With the Wind, “Tomorrow is another day.”

Tags home office productivity remote working time management time management tools working remotely

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • General Business (506)
  • Guest Blog (115)
  • Homepage (28)
  • Small Business (1,008)
  • SMB Financial (330)
  • SMB Legal (67)
  • SMB Taxes (327)

Barbara’s Recent Posts

  • How to Choose the Right Promotional Product Distributor July 11, 2025
  • Is Christmas in July for Your Small Business? July 10, 2025
  • How to Streamline Recruitment and Selection to Enhance Hiring Results July 9, 2025
  • One Big Beautiful Bill: Checklist of Tax Changes for Small Businesses July 8, 2025
  • What the U.S. Supreme Court Told Small Businesses in This Term: Part 1 July 3, 2025
  • Mid-Year Business Planning for 2025 July 1, 2025
  • 10 Ideas for Coping with Cash Flow Challenges June 26, 2025
  • 5 Insurance Traps to Avoid June 24, 2025
  • Creating a Feng Shui Office Layout for Your Business June 20, 2025
  • Scaling Your Business by Optimizing Social Media Marketing June 19, 2025
  • The Timeless Value of Business Cards in a Digital World June 18, 2025
  • What Does the Latest IRS Data Book Tell Us? June 17, 2025
Awarded Top 100 Small Business Blog medal (link will open in a new window or tab)
Marquis Who's Who 2023 Badge
Top Small Business Blogs (Link will open in a new window or tab.)
8 Financial blogs small business Owners Need to Read. Invoice home.  (link will open in a new window or tab)
Best Small Business Blog, Expertido.org
Top 50 Small Business Blogs 2018
Best Small Business Blogs
BizHumm Top 100 Business Blog Award to Barbara Weltman
FitsSmallBusiness.com: Award for Best Small Business Blog 2017 (link will open in a new window or tab)
FitsSmallBusiness.com: Award for Best Small Business Blog 2016 (link will open in a new window or tab)

Footer

Big Ideas for Small Business logo

Small business ideas, business tax news and small business consulting from Barbara Weltman to provide business owners with the information they need to succeed. Visit our small business blog, Idea of The Day®, small business books and articles on small business taxes, small business finance and small business legal advice.

Contact Us

[email protected]

(772) 492-9593

gacor maxwin situs slot thailand terpercaya situs slot gacor situs gacor akun pro thailand slot bandar togel terpercaya

Latest Tweets

bigideas4sb Big Ideas for Small Business® @bigideas4sb ·
July 10

5 Best Apps to Help You Delegate Tasks Easily - LifeHack https://bit.ly/4ktlMs8 #smallbusiness #delegate #workplace

Reply on Twitter 1943438117886726437 Retweet on Twitter 1943438117886726437 Like on Twitter 1943438117886726437 1 Twitter 1943438117886726437
bigideas4sb Big Ideas for Small Business® @bigideas4sb ·
July 10

Motivation vs Discipline: Why One Always Beats the Other (And It's Not What You Think) - LifeHack https://bit.ly/4eCTSIQ #productivity #smallbusiness #motivation

Reply on Twitter 1943384967964229673 Retweet on Twitter 1943384967964229673 Like on Twitter 1943384967964229673 Twitter 1943384967964229673
bigideas4sb Big Ideas for Small Business® @bigideas4sb ·
July 10

Use These 11 Guidelines to Decide When to Bend the Rules for Employees https://bit.ly/3GEPOeH #workplace #smallbusiness

Reply on Twitter 1943360134333276317 Retweet on Twitter 1943360134333276317 Like on Twitter 1943360134333276317 Twitter 1943360134333276317
Load More

Copyright © 2008–2025 Big Ideas for Small Business, Inc  |  Designed by Hudson Fusion

  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap