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."

    simplycomplete.com for FREE!

    express cleaning service Arlington Heights ..
    In The News:

    Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University designed a 21-foot dome that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to create a self-sustaining urban food system.
    The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
    ChatGPT data breach exposes personal info of users through partner Mixpanel. OpenAI confirms names, emails compromised in security incident.
    Android rolls out Emergency Live Video for 911 calls, letting dispatchers see real-time scenes during emergencies. Great for holiday travel safety.
    Malicious Chrome and Edge extensions collected browsing history, keystrokes and personal data from millions of users before Google and Microsoft removed them.
    Google's new Call Reason feature lets Android users mark calls as urgent before dialing, displaying an urgent label to recipients using Phone by Google app.
    Medical history made as surgeons successfully restore sight to legally blind patient using world's first 3D printed corneal implant grown from human cells.
    Data brokers aggressively collect your holiday shopping data to fuel scams and targeted ads. Learn how to delete your digital profile before 2025 starts.
    Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.
    Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.
    Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.
    New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.
    A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.
    AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.
    A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.
    New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.
    The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
    Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.
    Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.
    Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.
    Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.
    Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.
    Xpeng's humanoid robot moves so realistically that crowds believed it was fake, marking a major advancement in robotics technology ahead of 2026 commercial launch.
    Researchers discover phishing scam using invisible characters to evade email security, with protection tips including password managers and two-factor authentication.
    iPhone and Android users can reduce battery drain and data usage by restricting Background App Refresh to Wi-Fi connections instead of mobile networks.

    House Cleaning - Three Ways To Finding The Time

    It's always a challenge finding time to clean my house.... Read More

    Time Management: How To Manage Your Time So Your Home Business Will Flourish

    If you operate any kind of home business, you must... Read More

    Overcoming Procrastination

    Procrastination, the habit of putting tasks off to the last... Read More

    Six Foundational Reasons for Managing Your Time

    Most of us know how to manage our time. It... Read More

    Time Management for Sales Pros

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

    Save Your Time - Delegate!

    Frustration is when an obstacle blocks your ability to achieve... Read More

    Whats Keeping You At The Office (9 Tips To Get Home Quicker)

    "Work smarter, not harder" is a clich? that has darted... Read More

    Prioritize Your Life for Success

    Today, it is hard to open an e-mail newsletter, a... Read More

    Find The Time -- Before Its Too Late!

    People always seem to be in such a hurry, everywhere... Read More

    Time Management - Honor Your Time and Energy

    Your time and energy are the two most precious gifts... Read More

    Looking At Time With A Capital T

    I keep a fossil on my desk at all times.... Read More

    Taking Time Off For Your Business

    As a business owner, wouldn't it be great if you... Read More

    Pacing Yourself Through Change

    OK...let's assume that you're truly motivated to change. Great. But... Read More

    Busy, Busy, Busy

    ?busy, busy, busy, busy, busy?busy, busy, bus? OK, slap me... Read More

    Procrastination - Understanding & Overcoming it

    Whenever I've worked on 'de-cluttering' my living or working space,... Read More

    Talkin About Chicken

    Yesterday, I'd just gotten comfortable at my favorite table in... Read More

    Delegate or Drown

    Why waste your precious time working on tasks, which are... Read More

    Reading -- 10 Ways to Find The Time

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

    Writing a Thank You Letter for Meeting

    I have a habit of sending a thank you letter... Read More

    Work Smarter Not Harder

    To work smarter all you need is the consciousness of... Read More

    A Time-Saving Programming Tactic that Doesn?t Work

    Let's say that you have a software project that's under... Read More

    Prioritize with Two Questions

    "Because there will always be something more to do, we... Read More

    6 Time Management Tips for Moms

    Many of you have expressed the challenge of not having... Read More

    Benefits of Speed Reading

    In this digital age, the importance of being able to... Read More

    Get More Done at Your Office: Focus on These Eight Areas for Increased Productivity

    Your productivity depends on good tools and effective environments, and... Read More

    tidy up service Arlington Heights ..