129 Ways to Manage your Time?

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23 June 2010 11 CommentsBy Sarah Shaw

Wow – this has been such a blast to read! I have this discussion with just about every client….and it often comes up on my Ask Sarah calls……and constantly with friends and colleagues. Are we running out of time? Feels like it to all of us at some point I’m sure! As much as I rely on my schedule running like clockwork, we can all get distracted. I have taken a liking to my Google calendar as I can share it with my assistant who feels free (I begged her to order me around) to post things I need to do that I don’t even know about…..Guest blogs I am suppose to write, interviews she schedules, my twins doctor appointments etc… and this awesome reminder pops up and gives me a 10 minute warning!

I am sure you can find some fabulous time saving tips and tricks from my 129 Entreprenette Experts who so generously gave a few moments of their precious time to help you out.

1. Just say no

Time Management Idea: I've found the secret for managing my time is not take on more than I can manage. I've added the word "no" to my vocabulary. If the request or project doesn't advance my goals, I don't do it. If I don't want to go to the social event, I politely decline. With so many people and things pulling me in so many directions, I have to take charge of my time and carefully choose how I spend it.

Thanks to: Charlene Anderson of Purveyor of All Things Creative.

2. Eat That Frog!

Time Management Idea: After reading Brian Tracy's "Eat That Frog," I started doing what he suggests in his book. You basically pick the one task that you dread the most that day, and get it off your plate first. Some people say to start with something easy so that you pick up momentum, but when you get the thing you most dread off your plate first thing, you REALLY build up momentum and confidence for the day. The rest of the day is a breeze, and you have nothing looming over your head draining your energy!

Thanks to: Brandi Hamrick of You Grow, Girl!.

3. No Phone Zone

Time Management Idea: Mornings are no phone zones in my office. AM hours are devoted to writing,sending bios and press releases for shows, collecting my thoughts and making my daily to-do lists for my clients. I check messages at noon and return calls from noon to one. If a phone conference is necessary, it is sheduled on my work calendar.
This small tweak in my office routine keeps me focused and on task. As a solo entreprenette, time management is essential and no phone zones help me increase productivity.

Thanks to: Tammy Brackett of Moonstruck Promotions.

4. Frankly, my dear, I Plan

Time Management Idea: I couldn't live without my legal-sized Franklin Planner. I've tried other types of planners and other sizes, but this one works for me. It's large enough that I can fit File folders into it. Mine has handles so I can carry it like a briefcase. I can keep track of appointments, projects, contact info all in one planner. My entire life is in there.

Thanks to: Dawna Boehmer of Dawna Boehmer's Studio LLC.

5. Task by Task: Accomplished

Time Management Idea: The only way for me to make sure "it" all happens is to complete one task at a time. Multi-tasking doesn't work. Be efficient with your time: write a list of all that needs to be done, post it where you will see it. Begin with the foundation task that sets the stage for all others, and build on it. When you come to a task that gives you anxiety; the one that you want to avoid, take a deep breath, swallow hard and do it! Cross each task off the list as you finish. You will feel deep satisfaction!

Thanks to: Shari Berkowitz of shari b. jewelry.

6. Affordable Organization!

Time Management Idea: I find that having a system of checks and balances is key. I have a publicist/ assistant that sends me daily reminders that are also on google calendar, in an excel spreadsheet, on my physical calendar and my calendar on my iPhone for when I'm out. For virtual assistants, there are a lot of affordable options, so research! I make a list of everything that I can have others do, but must be done. Twitter, FB, some blogs - source it all out and if you are very specific - no stress, less work!

Thanks to: Angela McKeller of Kick Back and Kook!.

7. Get your face on each day!

Time Management Idea: After you take care of all of your "people" (kids and hubbies) in the morning, had your coffee and squeezed in a workout (ya right), shower up and put on your face. I always make sure I am dressed in something presentable and somewhat cute and have my makeup on and hair in place. It helps me feel professional and ready to tackle anything the day has to offer. I sets my mind in business mode!

Thanks to: Kristina Godfrey of Junger-Godfrey PR.

8. Social Media can be too Social

Time Management Idea: As we all know social media is a must in todays world of online marketing, I have found that it is very time consuming and I am always finding more and more to do. What happened? I was not getting the rest of my daily tasks done. So I have now time limited my Social Media Activities. I do 45 mins at the start of the day - I use hootsuite which allows me to post later in the day and then at the end of the day I do another 40 mins.
Between Hootsuite and Alltop I have worked a great set up!

Thanks to: Shari Wright Pilo of The Friendship Stone .

9. Beyond The Daily Schedule

Time Management Idea: I use a calendar to manage my time, but it goes beyond just a "calendar" of events. Each month I write out my goals for the year. It reinforces them and refocuses me. Each week I identify the key objectives I want to focus on in relation to my goals. I then create the action items on my calendar. Each day I review the calendar and adjust what I didn't complete. At the end of the week I review and determine where I'm getting off track consistently so I can adjust behaviors or projections.

Thanks to: Melissa McClain of melissaAnne Photography and Design.

10. FOCUS! FOCUS! FOCUS!

Time Management Idea: Yes, focus is a key word in every business owner's vocabulary! With all the multi-tasking that must take place in order to make it through the day and move forward, how does one stay focused? My tips for staying focused are simple: (1) Be organized always (2) Power hours are productive hours (3)Make priority lists
(4) Making appointment to speak to clients through video or phone.

Incorporating good focus habits into your daily ritual will help to achieve your goals one at a time!

Thanks to: Mary Winkenwerder of Beaute Publicist.

