Time Management: 11 Tips

Work more efficiently and be more productive using these time-management tips:

Use a timer.
Pick one item on your to-do list, set your timer for 15 minutes and get to work. Don't worry about finishing, just get started. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and get nothing done at all. Tackling tasks in small chunks helps you stay focused.

Delegate.
Don't be afraid to enlist the help of others to complete projects that are time consuming or monotonous. Whether you have to hire a professional or your 10-year old son, do it.

Set goals.
It's much easier to get something done if you know exactly what it is you're working toward. Set long-term goals first and then determine the short-term goals that will serve as stepping stones toward the larger goal.

Sort mail immediately.
Mail can quickly become beastly, taking over every nook and cranny. When you get your mail each day, open it directly over the garbage can. Most likely, the bulk of it can be dropped right in. For the rest, determine what action needs to be taken and deal with it appropriately.

Make an appointment with yourself.
Schedule at least one hour each day for "catch up" tasks such as work overflow, returning phone calls, answering emails etc. If you pencil time into your calendar, you're less likely to let the mundane (but necessary) tasks pile up.

Become friends with your voice mail.
Don't be a slave to the phone. It really is OK to let voice mail get it once in a while.

Have an assembly line mentality.
Complete like tasks together such as returning phone calls, answering email, sending out invoices etc. You'll be much more productive.

Work when you're most alert.
Figure out your most productive time of day and set your work schedule accordingly.

Use checklists.
For tasks that must be completed on a regular basis, make and keep simple checklists to ensure you don't overlook important steps in the process.

Give everything a place.
Don't waste your time trying to find things that seemed to have disappeared. Organize your workspace so that every item has a home. It'll make locating and storing items a snap.

Be prepared.
Reserve 5 minutes at the end of each day to review your schedule for the next. That way, you'll have no surprises.

Amy Andrews is the owner of SimplyComplete.com, where businesses & individuals hand off their "got-to-dos" so they can focus on their "want-to-dos."

Post a project for FREE!

---

Making the Most of Your Time

"The bad news is time flies. The good news is... Read More

Measure Your Time Against Active Inactivity

We don't realize many things we do until we draw... Read More

If Only Your Brain Was the Size Of That Of an Ant You Could Easily Implement Habits

A year and a half ago I was introduced to... Read More

Your Most Important Appointment

An appointment is simply a mutual agreement to meet with... Read More

Ending Procrastination: A New Look at the Old Demon

Do you believe that the best way to deal with... Read More

Time is Money - Dont Waste It

"If you control your time, you control your life" -... Read More

When is the Best Time to Plan Your Day?

When is the best time to plan your day? Well,... Read More

Too Much to Do? Too Little Time?

Hey - Did someone press the FFW button?Have you ever... Read More

Achieve More With Less Through Proper Planning

One question a lot of people ask me recently is:... Read More

Top Ten Motivators

Setting goals is the easy part -- but sticking with... Read More

Time Management for Sales Pros

According to a Miller Heiman 2003 Sales Effectiveness Study, over... Read More

Time Management For Home Business Owners

As each day passes, and more and more things need... Read More

Make Time Work For You

Any habit of mind or body that interferes with taking... Read More

Creating A Not-To-Do List

When I sit down with a client to work on... Read More

What Would Save You Time?

We all get overwhelmed from time to time, and sometimes... Read More

Spend Less Time at Work and Get More Done

Sounds too good to be true?It really isn't!In fact, studies... Read More

Sharpen The Saw

Sometime ago, my lovely wife woke me up in the... Read More

The Rule of Three

It's amazing how many sayings there are in our culture... Read More

What to Do When Your Alarm Clock Doesn?t Wake You Up

Tring ? Tring the alarm rings?but did you fail to... Read More

21 Questions To Assess Your Readiness For Time Management

How many of us are guilty of "Putting the cart... Read More

Effective Time Management Techniques

TIME MANAGEMENTWith the creation of the universe, God gave humankind... Read More

Reading -- 10 Ways to Find The Time

Why Read?It's been said that there are three kinds of... Read More

Coping with the Time Crunch

"There is never enough time, unless you're serving it." -Malcolm... Read More

Living on Purpose: Achieving Balance Between Work And the Rest of Your Life

Many of us get so caught up in day-to-day pressures... Read More

Handling Procrastination

"TIME CANNOT BE 'MANAGED.' THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF TIME MANAGEMENT... Read More

Time Management Lessons from a 3 Year Old

Zak is my three-year old godson. He is the apple... Read More

First Things Last

Years ago clients would tell me they could not identify... Read More

Time Management is Cause Control

Recently I've experienced a barrage of time wasters. Everything you... Read More

Time Management: Setting up your Schedule for Success

Would you describe yourself as extremely busy? Do you often... Read More

Biggest Time Management Mistake

The biggest time management mistake you can ever make is... Read More

Dont Forget To Take Time Out For You!

As mothers we play so many different roles and most... Read More

When Is Time Management Not Enough?

A working manager needs more than time management.That old saying,... Read More

Time Management: A Non-Renewable Resource

Benjamin Franklin wrote: "If you want to enjoy one of... Read More