3 Simple Ways To Save An Hour A Day

#1 - Keep all of your passwords and log-ins organized and easily accessible. One way to do this is to keep them in your address book. How this works is you simply make a new “contact” for each of your accounts. In the notes section write in the URL, password and log-in and any other notes pertaining to that account. Set up a code to keep them secure in the event that someone gets their hands on your address book. For example, your code system could be that you make the first and last digits or letters bogus. Your real password is what is in between the first and last digits or letters.

#2 - Simplify Your Email. There are 3 types of emails.
1. Junk.
2. Emails that require an action or response from you.
3. Emails that you are simply interested in reading or using as a reference (but don't require a response or action).

Delete the junk and respond to action items immediately, if you can. Store the ones you want to read in a "To Read" folder. Make additional folders for "Reference" items. Make it your goal to clear out your inbox at the end of every business day when possible.

Do important or urgent action items immediately (when possible). Don't feel obligated to respond to forwards, or to even read them. If you are interested in reading it but don't have time at the moment, simply store it in a "To Read" folder. Never put any emails that require an action or response in your "To Read" folder. Respond to personalized emails right away and stop responding when an interchange has served its purpose.

Schedule time each week to go through your "To Read" folder so it doesn't get out of control.

#3 - Try an experiment of scheduling your To-Do List into your daily calendar. For example, if one of your To-Do List items is "find a tree-trimming service", than put it into your calendar as an appointment - "Thursday, 10:00am-10:15am, find tree trimming service". Many things on your list will take less than 15 minutes, but schedule each such item for 15 minutes anyway. You will have about 12 “to do” items scheduled in a 3-hour time period, you will probably accomplish everything on the list early and will have had time to handle interruptions.

Generally speaking, however much time you give yourself to complete a specific task is how much time it will take. If you give yourself two hours, you will probably get the project or list of small “to-do’s” done in two hours. If you give yourself all day, it will most likely take you all day. Remember how in college you figured out how to get research papers done in one night? When you get focused and give yourself a little pressure, you will get more done in less time and usually do it better.

By: DeCoux, Heidi

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Heidi DeCoux is publisher of Life Made Simple e-Magazine, a www.HeidiDeCoux.com”>professional organizer and creator of the Fast-Filing Method www.clearsimpleliving.com/homefilingsystem”>home office filing system. Heidi energizes her readers’ by simplifying their homes & schedules. For more info, free tips, and to receive her FREE Report: The Fast & Easy Way to Get Organized and Stay Organized Forever, visit ClearSimpleLiving.com