11. Use Your Waiting Time

Time Management Idea: Every where I go that I have to wait I use as my creative time. I carry a note pad with me everywhere and I use the time that I have to sit and wait for others, at appointments, picking kids up for school as my time for brainstorming on what needs to be done and new idea's and concepts I want to explore. I've had some really creative moments just waiting!

Thanks to: Julie DeFruscio of Girly Girl Studio A Custom Handbags.

12. Phone Time Management

Time Management Idea: My biggest time saver is the rule I have made with my family and friends. I let everyone know that even though I am a SAHM that my home is a place of business and I am at "work" from 9:00am until the post office closes at 7:00pm. I am not going to answer the phone during those times - so do not call unless there is an emergency! I want to have time to spend with my kids and run a business from home, but I have no time to spend talking on the phone.

Thanks to: Tressa Brittell of Puppycatmeow!.

13. Work Your Body

Time Management Idea: I go to the gym 3 days a week and while my body is doing its thing, my mind makes lists (to write down later), works out fine details of current projects, runs home-movies of the previous days events, and dreams up new products to design...ALL before breakfast!

Thanks to: Michele Palenik of Purple Cloud Studio.

14. Note to Self - Timed Emails

Time Management Idea: No matter what I try, email always trumps everything. I sit down to tackle my TO DO list, but first I check my email, and... Hello, afternoon! What the @#$! happened to my day?

So I decided to Become One with my enemy. For important TO DO items in the future, I write an email to myself and include links and doc locations if needed, and schedule it for later delivery. When I receive my "Me-Mail," it's within the flow of what I'm already doing - and I see it, act on it, and keep on schedule.

Thanks to: Ann Baker of PR-123.

15. The Early Bird "Eats the Frog"

Time Management Idea: I work from my home studio and often start the day at 4:00 or 5:00 a.m., hours before the house gets bustling with activity, demands and interruptions. That enables me to focus on the most important things first--or "eat that frog," as Brian Tracy wrote--and take the smaller tasks in bite-sized pieces or school-hour chunks throughout the rest of the day.

Thanks to: Nora Firestone of ThankingOfYou.com.

16. Say no to meetings/conf calls

Time Management Idea: At least one day or afternoon a week I block out with no meetings or conference calls. This helps me focus on my to do list, pressing deliverable or many times just to focus on brainstorming and longer term business strategy and new ideas.

Thanks to: Ty Rarick of Nuo.

17. Make Productive Hours

Time Management Idea: I manage my time by setting blocks of time to really, really get some real and valuable work done. When I commit myself to time blocks for work, I get work done efficiently and do not check the clock or anything. I just push along and add some real value.

Thanks to: Danny Wong of Custom Men's Dress Shirts | BL.

18. Keep it visually on your mind

Time Management Idea: The thing that helps me stay focused is giving myself constant and sometimes obnoxious visual reminders. On my laptop, the flagging system and my tasks in Outlook have been a huge help with that. I made it so that anything flagged or overdue comes up in hot pink. And at my desk, I make use of sticky notes! Having the perpetual reminders makes it so that I cannot ignore them until they are finished. The gratification of checking the box or crumpling the paper is such motivation!

Thanks to: Chrystal Simmons of Chrystalyn.

19. Baby Sitters

Time Management Idea: If you are a mom and starting your own from home business my best tip to manage your time is to get a baby sitter. If you have at least half of your day to be productive without a little one running around your day will go so much easier and you will feel like you are accomplishing so much more. Which leaves you time to dedicate to your child without worrying about what you need to get done.

Thanks to: Zoe Olver of Sleepy Moon Design.

20. Managing MoM

Time Management Idea: I work out of my home studio. First I keep journals in every room in the house.They make there way to my desk and I tackle them one at a time. At the end of the day all journals are put back in their respective rooms to help me for the next day. Then I have a 5' by 15' section of wall that I painted with chalkboard paint that I also write things to do and ideas on. So I am always surrounded with reminders. T I can always write down what I think of and make LISTS LISTS AND MORE LISTS!

Thanks to: Leiann Klein of Love and Kindness.

21. EXCEL in Your Business

Time Management Idea: Create an Excel sheet and list as many of your to-dos as you can think of. These can include to-dos throughout the year. Beside each task, establish a deadline (i.e. launch new website - December 1, 2010). This will help you determine the importance and urgency of each task.

Thanks to: Heather Patterson of Braelyn Bounty Bug / Bumposity.

22. Prioritize by Number

Time Management Idea: Each day I make my to-do list, I jot down everything that needs doing in no particular order.

Then I go back & give each item a priority number.

Anything numbered 1 is a must do (no more than 3 of these), no matter what. Number 2's are also pretty important but it's not the end of the world if I don't get to it. Numbers 3 are 'if I have a some extra time today' (ha!) if not tomorrow is just fine.
If I only manage to cross a couple items off my list, I know they were most important.

Thanks to: Dashiel St. Damien of Sunny SleeveZ.

23. Let it flow and light a fire.

Time Management Idea: It’s about building a healthy relationship with time! I set an end time for my work. I ‘let it flow’ by honoring my natural rhythm & intuition. If I'm tired, I nurture myself first .. make a cup of tea, eat a piece of chocolate, or do breathing exercises. I ‘light a fire’ by creating enthusiasm with: “What am I excited to work on that will meet my goals the quickest.” This energizes and focuses me. I use lists & wise action to switch between 'letting it flow' and 'lighting a fire.'

Thanks to: Rena Hatch of Stretch Beyond Stuck.

