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Value This Life

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10 Ways to Keep Up With Your Online Business When Life Gets Busy

Trying to keep up with your online business when life gets busy is like herding cats. You keep wishing they’d cooperate and do what you say and stay in line. But cats have a mind of their own, and they’re not much interested in your agenda. Your life doesn’t stay in line or cooperate either, so you might as well figure out ways to get business done when life happens.

Here’s the short version of 10 Ways to Keep Up With Your Online Business When Life Gets Crazy-Busy:
1. Make a decision. This is the first step in keeping up with your online business when you’re busy. If you’re wishy-washy about whether you’re going to do this thing, you’ll drift away at the first sign of trouble. After you’ve made a firm decision, no fair going back and picking it up and turning it over in your mind. “Maybe I should just quit.” No way.

2. No escape clauses. Now it’s one thing if you have a major life shift, but sick kids or a nasty email don’t count. Stop giving yourself permission to put off blog posts because “something happened.”

3. Use systems. Have a system for writing blog posts, a system for newsletters, a system for Social Media, a system for answering common email situations. Systems free up your brain space for thinking, decision-making and creativity.

4. Use checklists for your systems. Do your brain a favor—use written checklists for the multi-step tasks you do frequently. You might feel like you could do it in your sleep, but glancing at a checklist can cut some stress when you’re tired or facing a stressful situation in another area of life. Written lists also make it easier for you to delegate.

5. Use a written to-do list. This sounds like a no-brainer, but yours truly is guilty of trying to keep to-do lists straight in her head. When you’re extra-busy, you don’t need extra-stressful thoughts. Unwritten to-do lists easily multiply in your brain, floating around and creating unrealistic expectations for yourself that lead to procrastination.

6. Experiment with designating days for tasks. Rather than feeling guilty every day about everything you’re NOT doing, set aside certain days to focus on specific tasks. For instance, designate x number of days per week for a certain segment of your business, then don’t think about that segment on the days it’s not assigned. I say “experiment” because it might take some trial runs to figure out what works for you. This is a way of simplifying and getting out from under guilt.

7. Master the art of ten minutes. Spending ten focused minutes on a task will produce far more than planning to spend an hour and never getting around to it.

8. Use mobile tools. A smartphone and tablet can help you keep up with your online business when you’re out and about—or even just away from your desk. I do a good amount of business from my rocking chair with an iPhone and laptop.

9. Stay accountable to someone. Whether it’s a Facebook group or a business coach (and I highly recommend both), being connected to people who will kick your buns and cheer you on are essential when the going gets rough and you need to get going. We’re usually either too hard on ourselves or too easy on ourselves. Perspective and truth from others is essential.

10. Take time off. “Wait a minute, I’m too busy to take time off,” you say. Hey, we’re not talking about a trip to Hawaii. Pay attention to your body’s signals and take a break when your thinking gets fuzzy. Change locations, get a drink, read something funny. If you’re working at home, folding laundry or loading the dishwasher is actually a nice change of pace. You can listen to a training audio or laugh with your kids while you’re at it, then return to the computer with fresh energy.

Most of the time life is not going to stay neatly arranged so that you can run your online business in a vacuum. Herding cats and kids and businesses rarely follow a neat path, no matter how good the plan.

Let go of the unrealistic thought that you’ll do better on your business when life slows down. Do better on your business while life is happening. Keeping up with your online business when you’re busy is essential, because otherwise it won’t be long before you don’t have an online business!

Take courage, set your face to the destination and herd your business like a cat shepherd. Things won’t go as planned and it will get frustrating at times. Deal with the detours but make sure you keep moving towards the end goal with these simple tips to keep up with your business when life is, well, life.

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About Charlotte

I'm a grateful wife & mom of 12 amazing persons. I love to inspire & teach busy women to find beauty in everyday life by caring for themselves, creating comfortable homes with their families and living out ordinary days with grace and gratitude. I'd love to encourage YOU!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bethanie says

    February 21, 2017 at 7:24 am

    Thanks Charlotte. Life is easier when some (not all) of it is organised. I know lists are often joked about, but I think it’s a good way to sort things out on paper, rather than have it all mixed up in my head.

    Reply

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I'm a grateful wife & mom of 12 amazing persons. I love to inspire & teach busy women to find beauty in everyday life by caring for themselves, creating comfortable homes with their families and living out ordinary days with grace and gratitude. I'd love to encourage YOU! Read More…

