Ah…Friday. Normally, this is my laidback, take-it-easy with work day. But not today. I just have too much to do! I woke up this morning running my to-do list through my head…send ads to client…go to post office…drop off rental car…finish content writing for a client…bring baby swing to my cousin…go to the library to write a story for my local newspaper…do this blog…all the while taking care of a little toddler (she stays home with me on Tuesdays and Fridays - see my previous blog on this.)

Thankfully, multi-tasking is one of my strong suits. It’s pretty much essential to a “mompreneur’s” survival. Somehow I manage to get it all done, but that does not mean I don’t get harried down about it from time-to-time.

So all of you telecommuters - especially moms and dads, take heed of the following tips:

1.) Always put family first. It’s safe to assume that a lot of you working from home made the decision to do so in order to make more time for family. Are you finding that your work is taking over family time? If so, make the effort to reserve time just for the family, free of any kind of work distractions. During family time, such as mealtimes, story times, bedtime tuck-ins, drop the multi-tasking mindset and forget about work if for just those precious moments of the day.

2.) Prioritize your business tasks. Decide specifically which ones need your total concentration, and which ones can be done with the kids nearby. Save the really important stuff, like conference calls, client proposals and highly detailed projects for times in which the kids are occupied, at school or daycare, or sleeping. The smaller, less important or intensive tasks like reading emails, organizing the office, or running to the post office can be done with the kids in tow.

3.) Make the most of downtime. During your less busy time, speed through your to-do list to get the mundane tasks out of the way. Maybe you have a cell phone or a laptop that you can use while waiting in the parking lot for your son or daughter to get out of school. Think small as you do this. (For example, don’t get started on some major project when you know you only have 10-15 minutes to spare.)

4.) Be careful when you’re in the multi-tasking mode. Don’t let technology be the detriment to your family’s safety and/or well being. For example, don’t use the cell phone while driving or surf the Web when that little mischievous toddler of yours is wandering around the house.

5.) Take deep breaths, and know that it’s not the end of the world if you don’t get a certain task done. There’s always tomorrow. Not to mention, doing too much at once can compromise concentration and work quality, and can also cause your family to get the short end of the stick.

In summary, understand your multitasking threshold. You are the only person who knows just how many tasks you can handle before you get too frazzled.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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