24. Schedule Your Success

Time Management Idea: The appeal of being an entrepreneur? Freedom. The flexibility to set your own hours and do what you want when you want. The big surprise of being an entrepreneur? Having to give yourself structure. Without a set schedule, it's nearly impossible not to be online all day and night, so by setting up a simple spreadsheet that shcedules out what I am to do each hour (9-10 email; 10-11 research; 11-12 write; 12-1: lunch), it keeps me on track, goal-focused, out of the fridge and off of Facebook!

Thanks to: Kelly Lee of BussBuss.com.

25. Write It All Down!

Time Management Idea: First thing in the morning plan out your day by making a to do list with everything you need to do. You can use numbers or symbols to prioritize tasks or list them in order. At the end of the day it is important to mark off what was complete and move your unfinished tasks to the next day. Setting priorities and managing your time helps you stay focused and hopefully accomplish more!

Thanks to: Sheena Edwards of Lizzie Lou Shoes.

26. Author fights the oooh shiney

Time Management Idea: I've tried everything you can imagine. The thing that finally worked for me was determining the times of day I was most productive. I used Charlie Gilkey's heat map of productivity. I tracked the times I was productive for a week. After the week, I was able to see that there are times of the day that I'm useless. There are also times when I'm highly productive. I was making appointments in high productivity times! I've learned to hoard the high productivity times. It works like magic.

Thanks to: Claudia Hall Christian of Cook Street Publishing.

27. Use Your Egg Timer or Bust!

Time Management Idea: This tip saves me two hours per day!
Grab one of those ticking egg timers--make sure it ticks and isn't digital to give a sense of urgency--and use it to pull yourself out a huge time waster, EMAIL. In the morning, spend just eight minutes giving your email a quick look and responding to urgent emails. Then SHUT EMAIL and work on your top priority project. Set your timer again before lunch and before leaving the office--Only check email then. Liberate yourself from the quicksand of email!

Thanks to: Dr. Barnsley Brown of Spirited Solutions: Speaker&Coach.

28. Step away from the Computer!

Time Management Idea: It is easy to get sucked into email, so for my tip I want to share how you can stop being sucked into your computer! Try just checking emails twice a day, once in the morning then again in the afternoon. Do other jobs that don't involve email, and shut off the sound so you don't get an alert every time you receive an email or message.
Try organizing your email so when you receive them, they go into specific folders, then you can check those folders by order of importance as time permits.

Thanks to: Michelle Dunn of Michelle Dunn, columnist, author.

29. 1x Only

Time Management Idea: To effectively manage my time, I religiously follow the touch it once rule. If I touch it, open it or answer it: I take action. This enables me to stay focused and avoid going back to an open issue over and over.

Thanks to: Sunni Patterson of EXOTIC elegance .

30. Color your way to more $$$!

Time Management Idea: Do your surroundings inspire & support you or do you become agitated, have trouble focusing or become fidgety? If so, managing your time, not to mention your bottom line could be negatively affected. So, use natural lighting rather than fluorescent & softer more even toned colors that don't overwhelm, shades that have more depth. Combine one primary w/ a neutral or keep the brighter shade as an accent wall, keep it simple, organized & appealing...then focus & improve your stream of income!

Thanks to: Lauren S. Henry of With a Brush of Love.

31. Your energy matters!

Time Management Idea: Do you feel tired? If so your energy is suffering. It is your energy you need to manage not your time. We are not made to go full speed like machines 24 hours a day. Check in with your body, tune into your own energetic rhythms. How is your physical, emotional and mental energy? How is your sense of vitality? Research shows the key to high performance is by taking short breaks and reclaiming your lunch break. You can get more done in less time, be more engaged and with more sustainability.

Thanks to: Jayne Warrilow of Max Intuitive Entrepreneur.

32. Good Night to Breakfast

Time Management Idea: When they said Wheaties are for Champions they weren't joking. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and starts the day off right for time management. I find when I have a good night's rest and a well balanced breakfast the rest of the day will fall in place.

My favorite is a small fresh fruit smoothie, oatmeal and hot tea. And don't forget a large glass of water. Staying hydrated will keep your head clear. Sometimes I even add mint to my water for some extra herbal clarity.

Thanks to: Sabrina Chapman of Sabrina Chapman Public Relations .

33. Ta-da!! List

Time Management Idea: My good bit of advice is to always remember to make a "ta-da!" list. This is a list of all the valuable things that you have accomplished in your business, big or small. Make a "ta-da!" list and post it where you can refer to it often for affirmation and reassurance. That way, when you have a bad day and you are getting down on yourself about all the things on your current list yet left undone, you can look at the "ta-da" list and regain a positive perspective again. You can do it! Ta-da! !

Thanks to: Laura Miranti of Board Boook Albums, LLC.

34. Leave Out the Drama

Time Management Idea: In order for you to have the most productive day at work, you can not let yourself be distracted by any personal problems/drama that is not work related. I remind myself everyday when I walk into work to leave any of the frustrations I am facing outside of the workplace at the door so that I can have a clear head when facing my daily work load.

Thanks to: Joel Rudy of Photographic Solutions.

35. One at a Time

Time Management Idea: Even though I am always trying to multi-task and get many projects done at once, I always make myself step back from all of my projects and face each one head on. Focusing on one project at a time and giving it the time and attention it needs allows me to complete three or four projects that are error-free and exceptional everyday, rather than finishing five or six projects that are less than satisfactory.

Thanks to: Lisa Sevajian of Route 495.

