Questions came up about my post regarding working from home. That post talked about how each of us have to find ways to work from home while at the same time, finding a balance in making sure family is taken care of and we are taking time to care for ourselves.
The schedule that was questioned about was what I call 50-10. This means that I simply find several hours in the day that I seem to do my best work. For myself, this is between 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. During those hours, I will work on a project for 50 minutes. After those 50 minutes, I take a 10 minute break. I start again and do this steady for those three hours.
Adjustments may need to be made depending on what is scheduled, however, when sticking to this schedule, work gets done, and during the ten minute breaks, I feel more refreshed knowing that accomplishments have been made.
This method was suggested to me several years ago by a business coach and has been the best way for me to go about my work day working from home.
This morning, I did have a telephone appointment that went longer than 50 minutes. After the appointment, I went outside to play ball with our dog for 10 minutes.
Watching her run across the yard brings joy to my heart. Not only is she a happier dog, but it brings me happiness as well.
Heading back in to work, another project of a quote had to be done. That was done along with three follow up calls for a total of 50 minutes.
After sitting down for that time frame doing work, I pulled out my exercise mat and conquered my never miss a Monday of exercise goal.
Yes, 10 minutes of exercise is all I did for that time frame.
Right back to work and now I’m finishing up this post. Another 10 minutes of exercise will be done as soon as this is completed.
When asked about the reasoning for only exercising for a short time, think about it this way. Exercising for just ten minutes twice a day allows me to have twenty minutes of exercise. Doing that for five days a week allows for 100 minutes of exercise a week. Adding in taking the dog for a walk everyday for another twenty minutes makes for another 140 minutes of exercise a week.
In other words, it’s the little bit that matters. Not only did work get taken care of properly in the time frame that best fits my personality, but exercise also got done which helps me physically and mentally.
Do I only work from 10:00 – 1:00? No, I just make sure to put things into those hours that require the best of me. Meeting with clients, doing quotes, or things such as writing this post are better for me to get done in the morning.
Afternoons are great for me to get calls done, answer e-mails, or set up things that need to be done the next day.
My husband and I love to make and eat dinner together. This work from home schedule allows me to make sure to prioritize what’s important to us.
As I often say, you are your best advocate for your work, your health, and your well being.
Never forget – It’s always the little things that matter.
Terri Trepanier is the owner of Balanced Care Health and Supplemental Insurance and a licensed insurance consultant and broker with Associated Brokers. Licensed in both Maine and NH, her specialty is working with small businesses, individuals, and families with their health and life insurance needs. She is certified to offer health plans both on and off the exchange and is contracted with every health insurance company that offers plans in both New Hampshire and Maine. Her other passion is assisting Medicare beneficiaries with their Medicare Supplemental, Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans, and Medicare Advantage plans. Terri has seen firsthand the importance of insurancCare is to “Insure Security and Peace of Mind One Family at a Time”.