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!

    kitchen deep cleaning Deerfield ..
    In The News:

    Airport workers report surge in fake lost luggage claims as scammers retrieve discarded baggage tags containing passenger names and travel information.
    Unlike robotaxi competitors, Tensor focuses on consumer-owned self-driving cars that adapt to highways and urban roads with full redundancy systems for safety.
    Medicare scams cost $54 billion in 2024 as fraudsters target beneficiaries with fake calls demanding payments and personal information to steal benefits.
    Scammers create fake Evite invitations that mimic legitimate event emails, requiring users to verify senders and use antivirus software for protection.
    The new Apple Watch hypertension feature passively monitors blood pressure patterns over 30 days using sensors to detect chronic high blood pressure signs.
    Chrome extension spyware disguised as a free VPN service highlights security risks after it captured private browsing data from trusted sites.
    New research shows how fatty acids in cooking oil can safely dissolve and recover silver from circuit boards without harmful chemicals or environmental damage.
    The Fox News AI newsletter gives you information on the latest AI technology advancements, and about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
    Anthropic investigates alarming AI abuse case where hacker automated entire cybercrime campaign using Claude, stealing sensitive data from defense and healthcare firms.
    TikTok, Meta and YouTube restrict Charlie Kirk shooting videos with age gates and warnings while X faces criticism for allowing continued circulation.
    Cybercriminals use fake troubleshooting websites to trick Mac users into running terminal commands that install Shamos malware through ClickFix tactics.
    San Francisco startup Fable launches Showrunner, an AI platform dubbed the 'Netflix of AI' that generates animated episodes from text descriptions with Amazon support.
    Apple raised iPhone prices for some models despite receiving tariff relief from President Donald Trump, with the new lineup starting at $799 for the base model.
    A two-story 3D concrete printed home in Western Australia demonstrates faster construction methods that could reshape American housing amid rising costs.
    Credit scores remain important during retirement for insurance rates and housing applications, while seniors become prime targets for identity theft and financial scams.
    Scammers now send unexpected packages with QR codes that redirect victims to fraudulent websites or download malicious software to steal sensitive information.
    Meeting AI tools record private conversations alongside work discussions, creating privacy risks that can be managed with proper settings and awareness.
    Hotel privacy concerns are valid but rare, with methods to detect hidden tech using smartphone flashlights, mirror tests and scanning apps.
    Improve your Wi-Fi speed and reliability with 10 simple router optimization tips that don't require special apps or expensive subscriptions.
    A Columbia University breach exposed names, Social Security numbers and academic records of nearly 869,000 people, with notifications beginning in August.
    Rental car drivers use AI-powered apps like Proofr to protect themselves from unfair damage fees as major companies deploy automated inspection tools.
    Fox News' AI newsletter brings you the latest on technology advancements around artificial intelligence.
    OnTrac data breach between April 13-15, 2025, exposed personal information of over 40,000 people including Social Security numbers and medical records.
    A woman named Wika announces her engagement to an AI chatbot sparking worldwide debate about virtual relationships and technology.
    The notorious people search site National Public Data relaunches despite a previous breach affecting 3 billion individuals, raising fresh privacy concerns.

    Reading -- 10 Ways to Find The Time

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

    Do You Over Promise and Under Deliver?

    A new client recently admitted to me sheepishly that she... Read More

    How To Pack 48 Hours Into Your Day

    Too much to do, too little time, constant stress. Most... Read More

    7 Tips for Being Your Best Time Master

    It is not enough if you are busy. The question... Read More

    Making Headway on a Slow Day: 9 Ways to Turn Down-Time into Productivity Time

    If you work from home, you know the kind of... Read More

    Tips to Save One Hour Per Day

    At Home? Keep related items together, for example the coffee... Read More

    Where Do Your Priorities Fit?

    An expert in time management was speaking to a group... Read More

    Are You Always Late?

    "Fashionably late" is no longer in fashion. In today's heavily... Read More

    Four Steps To Make Your Day Dynamic!

    There are two ways to start your day. The first... Read More

    Top Ten Motivators

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

    Put a Couple of Elephants on Your Plate

    How do you eat two elephants? The same way you... Read More

    Everythings Blurry Except For You

    Riding the subway home yesterday, my typically silent car was... Read More

    7 Reasons to Take Breaks at Work

    My job in Chicago began with three months of probation.I... Read More

    Webmaster or Web Slave? Time Saving Tips for Cyberpreneurs

    Time is money in your online business, just as in... Read More

    Scheduling Productive Days - Dont Interrupt, Im Pouring Concrete

    Almost everyone in business knows the balancing act between the... Read More

    File It: Boost Your Productivity in Only 15 Minutes Per Week

    Despite the best of intentions, most of us don't use... Read More

    More Time Wanted? Deal with Your Time-wasters Now!

    Ever feel that you spend too much time shoring up... Read More

    Time: Do You Spend it or Invest it?

    Time is our greatest and most precious asset. Time is... Read More

    Time Management

    Isn't it amazing that some people can produce huge results... Read More

    Procrastination - Understanding & Overcoming it

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

    6 Time Management Tips for Moms

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

    Dont Forget To Take Time Out For You!

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

    Are You Watching Too Much TV?

    Many folks tell me that they just don't have time... Read More

    Talkin About Chicken

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

    Simple Strategies for Home Based Business Owners to Reduce Stress and be More Satisfied

    Handle small emergencies fast: When a small emergency does pop... Read More

    interior house cleaning Highland Park ..