36. All in Sync

Time Management Idea: Utilizing organizational tools like my Outlook calendar and tasks “to do” lists makes my day so much more productive. I also have my calendar synched to my phone so that I am always able to view my schedule and my “to do” lists for the day—whether I am at my desk or out for a meeting. I never have to waste time searching for old emails about what time a conference call is because I just look at my calendar to view all of my scheduling for the day

Thanks to: Kelly O'Ryan of New England Moves.

37. Setting Expectations

Time Management Idea: Always set realistic expectations. It's always best to run your business by under promising so you can always over deliver and exceed your customer's expectations.

Thanks to: David M. Stone of Photographic Solutions.

38. If you're using Google Apps...

Time Management Idea: I take full advantage of Google Tasks and Google Calendar reminders that push to my HTC EVO 4G Android phone so when I wake up every morning I know exactly what's on my plate for the day. Any business that relies on Google as its email provider should also take advantage of Google Tasks and Calendar. With a few clicks you can add to-dos that link to specific emails along with event reminders really help keep you organized.

Thanks to: Jon West of 3tailer.

39. Do It Right The First Time

Time Management Idea: Wasting time is one of the biggest problems facing a manager; there are unproductive meetings to attend; petty grievances amongst co-workers, and small details which should have been delegated can consume a large portion of the day. My tip would be: You may think you don't have time to do it right, but you will always find the time to do it over. I manage my time by doing it right the first time around.

Thanks to: Dr. Madeline Lewis of Deline Institute.

40. When I'm done, I'm done!

Time Management Idea: As an entrepreneur and mom of three, I have to carefully schedule my work hours and carefully guard my family time. I have learned to only hit send/receive at the beginning of my work time, so that I am not sucked into the never-ending list of new e-mails. Once I'm done for the day, I'm done.

Thanks to: Heather Ledeboer of Mom 4 Life LLC.

41. Be Realistic

Time Management Idea: I find that I am the most productive when I try to set realistic expectations for myself. When I am given a project, I always review the criteria, collect all of the materials as soon as possible, and ask about a due date. If I ever feel that the due date or any of the components of my project are unrealistic, I try to negotiate a realistic timeframe for myself.

Thanks to: Brian Kearney of Neponset Valley Construction .

42. Getting the undone done!

Time Management Idea: Schedule a business planning day once per month. A total day devoted just to work on your business. This day can also be used to work on the items you never seem to get off your to-do list. It works great to have a accountability partner that you call first thing in the morning and state your intentions for the next 2 hours and then call every two hours and check in with updates. This can keep you focused, productive and accountable. It is best if you work somewhere with no interruptions.

Thanks to: Cathy Sexton of The Productivity Experts.

43. Utilizing An Hour of Power

Time Management Idea: To help manage my time and keep me focused, I take an hour of power at least 4-5 times a week. On this hour, I'll start off at a brisk walk, thinking about what I'm already grateful for in my life. This usually includes family, friends, even material things, whatever comes to mind. From there, I'll go into a faster jog, and begin thinking about the day, including goals I'll be accomplishing. This really helps to improve my desire and gets me really motivated for the day!

Thanks to: B. Barks of Sprained Ankle Institute.

44. You Can't Manage Time

Time Management Idea: I don't try to manage time because it never listens. Instead, I manage my energy to make sure my most important tasks are being worked on when I have the most energy.

Thanks to: Tyler Tervooren of Advanced Riskology.

45. Get rid of your voice-mail

Time Management Idea: A little more than a year ago I decided to disable the voice-mail feature on my work phone. The reason was simple: whenever someone was not able to reach me they would leave me a voicemail and then they would send an email in regards to the same question. So I had to listen and then read the same request. Since all my business contacts use email, I disabled my voicemail, leaving a recording inviting the caller to send me an email. It saved me a few minutes everyday!

Thanks to: Herve Andrieu of Telecom North America.

46. Three Time Tricks at Work

Time Management Idea:
I take five minutes at the end of the day and review my appointments for the next day.

Then, I enter "A items," "reading," and "contacts" in my calendar.

"A items" are critical projects that need attention--proposals, web site improvements, analysis. One 90 minute segment per day.

"Reading" includes web research and important e-mails. Maximum 60 minutes a day.

"Contacts" include calls and e-mails to prospects, clients and marketing partners. Maximum 45 minutes per day.

Thanks to: Mitch Feigenberg of Build My Platform.

47. White board for Planning a Day

Time Management Idea: In order to help me save time on a daily basis I write down activities on my white board beside my desk in order to ensure that I don't get too off topic and work late into the night.

Thanks to: Marc Anderson of TalktoCanada.com.

48. Social Media Bad!!

Time Management Idea: Close Twitter and Facebook and minimize email. I do most of my work on the computer and I'm easily distracted by social media and email updates. When I really want to get my work done I have to turn them off so I wont be tempted.

Thanks to: Shay Olivarria of Bigger Than Your Block.

49. A Kitchen Timer Does The Trick

Time Management Idea: I break my time into chunks for everything on my to-do list - 15 minutes to read & post to Twitter & Facebook, 90 minutes to write blog posts, etc... And then I use an old fasioned kitchen timer to keep me on track. When the timer goes off, I move on to the next task.

Thanks to: Beth Andrus of The Essential Business Handbook.

50. Begone No Shows

Time Management Idea: I manage my time by making lists and prioritizing them. Planning ahead is essential in business and in life. Write down appointments immediately and confirm them at least 24 hours in advance. Your time is valuable.

Thanks to: Debra Kasowski of The Millionaire Woman.

51. Chunk & Prioritize

Time Management Idea: Break the day into chunks of time and assign a task to the block. Highest priority tasks are assigned to the first blocks of the day & less important things are left for the end of the day. Taking care of the highest priority activities dramatically boosts productivity.

