Work Home Part Time: 12 Ways To Make The Most of Limited Hours

I'm getting old. Working from home was once a dream job, I got it, I've been doing it, and I'm happy with what I'm doing. But I do get overwhelmed more often that I used to. It's the capacity that I seem to have less and less as I age.

Working on a new business venture can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially if you are doing it part-time from home. As an entrepreneur, you often feel the pressure to juggle multiple tasks and make the most of your limited resources in order to grow your business. But how do you do that?

This post was originally published in 2016 and I thought the content was fabulous at the time. Now at least a thousand bloggers are saying the same things. I've re-written it - is it better or still a bucket of vomit? Care to read on?

#1 Ditch Online Communities

Let's be real, online communities, especially those focused on business, often promise more than they deliver. They lure you in with the promise of networking, valuable insights, and shared experiences. Sounds great, right? But once you're in, it's a whole different ball game.

The Noise Level is High

You'd think that a community full of like-minded people would be a goldmine for quality advice. Yet, most of what you get are self-promotion posts, upsells, and a parade of "gurus" who know less about your industry than your grandma. They're not there to help; they're there to sell. Let's not kid ourselves, we've all fallen for the "Let me DM you some free tips" line, only to be pitched a $999 course on "How to 10x Your Revenue."

Time Drain

Scrolling through endless threads and reading through poorly written "guides" that promise business success isn't just uninspiring; it's a downright waste of time. You've got a business to run, orders to fulfill, and maybe even a family to spend time with. The more time you spend aimlessly trudging through these communities, the less time you have for what really moves the needle for your business. Time is money, as they say.

Repetitive, Not Progressive

Often these communities can be where everyone is repeating the same tired advice. If everyone is agreeing on everything, then how are you supposed to grow and innovate? Real learning often comes from differing viewpoints, from challenges to the status quo. You're not getting a lot of that in a community where the majority are out for their self-interests.

Sifting Through the Junk

Here's the thing, even if there's good advice in there, you have to sift through so much fluff and filler to get to it. We're talking hours that could be better spent elsewhere. The Signal-to-Noise ratio in these online communities is generally so out of whack that finding a meaningful dialogue becomes like searching for a needle in a haystack.

A Sense of False Security

Being part of a community often gives us a false sense of progress. "I'm networking," you might think, but what you're really doing is talking to Bob from Idaho about how to optimize Instagram hashtags. Not saying Bob doesn't know his hashtags, but is this really going to give your business the boost it needs?

So yeah, ditching these online communities frees you from the noise, the time-wasting, the echo chamber, the junk, and the false sense of progress. It lets you reclaim your time and focus on what's genuinely beneficial for your business. Because at the end of the day, running a successful home business is about doing the work, not just talking about it, wouldn't you agree?

#2 Avoid Meetings

So you get an invite for another meeting to discuss "strategy" or "synergy" or some other buzzword, and you're tempted to hit "Accept" just out of habit. We've all been there, right? The prevailing culture suggests that meetings equal productivity and collaboration. Well, let me tell you, that's often not the case.

Time is Your Most Precious Resource

Meetings, especially those without a clear agenda or purpose, are notorious time-suckers. You walk in (or log in) thinking it'll be a quick 30-minute chat, and before you know it, an hour or more has vanished. Poof! Gone! Time you could have spent on actually advancing your business has been lost to unproductive chatter.

Delusional "Face Time"

There's this misconception that showing up for meetings—whether they're virtual or in-person—means you're more engaged or dedicated. That's baloney. You're not proving anything except that you're willing to sacrifice valuable time for something that could likely be summed up in an email or quick phone call. The real dedication is shown through results and meaningful interactions, not nodding along in a meeting that's going nowhere fast.

The Energy Drain

Let's not overlook the mental and emotional energy these meetings can drain out of you. Preparing for them, attending them, and then the post-meeting debrief—it's all taxing. By the time you're done, you're often too exhausted to focus on tasks that actually matter. It's counterintuitive, don't you think?

Opportunity Costs

By saying yes to meetings that don't directly benefit you or your business, you're saying no to other activities that could. Maybe it's a deep work session to tackle a big project. Maybe it's some one-on-one time with a valued customer. Or heck, maybe it's just some quality downtime to recharge so you can be your best entrepreneurial self.

By limiting meetings to only the ones you really feel you need to attend, you’re doing more than just saving time—you’re giving yourself the freedom to use that time in ways that are genuinely productive and fulfilling. So next time that meeting invite comes in, maybe hit "Decline" and reclaim your day. Sound like a plan?

