When you run a home-based business, it can be difficult at times.  Most people who own small businesses have a lot of problems with time management.  As one such small business owner, let me share tips that I hope will be helpful in using your time most effectively.

The first rule of good time management is list-making.  Many people downplay the value of good list-making.  I recommend that you take each morning and make a list of specific tasks you need to do that day.  You should do this first thing in the morning before starting on any other tasks.  Make sure you do not include tasks your assistant can do. It is important to always keep your list next to you so you are reminded later in the day what needs to be done if you get off track.  As you review your list at the end of the day, it is okay if you don't get some of your list done.  You can always get it done tomorrow.  

Remember, a list is only a guide to keep you from being distracted by the items that pop up during the day. You will keep your top priorities at the top of the list so if the day goes sour, at least you have accomplished the main things you set out to do.

Don't let email be the quicksand that drags your business into the hole.  We all know how easy it is to spend way too much time on email.  Make sure you monitor the amount of time you spend on email or you will most likely find yourself at the end of the day with nothing to show for your efforts.  Personally, I could easily spend 2-3 hours a day with my email.  One solution I suggest is to wait to open your e-mail until late morning or early afternoon.  By that time, you have taken care of most of the imperative details of your checklist that day.

You should also beware of just opening your email (even if not replying). You will inevitably get off task and spend time thinking about other concerns instead of the business at hand.  You will soon find yourself thinking how to respond to certain emails when you should be focusing on activities that actually promote your home-based business.

Surfing on the computer can also be an enormous struggle.  Many people find themselves spending countless hours at the computer (with nothing but an aching back in the process).  Especially if your income is depends on the web, you will naturally have to spend a fair amount of time on the computer.  However, be careful to guard the amount of time spent "surfing" the internet.  With the time you save, you can and should focus on writing articles, developing new products, as well as other beneficial activities to drive more traffic to your site.

While the phone may not be much of a temptation for some people, other small business owners can waste a lot of time responding to every call they get.  An answering machine is a great alternative if you can't afford to hire an assistant to answer calls for you.  Think of your day in blocks of time and use your mornings to accomplish the real profit-producing tasks. Hold off on responding to calls or inquiries until you have finished these important tasks.  For small online businesses, these activities might include, for example, product development and promotion, blasting articles around the web for backlinks and optimizing your website for more traffic.

Stop right now and evaluate your day.  How much time you are wasting on email, on the phone and on internet surfing?  If you have a hard time estimating, keep a log over the next 5 workdays of how much time it takes you to do each and every activity each day. At the end of the week, you will have an idea of how much time you waste and where you tend to get off track.  Use these ideas to improve your time management immediately.