Thanks to: Bob Firestone of FireWalker Media.

52. I Like Lists

Time Management Idea: I have to manage my time wisely to be the best husband, father, teacher and book promoter that I can be. The best way I manage my time is using lists. I am old-fashioned and write down the things I have to do and cross them off as I complete them.

Thanks to: Dannny Kofke of Thrive On A Teacher's Salary.

53. Use a to-do list properly.

Time Management Idea: I write down EVERYTHING that needs to get done, go back, and designate due dates. Don’t have too many due on one day! Or say, “Five things are getting done on my list today.” Doesn’t matter what they are. Lastly, I keep my list on my BlackBerry. Put the letter “A” in front of the tasks that are most important, “B” for second most, and so on. The most important tasks go to the top, and you focus on them before advancing to B, C, etc. Remember, decide what gets done & do it.

Thanks to: Logan Lindabury of Happiness Can Help.

54. Start the Day with a Plan

Time Management Idea: I have a ten minute daily meeting with my assistant first thing in the morning, usually before anyone else arrives. We list my priorities and identify appointments for the day. We identify projects that may be delegated. Certain key tasks are are set down for an appointment. I sign or approve any correspondence at that meeting as well. Inevitably some emergency arises that changes the course of the day and adjustments are made, but this daily meeting really helps get me focused for the day.

Thanks to: Tom Tuft of Tuft & Arnold Law Offices.

55. Time Management Takes a Timer

Time Management Idea: I set a kitchen timer to go off every 15 minutes during the time I've allotted for social media publicity for my company and for my clients’ companies. I follow fascinating people and companies and click readily on the links they share to learn what’s new and what they think is important. Getting caught up in the experience is part of the experience, but the timer reminds me to check my to-do list to make sure my hour spent with social media is an act of development, not distraction.

Thanks to: Anne Giles Clelland of Handshake 2.0.

56. Use Zumo Drive

Time Management Idea: Use Zumo Drive. It is a secure online program that allows you to pull up (and back up) all your saved documents from any computer. This includes files, pictures and even music. Never be without that important document again! And it's free! visit www.zumodrive.com.

Thanks to: Cameo Person of VIP Mobile Day Spa.

57. do the To Do

Time Management Idea: I live on my To Do list and thereby ensure a good night sleep. Just before turning in spend 5 - 10 minutes creating your To Do list for the next day. The point here is - don’t carry this information with you to bed, write it down so that in the morning when the organized list is in front of you, items can be knocked off in no time flat. Sleeping on it only leads to nervously waking up in the night trying to remember the list and invariably forgetting most of it by the a.m.

Thanks to: Ronit Rogoszinski of Arch Financial Group.

58. Ding Dong, the Drifting's Dead

Time Management Idea: My favorite time management tip: Ding! Use a timer! Focus, focus, focus on a single task for a predetermined amount of time (maybe an hour at the most). Using a timer makes it really effective and do-able.

And employing a computer-based program, not something physical that actually tick-tocks is key!

You'll be surprised at what you accomplish!

Ding! On to the next item!

Thanks to: Tara Nelson of Tara Nelson Concepts.

59. Google docs can be a timesaver

Time Management Idea: With an expanding business and ever-growing team here at Behind the Burner, we must stay focused and organized. CEO, Divya Gugnani came up with an idea to keep everyone on task, including herself. The team compiles a master list, each one with their own tasks for the week and keeps it in google docs. This allows the team the ability to view and share the list with each other. This way everyone can check in on other team members' work. The Behind the Burner team is extremely productive.

Thanks to: Divya Gugnani of Behind the Burner.

60. Vison Creates Productvity

Time Management Idea: Create a very strong and valuable Vision and mission statements, both for the business and personal. Once you have this in place, every choice can be place against these and become a yes-no choice. The actions either fit or do not fit with the vision. If it fits, great, now prioritize it and get it done. If not, drop it, forget it and move on.

With the yes items the priority list, block time, power hours & such make more sense, items actually fit values, goals, all else are distractions.

Thanks to: Harlan Goerger of AskHG.com.

61. Two words: Intern Program

Time Management Idea: There ain’t no labor like free labor, right? Think about how much of your time is spent completing menial tasks. A good intern program will get that back for you immediately. Running a well-oiled Intern Program takes some time and effort, but if done correctly, your startup stands to reap real, direct rewards. For plenty more information and tips on setting up a successful program, follow my blog series about it at www.blog.entrustet.com

Thanks to: Jesse Davis of Entrustet.

62. Li$t Li$t Li$t

Time Management Idea: Create lists. More importantly, rank the list by volume. That may mean your return, immediate sales, money in the hand or short term payback.
For an entrepreneur or self employed, you have to balance making money
now that pays for the immediate, with "money later" that may produce
growth and opportunity. Too often, we attack the easy tasks on the list or the toughest ones to accomplish, but it is most important to do that which create revenue. This is how you grow your business or income.

Thanks to: Suzi West of Collier West.

63. Terrific Time Management

Time Management Idea: The way my employees and I work is every morning we each create a to-do list of the 6 most important projects we must complete that day before the day is over. Doing this keeps us all very focused on doing important work instead of doing unimportant busy work like checking email every 5 minutes and time wasters like that. The key is focus, focus, focus. It is hard but it sure works well and pushes productivity through the roof.

Thanks to: Peter Geisheker of The Geisheker Group Marketing Firm.

64. Follow the Money

Time Management Idea: In order to always manage time efficiently, entrepreneurs should simply follow the money.