There are 4 types of tasks to do, and you can allocate your time to each type according to your daily schedule. The 4 types are;

• Preparation for your post (article, YouTube video)
• Creation (writing the article, creating the video, resizing and pasting images)
• Promotion and social media engagement
• Engagement with others and learning (read useful articles, post comments, learn new techniques)

The actual creation of your work may be the most important element, but without researching the products or niche, obviously you can't write about them. You have to promote your work so that it will reach as many people. And you need to learn new skills to improve the quality of your work.

I'm sure you'll agree that by time-allocating each element throughout the day, you can work through efficiently. What I used to do when I had a full-time job was to;

• Read useful articles and post comments while commuting.
• Social engagement during the lunch break. I would schedule-post using Hootsuite to Twitter.
• Research my niche before dinner.
• Bookmark any useful articles before going to bed (read them the following morning while commuting)
• And start writing my article early in the morning.

#8 Powernap

Napping has a bad rap. Many people see it as a sign of laziness or a lack of ambition. But let's dispel that myth right now: a well-timed, short nap can work wonders for your mental sharpness and energy levels. We're not talking about crashing on the couch for three hours; this is about the power nap, ideally lasting just 20 minutes.

The Science Behind It

When you take a brief nap, you enter into light sleep without diving deep into the REM cycle. This helps in multiple ways:

• Restores Alertness: A power nap can give you that kickstart when you're feeling sluggish. Think of it as a system reboot for your brain.
• Improves Mood: Sleep impacts hormone levels. Even a brief nap can adjust your hormones enough to boost your mood.

Choose the right time for your power nap to make the most of it. Early to mid-afternoon, around 2 p.m. or 3 p.m., is generally ideal. Napping too late in the day can interfere with your ability to fall asleep at night, and we don't want that, do we?

Setting Up for Success

If you can, create a nap-friendly environment. A quiet room and a comfortable chair or couch are ideal. Set an alarm for 20-25 minutes to ensure you don't oversleep and wake up groggy.

The Caffeine Hack

Believe it or not, drinking a cup of coffee right before your nap can amplify the benefits. It sounds counterintuitive, but it takes about 20 minutes for caffeine to kick in. So, by the time you're waking up, not only are you refreshed from the nap, but you're also getting that caffeine boost.

The Limits of the Power Nap

Don't get me wrong; napping is not a substitute for a good night's sleep. If you find yourself needing multiple power naps throughout the day, it might be a sign that you need to evaluate your overall sleep habits. It's a stopgap measure, not a long-term solution.

Don't Overdo It

If you nap for too long and enter the deeper stages of sleep, you may experience what's known as sleep inertia, a state of grogginess and disorientation. That definitely defeats the purpose of trying to be more alert and focused, doesn't it?

So, the next time you hit that midday slump, don't reach for another cup of coffee or an energy drink. Consider taking a quick, refreshing power nap to recharge your batteries and get back in the game. It's a real game-changer.

#9 Keep A Healthy Lifestyle

I am a keen runner and vegetarian - that doesn't necessarily I'm healthy. Too much exercise often exhausts me (the good thing about working from home is I can have a nap any time of the day!). I stuff myself with junk food, and that's not good either.

When you're grinding away at a home business, it's easy to neglect your health. You might think that the more hours you put in, the more you'll get done. But let's be real: what good are those extra hours if you're operating at half-capacity?

The Brain-Body Connection

Keeping your body in shape has direct benefits for your mind. Exercise pumps blood to the brain, which helps you think more clearly. A balanced diet ensures you're getting the nutrients needed for cognitive function. And let's not forget that a well-fed body is less prone to illness, which means fewer unplanned days off, right?

You don't just exercise to lose weight or build muscles, but you know that physical exercise will create a mental environment where you can thrive. Even a simple 20-minute walk can clear your mind, relieve stress, and boost your mood. And that's the kind of headspace you need when you're making important business decisions.

Food Choices and Hydration

It's tempting to go for fast food or skip meals altogether when you're in the zone, but poor nutrition can be a productivity killer. Your brain runs on glucose, and when you're not feeding it properly, you're bound to crash. Eating balanced meals filled with lean protein, whole grains, and plenty of fruits and vegetables can keep you fueled and focused all day.

And of course, dehydration can lead to a nasty cycle of fatigue, poor concentration, and low energy levels. Keeping a water bottle at your workstation is a simple way to remind yourself to stay hydrated throughout the day.

#10 Prioritize Your Tasks

When you work from home, it can be easy to get caught up in household chores or other distractions. To stay on track, it's important to prioritize your tasks and make sure you're spending your time wisely.

Start by making a list of everything you need to do in a day. Then, rank your tasks in order of importance. Make sure to include both work-related and personal items on your list.

