by Niteen Borge

Created on: March 29, 2009

There can come many days in one's life when one is busy from morning till night with hardly any time to even take a deep breath, and yet when the day is done, you are left with the feeling that there have been many things that were in your to-do list, which have still not been attended to.

So then you need some tips on how to get control of your day and keep the time you have, under your control.

Tip 1: A lot of planning.

This may sound like you have heard it before, but however clichd it may sound the right way to have a day where you have used your time satisfactorily, is when you have a day that you have planned in advance. A little bit of time the night before, spent noting down the important things that have to be attended to the next day and the time slot when you need to do it and the time that you have available to do it in, will make it clear in your mind, the tasks that have to be done the following day. This listing will also let your subconscious work on the intricacies of each task and the problems they may entail. The next day you would be totally focused on the tasks at hand because there is no ambiguity on what you have to do during the day. If you find the action of writing down irksome (I know I do), mentally review your day and do the same exercise.

Tip 2: Don't waste time.

Do not spend a lot of time on each of your phone calls. It would also not be a bad idea if you stop accepting calls, especially when the task at hand requires lot of concentration and attention. Set up a time when you will tend to your E-mails and refrain from checking you're in box frequently. Do not surf the internet unless your particular task allotted to that time demands it. Make a note of the things that do lead to time wastage, and make a firm resolve to avoid them.

Tip 3: Do not say Yes' when you mean No'

Do not automatically say Yes' every time your colleague makes a request. If it does not suit you at that particular time, say so, and excuse yourself. This way you will also let your colleague know that you are giving more importance to the task that you have in front of you, and would rather not be disturbed. This will keep you in control and not allow others in your team or work place dictate to you how and when things should be done.

Tip 4: Constantly review.

Constantly review the tasks you have allotted for the day and if you feel that one of them needs to be deferred or given precedence to, do so. After all, the plan is yours, and you have the right to make the changes, so that they make your work day go better. Making such changes can probably make a difference to your ultimate productivity, and probably save you some time in future.

Tip5: Organize yourself.

See that you are always working in an organized manner with all the things that you need for the task at hand, whether it be stationery, phone numbers, or reference material. If your task needs that you consult a colleague, ensure that he is available before you schedule your task, as if he is not, your entire schedule could get upset. If it is a trip somewhere, see that you have all the bookings and reservations in place before you start out.

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