Some Simple Time Management Tips

1. Write things down instead of keeping them in your head.

2. Avoid mixing big projects and small actions in the same list. It's human nature to focus on the small actions first and ignore the big projects on the list. If you procrastinate on big projects, this could be why.

3.Define your "collection points" and keep them to a minimum –These are all the places where you get new information or write things down (for example, email, voice mail, sticky notes, to-do list, etc.)

4. Realize that you can't do EVERYTHING, so don't even try; instead focus on a few key things that will give you the most value.

5.Establish routines for processing all the new stuff you've collected and transferring it into your productivity system as needed – If any of the items you've collected requires you to do something, transfer it to your system so that you'll actually get it done. Or at least have a well defined routine for processing these actionable items where you store them (like email in a "Respond To" folder)

6.Your first two hours each day are often your most productive. Instead of wasting them by checking email or with trivial busywork, use them for your most valuable, most important, highest-leverage projects.

7. As you plan and structure your day and week, try to consolidate your time and intentionally create blocks of uninterrupted time that you can use for your most important projects.

8.Use specific times for processing – It's much better to have predefined times for processing your stuff (like email, notes, etc.) rather than just doing it whenever new stuff arrives. Setting up 2, 3 or even 4 processing times per day works well for most people.

9. Consider creating a Master Project List where you can write down and prioritize all the projects that you're working on (independently of the tasks).

10. A week is a natural time period for effective planning because it's short enough to make realistic plans and long enough to balance short-term urgency with long-term importance. If you are not doing it already, think about planning your entire week ahead
of time.

11. Avoid multitasking and try to focus on a single project for a block of time. You'll get much more done when you are able to work this way.

12. Remember that being busy and active is not the same as being productive. Focus on projects and activities that will move your closer to your goals.

13. If you can work on a single project for a block of time, then only look at tasks related to that project, don't allow tasks from other projects to distract you.

14. Interruptions and distractions are two of the biggest time wasters in our modern society. Learn to handle them effectively and then work proactively to reduce them.

15. Remember Parkinson's law... "Work tends to expand so as to fill the time available for its completion." Figure out a good enough result for your project so you can decide when you are done and can move to something else.