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valuethislife

valuethislife
Have you ever procrastinated about doing something Have you ever procrastinated about doing something, with thoughts of dread and overwhelm?😬And then done the thing,  finding that it was easier and faster to get done than you thought it would be?🥴Yeah, me too. Note to self: The dreading and putting off costs a whole lot more emotional energy than just doing the thing. 😊
In our busy ordinary lives there is a tendency to In our busy ordinary lives there is a tendency to get by with the barebones of running the household—but we skip the joy, comfort and encouragement part.   We trade an artful arrangement of beautiful things on the coffee table for a stack of newspapers and mail. The TV takes the place of a board game. Irritation with our family flavors our speech.   Sometimes this happens so slowly that we barely notice it, and then one day we realize that our home life is out of sorts.  With that realization comes the choice to fix those little things. Tidy up the clutter, get the laundry caught up, read aloud to children, and set a pretty table for an ordinary supper.  Look around your home with fresh eyes to see if it needs a reset. Even 20 minutes of tidying can make an amazing difference.❤️
Unexpected October ice storm in Oklahoma. Power ha Unexpected October ice storm in Oklahoma. Power has been out for 2+ days, grateful for a generator and hot water. I figured out that complaining doesn’t make electricity come back on. 😊
Always wanted a “mother’s ring” with birthst Always wanted a “mother’s ring” with birthstones of our children but we never found a design with 12 stones. 💍 It was a forgotten wish until I received this bracelet as a sweet gift. I can rattle off their birthdates like a boss but sometimes the size of our family still surprises me. It grew one baby at a time and I grew along with them, like all mothers do. There’s no rewind button, and we can’t go back and have a do-over. But we can be grateful during EVERY season for what we have, and I am!❤️
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” Not “they that complaineth much” or “they that talk about their issues all day long.” I’m guessing that “not waiting” means sucking the life out of strength instead of renewing it. But waiting can begin in this very moment. 
•
(pic from my kitchen window)😊
Sometimes it’s a struggle getting started on a t Sometimes it’s a struggle getting started on a task, but we all love how it feels when the task is done. Maybe it would help to think about how good the result will feel before we start!
Yeah, I had to run to the store to get eggs before Yeah, I had to run to the store to get eggs before 14yo could mix up cookie dough. 
👉🏻Note to self:
Don’t wait until it’s time to do a task to check whether you have what you need to do it. Realizing you’re short on supplies or information at the last minute costs time and causes stress! Knowing that you’re prepared eases the pain of getting started. Put “check for ingredients” on your to-do list!
How much life do we waste worrying and fretting an How much life do we waste worrying and fretting and dreading....when the thing we’re upset about IS GOING TO GET DONE?! It’s going to happen, it’s all going to work out, and we probably won’t even remember it by next week. Sometimes it helps to remember that!💕
We bought a house built in the 80’s and have bee We bought a house built in the 80’s and have been doing that fixer upper thing. Sorry for the blurry “before” but just think “black hole” and you’ll get the idea.😂 Amazing what paint and decor can do for a space. Sold the old mantel on FB Marketplace for $60 and bought the unfinished new one for $45. Found the print in my garage, lol. Mirror from Hobby Lobby. Sorta reminds me of my life pre-Jesus. Dark to light. Old to new. Same basic human, transformed with light and love.❤️
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Looking For Something?

valuethislife

valuethislife
Have you ever procrastinated about doing something Have you ever procrastinated about doing something, with thoughts of dread and overwhelm?😬And then done the thing,  finding that it was easier and faster to get done than you thought it would be?🥴Yeah, me too. Note to self: The dreading and putting off costs a whole lot more emotional energy than just doing the thing. 😊
In our busy ordinary lives there is a tendency to In our busy ordinary lives there is a tendency to get by with the barebones of running the household—but we skip the joy, comfort and encouragement part.   We trade an artful arrangement of beautiful things on the coffee table for a stack of newspapers and mail. The TV takes the place of a board game. Irritation with our family flavors our speech.   Sometimes this happens so slowly that we barely notice it, and then one day we realize that our home life is out of sorts.  With that realization comes the choice to fix those little things. Tidy up the clutter, get the laundry caught up, read aloud to children, and set a pretty table for an ordinary supper.  Look around your home with fresh eyes to see if it needs a reset. Even 20 minutes of tidying can make an amazing difference.❤️
Unexpected October ice storm in Oklahoma. Power ha Unexpected October ice storm in Oklahoma. Power has been out for 2+ days, grateful for a generator and hot water. I figured out that complaining doesn’t make electricity come back on. 😊
Always wanted a “mother’s ring” with birthst Always wanted a “mother’s ring” with birthstones of our children but we never found a design with 12 stones. 💍 It was a forgotten wish until I received this bracelet as a sweet gift. I can rattle off their birthdates like a boss but sometimes the size of our family still surprises me. It grew one baby at a time and I grew along with them, like all mothers do. There’s no rewind button, and we can’t go back and have a do-over. But we can be grateful during EVERY season for what we have, and I am!❤️
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” Not “they that complaineth much” or “they that talk about their issues all day long.” I’m guessing that “not waiting” means sucking the life out of strength instead of renewing it. But waiting can begin in this very moment. 
•
(pic from my kitchen window)😊
Sometimes it’s a struggle getting started on a t Sometimes it’s a struggle getting started on a task, but we all love how it feels when the task is done. Maybe it would help to think about how good the result will feel before we start!
Yeah, I had to run to the store to get eggs before Yeah, I had to run to the store to get eggs before 14yo could mix up cookie dough. 
👉🏻Note to self:
Don’t wait until it’s time to do a task to check whether you have what you need to do it. Realizing you’re short on supplies or information at the last minute costs time and causes stress! Knowing that you’re prepared eases the pain of getting started. Put “check for ingredients” on your to-do list!
How much life do we waste worrying and fretting an How much life do we waste worrying and fretting and dreading....when the thing we’re upset about IS GOING TO GET DONE?! It’s going to happen, it’s all going to work out, and we probably won’t even remember it by next week. Sometimes it helps to remember that!💕
We bought a house built in the 80’s and have bee We bought a house built in the 80’s and have been doing that fixer upper thing. Sorry for the blurry “before” but just think “black hole” and you’ll get the idea.😂 Amazing what paint and decor can do for a space. Sold the old mantel on FB Marketplace for $60 and bought the unfinished new one for $45. Found the print in my garage, lol. Mirror from Hobby Lobby. Sorta reminds me of my life pre-Jesus. Dark to light. Old to new. Same basic human, transformed with light and love.❤️
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