The idea is to always do the revenue-generating tasks first. When planning the day or looking at a to-do list, always do whatever will bring in the most revenue the fastest, first. Everything else follows after that. Without revenue there is no business.

Thanks to: Wendy Weiss of The Queen of Cold Calling.

65. No more than 5

Time Management Idea: A list of 5 tangible items I have to get done in a day. I prioritize what is most important and I don't get as stressed. I am more focused and I end up doing more.
In the morning I ask, "What are 5 burning things I have to do today, no matter what?' Those are the top 5. Anything else is 'extra'.
When stressed, I ask, 'Will anything happen if I do it tomorrow?'
This has been freeing. I am energized by anything I get to after that. My life & attitude have improved. I enjoy my life more.

Thanks to: Zele Avradopoulos of ZOrganize.

66. Daily Power Status

Time Management Idea: I hold a 15 minute status meeting at 9:30 each morning with all members of the company (16 staff). We move quickly around the room (and through those who have called in from remote locations) detailing what we're working on for the day. By doing so, we are able to share knowledge and resources across all of our work. This 15 minutes probably saves me two hours of individual communication each day and greatly improves the quality and efficiency of our work.

Thanks to: Lori Gold Patterson of OJC Technologies.

67. Prepping for a Smooth Day

Time Management Idea: Before I pack up for the day, I prep all of my materials that I'll need for the next day, then I make a list of three things I need to finish in the morning and three things I need to finish in the afternoon. If I can complete more tasks, that's a bonus, but otherwise I'm focused on what I must get done.

Thanks to: Helene Segura, M.A. Ed., CPO®, of LivingOrder San Antonio.

68. Flexibility is key!

Time Management Idea: Try to have a relatively established daily schedule, yet remain flexible. That is, if you are a work-at-home mom, be sure to tackle the must-do items first thing when you get some "alone" time and try to accomplish small tasks while the kids are around if possible. However, be ready to throw that all out the window if needed.

Thanks to: Barbara Schantz of Baby Dipper, LLC.

69. Time Management Preparatiion

Time Management Idea: I stay focused by having a clear, clutter-free desk and having only the essential applications and/or paperwork open or nearby, so to minimize any time depleting distractions.

For example: when preparing for speaking events, I have my required materials close-to-hand to create or tailor my copy/presentation, to reflect the event's main agenda and theme.

Repeating this process creates a better result, and the event attendees benefit by receiving quality based, practical information.

Thanks to: Valerie Lothian of Internet Traffic List Building.

70. You CAN use ALL 24!

Time Management Idea: You really can use ALL 24 hours in a day in the way that works best for you.

I'm a night owl so I do admin and email stuff after 9 when my daughter's in bed, freeing up daytime for a yoga class for relaxation or running errands without crowds.

It's my responsibility to care for myself, my family and my business. God gave me 24 hours to do those 3 things, so why stress myself out making them fit in artificial timeslots? Schedule them when they make sense for you & your natural style.

Thanks to: Elene Cafasso of Enerpace, Inc. Executive Coaching.

71. Grab the gold ring

Time Management Idea: Spend the 1st 5 minutes in your office visualizing a "Golden Circle" around you. Close your eyes and visualize yourself inside this circle. My particular circle is golden, inspiring my money making potential. State your intentions for the day, silently or out loud, then sit for a minute to let those intentions integrate into the circle. You have now created your "to do" list, enclosed it in a circle to signify completion, and determined what you intend to accomplish for that day.

Thanks to: Akasha Halsey of Life Force Coaching.

72. Give a HOOT to save time!

Time Management Idea: Hootsuite, that is, or another social media aggregator like Tweetdeck, in order to manage multiple social network feeds on one screen. Check it in the morning and before the end of the workday, and try not to spend more than 15 minutes scanning and responding. The goal is to engage in a conversation, build the network, and spot trends without investing a great deal of time.

Thanks to: Ed Mayuga of AMM Communications.

73. Push Your Motivation Buttons

Time Management Idea: Feeling unmotivated can seriously affect your ability to do all the things you need to do that day. It's a productivity killer.

According to Steve Chandler, author of 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself: Change Your Life Forever , we all have personal motivation "on" buttons we can push at any time. We just have to know where those buttons are -- and have them at our fingertips when we need them the most.

Thanks to: Pete Savage of The Wealthy Freelancer.

74. Take Time to Incubate

Time Management Idea: Giving a project some incubation time (breaks) -- especially between natural steps in the process such as planning and writing or writing and polishing -- makes the work go much smoother and faster.

Example: Think of the last time you got stuck on a project. No matter how much you rack your brain, you just can't seem to make any progress. So you take a break, and go work on something else. Then, when you return to the project again, things just seem to flow. That's incubation at work.
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Thanks to: Ed Gandia of The Wealthy Freelancer.

75. Time Block Time Management

Time Management Idea: When I have tasks that I have to tackle, I set a timer for 55 minutes. This gives me a defined block of time to work. I take a 5-15 minute break and then reset the timer for another 55 minute block. Depending on the task, I may also use a 15-30 minute block of time.

The great thing about timers is you give yourself a start time and an end time. You can accomplish a lot when you know you only have a specified amount of time in which to work on the task.

Thanks to: Amy Crawley of Amy A. Crawley Fine Art.

76. Find more time for fun!

Time Management Idea: Every Sunday evening, I create a prioritized must-do task list for the coming work week. Prioritizing must-do tasks is key to time management. The benefits are numerous. I no longer "forget" to do something or waste time trying to remember what comes next. Organizing in this manner literally saves me 1-2 hours per day. This process enables me to accomplish more per day, feel good about my achievements and reduces stress. Most importantly, prioritizing allows me to enjoy the following weekend!

