Step one: Determine the number of hours you want to work each week. When you work in a home based business, your hours may be more flexible than if you work for someone else. So, it is important to determine off the bat how many hours you intend to put in for the week. One of the things with working out of your home is that there will be some weeks where you work fewer hours, and other weeks where you have to work longer hours. At the beginning of each week, look at your work load, or goals for the week, and estimate the time commitment that it will take.

Step two: Take a look at your commitments (family and outside of work) for the week. The next thing you are going to do is take out your calendar and fill in the times that are already committed. The idea here is to take the number of hours you need to work, and fit them in around the other commitments you have, and still leave time for eating, sleeping, and spending time with your family. So, what else do you have to do this week? Do you need to grocery shop? Are you committed to attend any functions? Do you have to go to your child's school for anything, or do anything with your church? Block out the time that you have already committed. This might be watching a child's game or performance, or going out with friends or family.

Step three: Take a look at your other family member's commitments. Now, you want to see if there are any members of your family that have made commitments that will affect you. For example, you don't want to plan to make business calls at the same time your son has band practice in your garage. So, block out time where your family or their commitments will make it difficult or impossible for you to work.

Step four: Commit to "Office Hours". Now you have a good idea of what your family has going on, what you have going on, and how much time you need to accomplish your goals, so set aside your work or office hours for the week. Let the family know what they are so that they know not to bug you during, or ask you for favors when you need to be working.

Step five: Have a back up plan for when your "office hours" don't work out. Schedule babysitting, etc. ahead of time so that you do not have to scramble later. Always give yourself a few extra hours planned in case things take longer than you anticipate, or something comes up.