Once you have your list, take a look at your daily schedule and see where you can fit in each task. If you have some flexibility, try to group similar tasks together so that you can work on them more efficiently.

And don't forget to leave some time for breaks! Working from home can be isolating, so it's important to take a few minutes here and there to stretch your legs, grab a snack, or just step away from your desk.

#11 Don't Multitask

So you're juggling emails, customer calls, and updating your website—all at the same time. You feel like a productivity ninja, right? Sorry to burst your bubble, but multitasking is a surefire way to mess things up.

Cognitive Bandwidth Isn't Infinite

You've got a finite amount of mental energy. When you're multitasking, you're basically spreading that limited cognitive bandwidth across multiple tasks. The result? None of the tasks gets the full attention or quality it deserves. It's like trying to fill multiple cups with a single stream of water; they all end up half-empty.

The Switching Cost

Every time you switch between tasks, your brain needs to adjust. You might think you're smoothly sailing from one task to another, but your brain is scrambling to catch up. It takes time and energy to refocus, and all those seconds add up. It's like revving a car engine every time you switch gears—wasteful and hard on the system.

A Breeding Ground for Errors

Trying to manage multiple tasks simultaneously increases the chances of messing something up. Maybe you send an email to the wrong person because you were too busy fielding a call. Perhaps you miss out on a crucial detail in a project because your attention was split. The more you multitask, the higher the risk of errors, plain and simple.

Killing Depth and Creativity

Deep work—where you dive into a task and lose yourself in it—is where the magic happens. It's when you come up with your most creative ideas and solutions. Multitasking robs you of the opportunity to dig deep. You end up skimming the surface on everything but mastering none.

Stress, Stress, and More Stress

Juggling multiple tasks might make you feel like you're accomplishing a lot, but it's often just an illusion. And the stress? Sky-high. Multitasking keeps you in a perpetual state of high alert, making it hard to unwind or enjoy a sense of genuine accomplishment.

So, think twice before you dive into multitasking. Doing one thing at a time—and doing it well—beats being a Jack of all tasks but master of none, wouldn't you agree?

Juggling your day job and your part-time work at home can be easier with good motivation and your organising skill. Create a plan now, take action, and be persistent to be a successful internet marketer! Always be positive.

#12 Gamify Your Day

Turning your day into a game might sound childish, but don't knock it till you've tried it. Gamification—basically, applying elements of game playing to other activities—can genuinely boost motivation and productivity. I mean, if something is fun, you're more likely to do it, right?

The Rationale Behind the Point System

Assigning points to tasks creates a tangible way to measure your day's accomplishments. Maybe answering an email is 1 point, finishing a report is 5 points, and landing a new client is a whopping 20 points. You end up with a "score" at the end of the day that provides a snapshot of your productivity.

The Competitive Edge: Trying to beat your own high score adds a layer of competition—even if it's just against yourself. That's motivating, and not just in the moment. You'll find that you're always on the lookout for ways to rack up those points.

Flexibility and Adaptability: Some days, you might focus on lots of small tasks, racking up points quickly. Other days, you'll tackle the big stuff for more points per task. The point system adapts to your needs and mood, making it versatile.

Prioritizing Like a Pro: When you've got a point system in place, you're less likely to keep pushing aside difficult or time-consuming tasks. After all, those are your high-point opportunities! You'll naturally prioritize them to boost your daily score.

Timed Challenges Are Good

We all have tasks we're not excited about. It's just a part of life. However, putting off these tasks can create stress and reduce overall productivity. Enter timed challenges.

Beat the Clock: Setting a timer creates a sense of urgency. You'd be surprised how much faster you can work when you're racing against the clock.

Small Bites, Less Dread: For those daunting tasks, you can even break them into smaller chunks and set a timer for each. Racing to complete each chunk not only makes the task less intimidating but also infuses a sense of fun into it.

High Intensity, Short Bursts: This approach is quite similar to the concept of high-intensity interval training in workouts. Short, focused bursts of work are often more productive than long, drawn-out periods. You're less likely to get bored or tired, which means you maintain higher quality throughout.

Immediate Gratification: Once the timer goes off and you've beaten the challenge, the sense of accomplishment is instant. That's a fast and powerful motivational boost, one that will carry you through other tasks.

Self-Knowledge: After a few timed challenges, you'll start to get a real sense of how long tasks actually take you. This is gold when it comes to planning and allocating your time for future tasks.

So, if you're looking to keep your motivation high and make your day a little more exciting, turning it into a game with points and timed challenges is not a bad strategy at all. Sure, it's not traditional, but who wants to be traditional when you can be productive and have a little fun, too?

If you never give up, something will happen. Remember that!