Thanks to: Elinor Stutz of Smooth Sale, LLC.

77. Keep writing time sacred

Time Management Idea: The first one to two hours of my day is sacred, set aside for writing and re-writing. It grounds my day. When another early morning activity trumps writing time, I feel like a bike without wheels. Writing is the foundation of what I do, so it is my priority, a necessity to start the day. Self-discipline is an essential part of my time management.Sometimes I'm very hard to manage.

Thanks to: Susan Tordella of Raisng Able Young People.

78. Feng Shui Your Time

Time Management Idea: As a consultant, I get paid hourly. I need time to plan, create new opportunities, market my business and for myself, family & friends. Each month I review where I spent time and my earnings. I recently resigned from a civic organization that took 3-4 hrs a week. I cut the time I work for a client, who pays the least, by 4 hrs a week. The result:I reclaimed 24-32+ hrs a month. In the last 2 weeks, I got a new client, was chosen to speak at a conference and will be featured in a magazine article.

Thanks to: Susan Bender Phelps of Odyssey Mentoring.com.

79. Slow the clock: step outside

Time Management Idea: My tip about managing time is to set some aside: always, always, ALWAYS take a break at some point in your day. At the very least, for 10-15 minutes, go outside, look at the sky, walk around your yard, listen to the birds.

Spending progressive hours at the computer on a project is a zero-sum game that will come back to bite you and your sense of productivity. Get refreshed by acknowledging that you're part of the world—and that it has a sky, not a roof.

Thanks to: Tom Bentley of The Write Word.

80. Work Smarter

Time Management Idea: Determine your most productive part of the day (mine is 4-6pm), when your energy level is high and you can remain focused. Make this time your 120 minute power time.

Thanks to: Bill Horton of BizFix.

81. Doing "Genius Work" using VA's

Time Management Idea: For things that can be done faster, more efficiently and where my value can be channeled into higher revenue generating activities, I definitely recommend using VA's. Worth the money and time so that you are free to focus on "genius work".

Thanks to: Anastasia Valentine of www.anastasia-valentine.com.

82. Set a Start Signal

Time Management Idea: When I tackle a task that requires complete focus, I start off with a long-held ritual of lighting a scented lavender candle and brewing a cup of peppermint tea. I think these simple physical actions draw my awareness away from all the stuff bouncing around in my head, slow down my thoughts, and push my to-do list aside to focus my attention on the task at hand.

Thanks to: Arwa Jumkawala of GemKitty Custom Jewelry.

83. Work Backwards

Time Management Idea: I look ahead and to see when I will have the next unscheduled chunk of time without something due - meeting, project, etc. I then work on the item that is due the furthest away from now. When I finish that item, I then complete the next closer item. How it helps me 1) gives me a peace 2) It keeps me from procrastinating. I just work backwards. 3) I know that any extra time is not needed for something critical and I can then decide what to do – research, or take some guilt free time for myself.

Thanks to: Chris Hill of SlicedTomato Productions.

84. Time Management is Simple

Time Management Idea: I PLAN what I intend to do before I do it. This includes establishing SMART Goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time Driven). I ORGANIZE my resources and ideas before I do it. I DO whatever it is I intend to do. I MONITOR my progress, and adjust as needed. I REWARD myself for accomplishments.

Thanks to: Antonio Vianna of Antonio F. Vianna.

85. Meeting with Myself

Time Management Idea: I make appointments with myself for important tasks. For example, I had a presentation to write so I blocked the time on my calendar and treated those minutes the same way as I would if it were an appointment with a client. It's a process that works well for me.

Thanks to: Elizabeth D. Cooley of Compass Organizing, Inc..

86. Leveled Out List

Time Management Idea: My biggest tip to new entrepreneurs is to 100% make a list and somehow organize each item in levels of importance. I write a 1 next to the first item I must get to during the day, and so on and so forth. By prioritizing and marking off items as I get them done, even if I eventually don't get to the last few items, I can at least glance back at a list and feel I've accomplished much of what I set out to do. Logical and organized and I always 'treat' myself if the entire list is completed!

Thanks to: Morgan Cullen of Morgan Cullen, LLC.

87. Healthy and Efficient

Time Management Idea: Just as a car needs proper fuel, our bodies must also receive quality fuel in order to function efficiently. The good news is that healthy living does not have to be time-consuming! Change your definition of fast food to healthy options such as rotisserie chicken and frozen fruits and vegetables. Stay hydrated efficiently and inexpensively by keeping a mini-water cooler (about $17 on eBay)
at your desk or workstation. The more energy you have, the more you can accomplish!

Thanks to: Lisa Hall of Taking Charge of Your Own Health.

88. Write Stuff Down, Be Efficient

Time Management Idea: Managing time is the greatest challenge we all face daily.

If we use our time well, good things happen - if if not, perhaps nothing will happen. Here's what I do to try to get more done - I write everything I need to do down as it comes up.

This gives me time to think, allows for efficiency, and avoids becoming reactive. Doing all emails at once by itself clears up a lot of time.

Thanks to: David Gurevich of Health and Life.

89. Turn it off!!

Time Management Idea: Don't just close your email client - quit your email client. Otherwise the temptation is there to 'just take a quick look'. Check email only a few times a day, and try to make those set times.

Thanks to: Chris Patton of Cultivate.

