How to be more productive with your time
1 . Plan the night before
Before going to bed, I always take time to prepare for tomorrow. I look at my schedule and see what appointments I have or deadlines I need to meet. I prep the coffee maker and sometimes make my "to-do" list the night before. A little planning goes a long way.
2 . Wake up earlier
When you wake up early, you have more time to plan and get organized for the day ahead. Completing tasks on your "todo" list early on frees up time later in your day. By the time I get to the office at 7:30 a.m., I've already looked at my schedule, grabbed Starbucks, and attended a fitness class.
3 . Figure out your main goal or objective
Decide what your main goal or objective is - think long-term. The main reason people lose track of their time and day is because they don't have a clear objective or goal. So if something comes across your desk that doesn't jive with your goals, it's a pretty firm and easy, "No," "Not right now," or "Someone else is better suited to handle this."
4 . Create a calendar system that works for you
Create a calendar system that works for you - then use it and check it several times a day! It's impossible to stay organized and on top of your game if you're unsure about the date, time, and place of your deadlines, meetings, and other work responsibilities. As the old saying goes, "If you fail to plan, you're planning to fail."
5 . Limit distractions
Limit distractions so you can stay focused on the task at hand. This means not just limiting your use of social media, but also not having 15-minute conversations in the break room as a form of procrastination; even close your door if people often just pop in to have a chat.
6 . Do an email detox
I used to get so many spam emails, notifications, and updates. Deleting an email may take only a millisecond, but fellow entrepreneurs know - time is precious - and the brain power could be better used somewhere else. I
did an email detox and unsubscribed to unnecessary spam and now only the important messages get through.
7 Take small breaks throughout the day
I encourage my clients to take small breaks throughout the day to avoid getting completely burned out.
My favorite strategy is the Pomodoro Technique, which means setting a timer so you can take small breaks (five minutes or so) in between longer stretches of work (traditionally 25 minutes)./MSN