35 Santity Savers - Get More Productive

Use these 35 sanity savers this year to help you become more productive and get more done in less time, so you can get on with life!

Email

  • Only check your emails twice a day ? don't respond each time you receive an email it wastes too much time!

  • Set up folders for your inbox so you can 'electronically' file your emails when you have completed them.

  • Set up rules within your email so messages are automatically filed for you to read later.

  • Use colour coding so you can quickly glance over your inbox and see which messages are important.

  • When you have read an email and actioned it ? delete it.

  • Remove yourself from ezines or electronic newsletters you don't read.

  • Set up spam filters on your email.

  • Create an email signature with your contact information so it automatically sends your details with your email.

  • Leave an 'out of office' message if you are away from your desk for more than 24 hours.

    • Phone Calls

  • Record a voicemail to notify callers you will call back within 24 hours.

  • If you are busy all day, change your voicemail message to let callers know you will call them back the next day.

  • Include your email address in your voicemail for all phones so people can email you instead of leaving a message.

  • Avoid calling businesses between 10 AM ? 2 PM as people are in meetings or at lunch.

  • Turn off your mobile phone if you are working on an important project.

  • Divert your desk phone to your mobile if you leave the office to avoid checking two voicemail systems.

  • Use the lift as your guide for turning your mobile on and off. When you are getting into a lift for a meeting, turn your phone off. When you leave the meeting to return to the foyer ? turn your mobile on. This avoids the embarrassment of your phone ringing in an important meeting.

    • Filing

  • If you hate filing, allocate 15 minutes to do your filing every Friday afternoon. Whatever is left over can wait until the following Friday.

  • Label the outside of filing cabinets for quick reference.

  • File your manila folders in drawer alphabetically to help you find things quickly.

  • Use a label maker to keep your files tidy and easy to read.

  • Use coloured manila folders for different projects i.e. blue for staff, purple for projects, pink for personal etc.

    • Desk Management

  • Get rid of your in-tray ? it is a holding area for paper. If you have to have one, put it out of your line of sight so you don't get distracted looking at it all day.

  • Remove all unnecessary files and paper off your desk to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

  • Keep your desk clear so you can focus on the task in front of you.

    • Reading

  • Create a reading file and every journal and 'FYI' document you receive, pop in the file and read once a week.

  • If you catch public transport to work carry your reading file with you so you can maximise your travel time.

    • General

  • Get a cleaner for your house ? pay someone else so you can enjoy your weekends.

  • Use couriers for odd jobs instead of spending your time driving and parking.

  • Order groceries and fruit online and have them delivered.

  • Stick a 'No Junk Mail' sign on your letterbox to avoid rubbish.

  • Open your mail over a bin so you can toss what you don't need.

  • Read your mail with a pen and make note on each document what action is required.

  • Pay your bills online to avoid cues and wasting your lunch times.

    • Neen is a Global Productivity Expert: by looking at how they spend their time and energy ? and where they focus their attention ? Neen helps people to rocket-charge their productivity and performance. A dynamic speaker, author and corporate trainer, Neen demonstrates how boosting your productivity can help you achieve amazing things. With her unique voice, sense of fun and uncommon common-sense, Neen delivers a powerful lesson in productivity.

    Subscribe to Neen's free monthly ezine at http://neenjames.com

    In The News:

    pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Overwhelmed? Try the Red Zone Tactic

    Some people seem to be born organized. You probably remember... Read More

    Four Easy Steps to An Organized Closet

    The National Association of Professional Organizers has dedicated January to... Read More

    Are You Stuck In The Clutter Trap?

    You arrived on earth without clutter. Your parents and doting... Read More

    Its Time To Clear Out! Clutter Busting For Every Aspect Of Your Life

    'A well-ordered life is like climbing a tower; the view... Read More

    Organizing Solutions for the Disorganized Entrepreneur

    After more than 20 years as an entrepreneur and a... Read More

    10 Simple Ways to Clear Clutter from Your Home and Office

    There is nothing worse then spending ten minutes looking for... Read More

    Do You Have A To-Do list?

    I have a huge white board in my home office,... Read More

    Thinking Outside the Box

    Much of my time as a Professional Organizer is spent... Read More

    Letting Go of Clutter In Your Office

    Some people would say I'm the last person in the... Read More

    Is Your To Do List The Problem?

    You start each week with great intentions. You are determined... Read More

    Letting Go Of Your Excuses

    At this point, you have probably run across some belongings... Read More

    Three Effortless Ways to Win the Paperwork Battle

    Buried under mountains of paperwork from your company? Do the... Read More

    Ending The Morning Madness

    Back-to-school time ? what does that mean to you? For... Read More

    Family Management Tip #3: Getting Ready for the New School Year

    Clothes. Check. School supplies. Check. No doubt you've got to... Read More

    10 Myths of Clutter Clearing

    1) It's easy to have a good clear out: Not... Read More

    Be More Productive - Books to Help You Be More and Do More!

    How many of us have enough time to do everything... Read More

    Change the Way You Think and Change Your Life

    Dennis is working as a factory worker during the day... Read More

    Sticking to Your New Years Resolutions: Ten Tips for a More Organized Life

    1. A calendar is an essential organizing tool ? start... Read More

    A Personal Action Plan for Change

    There are eight distinct steps to constructing and executing an... Read More

    Getting Organized For The New Year - Part 1

    The following procedures will insure an organized and well run... Read More

    Breathing Life Into Dead Spaces

    "I don't have enough room!" -- this is a common... Read More

    Have an Ugly Day

    "Do something every day that you don't want to-do; this... Read More

    Simplify Your Life! No Really...Simplify Your Life!

    We hear it every day."Buy this product, and simplify your... Read More

    Get Organized: 10 Universal Laws

    The Law of the 1st StepA good first step in... Read More

    Heres A Great Way To Organize Your Work From Home Office Virtually

    How to do keep track of all you have to... Read More

    Keep, Get Rid Of, Or Not Sure?

    Cleaning out can seem overwhelming -- especially if it's been... Read More

    Introducing the Power Hour Concept to Plough Through Mountainous Tasks

    Have you ever been totally overwhelmed by a massive task... Read More

    Files vs Piles

    I recently read an article that had some interesting but... Read More

    Feeling Overwhelmed and Unorganized? - How to Use Index Cards to Organize Your Life

    Feeling Overwhelmed and Unorganized? - How to Use Index Cards... Read More

    Effective Closet Cleaning Tips - Let Go of More Than Skeletons

    I know I have a problem when I have to... Read More

    35 Santity Savers - Get More Productive

    Use these 35 sanity savers this year to help you... Read More

    Without a Plan, You?re Doomed to Failure

    "My job is an endless series of deadlines, I am... Read More

    Organize Your Children & Save Your Sanity

    It may be difficult to relate saving money with organization... Read More