November 9, 2009
//
No Comments »
Is your in box a nightmare? Do you have a desk full of papers? What about a to do list that is longer than your arm? Well you are not alone. Managing your own business, clients, home and a life can be tough when you have too much work bogging you down. Make the time now to save time later by using these simple steps to tame the anarchy:
*Take 15 minutes a day to wade through your desk
Yes, just 15 minutes a day can make a big difference. Throw away unimportant papers; put away manuals or books you are not using, file bills and other important documents. Binders and cabinets are an organizers best friend. Put important loose papers in a binder for safe keeping and put notebooks and books in cabinets so they are out of the way and off your desk.
*Keep a disciplined email system
An entrepreneur’s email can get up to a hundred emails a day or more! Who has time for that? Start bulking down by unsubscribing all that “junk” that you just thought you would read but has been sitting in your inbox for 2 months. Color code clients and make separate folders to put “to do’s” in. Try out an email management program like Outlook or Windows Mail to keep your emails in check. Using a Virtual Assistant to manage your daily in box is easy and can save you hours!
*Return calls in batches. Leave specific messages and the time you called if the person you’re trying to reach isn’t available.
*Have a master to-do list for each day at your desk. As simple and as obvious as it sounds, just by doing this you will be able to focus on exactly what the priorites are for the day. It also helps to give a sense of accomplishment, nothing feels better than crossing off one of those tasks!
So in the morning before you do anything else, spend 15 minutes today and get to work. I also recommend also a great book called Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress Free Productivity by David Allen that is a great resource for your office. Now get started!
Posted in
Resources, Small Business
