SmallBusinessNewz

As you know, saving time leads to more productivity. If you think about your daily routine, you are bound to find areas in which you are spending more time than you need to be.

Multitasking vs. One thing at a time

I recently talked about a study that showed that the average human brain can only remember 4 things at any given time, so whether your strategy is to multitask or to tackle one thing before moving on to the next, try to evaluate the effectiveness of that strategy.

I tend to lean more toward the "one thing at a time" approach, as I find it helps me to stay focused and ultimately do a better job than if I was trying to juggle 3 other projects at the same time. That's not to say there aren't times where I do multitask, however. Different projects call for different strategies.

Priority

Try taking a moment at the beginning of each day to outline what needs to be done in the course of that day. Go back over that list and put items in order of priority. This will also help you to evaluate which items can be multitasked with others, and which you can pass to an employee.

Obviously, you'll want to start with the high priority items and this way if time does run out, at least you'll have the most important things taken care of, and perhaps the lower priority items can wait until the next day. Those low priority items may become higher, so start over the next day and evaluate your priorities again. Keeping a list handy throughout the day helps you to stay focused, and will save you time because you won't have to spend anytime thinking about what you need to do next and trying to remember things that may be forgotten. That brings us to the next point.

Organization

Organization is crucial for having a productive day. The task list is a great way to start, but think about other tools that can help you stay organized and focused. Google has a ton of tools for this such as its Calendar and Documents features, but there are all kinds of free programs out there that will help you maintain order throughout your day.

Keep your physical things organized too - documents, ledgers, etc. Keep your desk neat. Its amazing how fast those papers can stack up. Try to keep papers in proper files and other clutter minimized.

Keep a notepad close. I do most of my work on the computer, but I would be lost without my yellow post-it note pad. Every time a new task arises, I jot it down so I have it right in front of me where I can easily look down and remember. Even if you eventually transfer this information to an electronic document, it helps to have a physical copy. I'm sure you have had an experience when you forgot to save something and your computer locked up or the power went out.

There are limitless ways to manage your time more effectively and become more productive. Susan Ward goes into a number of them in this helpful list.

Organization and prioritizing are the best ways to keep yourself focused. What tactics to you employ to have a more productive day?