One of the hardest things for most individuals working from home is to stay focused. One of the best ways to stay focused is organization. In addition, being organized will help your time management skills. The two are very much intertwined.

Planning out your day is very important. What you will do in the morning, afternoon/and or evening, depending on what hours you work is paramount.

Have a trigger that starts your day. For example, my trigger is I finish my morning walk. Once this is done, I make a cup of Java and to the office I go.

Once in the office, the computer goes on, along with the auxiliary equipment. I check my tickler file, my calendar for the day, and pull my To-Do file.

While I am looking on these items, my mail program is working to check e-mail. I delete the junk and deal with the additional mail by answering it, or placing it in a folder to deal with later.

At this point depending on your business you should start dealing with the items in your tickler file and To Do List.

For those of you just starting to run a business you should be doing the following:

• Check your goals
• Check your calendar and tickler file
• Check your e-mail and answer
• If you need to, go through your newspapers and your other lists for clients to call
• Otherwise, do your call backs and set up appointments if appropriate
• Start calling---1/2 hour from each list
• Send out follow-up information
• Enter calls in database
• Read in your area, both on and off line
• Visit on-line groups that relate to business
• Check e-mail and respond
• Create your To-Do list for next day
• Add appointments to your calendar

Be sure you have a To Do List, a tickler file and a calendar. Have a trigger that starts your day. Put all you do on your calendar, and add in time for mishaps. If they don't occur, you'll have extra time. Split up your day to do your calling, letter writing, follow-up e-mails, mailings, meetings, and any additional things that occur for your particular business.