90. Track All 4 Kinds of Time

Time Management Idea: There are 4 kinds of time. Think time CARD - Committed, Allocated, Routine, and Discretionary. Most entrepreneurs only plan one-Commitments with others-or maybe two-Allocating time for their own projects. The two others are the time to do daily, weekly Routine items and Discretionary time - windows to allow for the fact that plans never go quite as we expect, take longer than we think or are interrupted. Only plan 2 or 3 commitments or allocations in a day unless you can delegate the routines.

Thanks to: Susan Lannis of Organization Plus! Inc..

91. Be your own project manager

Time Management Idea: Since I handle both technical and operations tasks in my business, it's a constant struggle to see which hat is going to be more important to wear on a particular day. In our project management system, I have created a project especially for operations tasks and assign them to myself with priorities and deadlines just like in any other project.

Thanks to: Leila Johnson of Data-Scribe(r).

92. Identify The Top Priorities

Time Management Idea: I identify the main tasks that must be completed the next day (no more than 10). I write them on my planner or blackberry. These are the first items on my agenda the following day before I check my email or return phone calls.

Thanks to: Rivka Caroline of SoBe Organized.

93. We will NEVER get it all done.

Time Management Idea: To think we will actually get EVERYTHING finished is an unattainable and destructive myth.As soon as I finish one item on my to-do list, another is created.I can empty my inbox and in an hour it will be full again.I can catch up with all my clients, then a new request will pop up.For entrepreneurs, there is always something more to do.At some point we must declare our work "complete" for the day otherwise we will run ourselves into the ground.The only time we are truly "done" is when we die.

Thanks to: Kristen Moeller of Author of "Waiting for Jack".

94. It's All in the Organization!

Time Management Idea: I have a vertical file on my desk labeled: Speaking (Monday), Consulting Clients (Tuesday), Specific Impulse/my husband's new novel (Wednesday), Writing (Thursday), Personal (Friday). Unless something or someone is on fire, whatever comes in on a daily basis goes into the designated file or into a similarly labeled file in Outlook for emails.I only work on those things on the assigned day. I can focus on one thing and do a better job on all!

Thanks to: Dayna Steele of Speaker Dayna Steele.

95. Mobile Reminders

Time Management Idea: Create a Google calendar with push reminders to your phone. Make sure to include more than the standard appointments but also daily tasks, phone calls, & reminders. I find it’s nice to also include messages to myself such as “Are you being productive?”. This makes me question the use of my time, and whether I am doing busy work or being productive.

Thanks to: Tyler Byrd of Matradee, Inc.

96. And breathe...

Time Management Idea: Tip…

Add 15-20% to your time estimates of how long things will take (a little like what you do when you get a contractors estimate for construction work.) This will get you ahead of the maddening curve of modern-day like.

And breathe...

Thanks to: Alan Goldstein, DDS of Laser Dental Care.

97. Think Days, Not Hours

Time Management Idea: As the President of a small PR consultancy with international clients, my hours are weird. That said, I approach time management from a daily perspective rather than hourly, dedicating certain days during the week as "in-house" and scheduling all my out-of-office meetings on others. This allows me to focus more clearly on the task at hand -- whether it be production work or business development -- and better deal with fluctuations in workload, which benefits my clients as much as myself.

Thanks to: David Menzies of Menzies Consulting, Inc..

98. Nice, online list maker

Time Management Idea: I'm a strong supporter of using lists to best manage time. That's why I was happy to find TeuxDeux (http://www.teuxdeux.com). Its genius is in its simplicity—it does exactly what you'd want an online list maker to do.

Every member of our staff uses this app. to keep tasking organized and prioritized.

I hope this helps your readers.

Thanks to: Brian Law of Prime Design Solutions.

99. Exercise Databook

Time Management Idea: Schedule time to exercise. I actually write "exercise" as a calendar item in my outlook. It is so easy to work, work, work, but a little exercise goes a long way to jumpstart the fresh creative idea process essential to every entrepreneur.

Thanks to: peggy frank of Frank Public Relations Worldwide.

100. Pick Your Top Two Priorities

Time Management Idea: Identify two--and only two--top priorities for the day and get them done first thing in the morning. After that, anything else is gravy.

Thanks to: Dorie Clark of Clark Strategic Communications.

101. Highlight and chunk tasks

Time Management Idea: I'm horrible at doing multiple things at once, so I don't even try. Instead, at the start of every day I create a list of everything that needs to be done that day. Then I highlight the few tasks on that list that absolutely must be done that day. Then, I start there, doing one task at a time until all the highlighted tasks are done. I also try to do similar tasks together. So, for instance, if I have 5 phone calls to make, I'll do them all consecutively instead of doing a few here and there.

Thanks to: Brianna Sylver of Sylver Consulting.

102. Avoid The Wandering Syndome

Time Management Idea: Time management is a bear for entrepreneurs. It is easy to “wander” and get distracted. To deal with this syndome, I created a daily schedule and split it into three sections: Morning, Mid-Day and Afternoon. I list the tasks and time allotments for each activity (in each section). There is space to write down the 5 things that I want to accomplish for that day. It is not so rigid that I can’t move things around. The point is to have a guiding document and a record of accomplishments.

Thanks to: Veronica Mayo of Vemayca.

103. Avoid shiny things!

Time Management Idea: My best tip is to keep a half-hour open at the end of each day to make a list of the most critical items to start with the next day. When I have that level of clarity and specificity, I almost always get through those items; without it I get distracted by the first shiny thing that comes by and off the day goes.

Thanks to: Marilyn O'Neill of Nautilus Environmental.

104. Ten Minutes Makes A Difference

Time Management Idea: My best advice on time management is to delay your email to check every 10 minutes instead of all the time or every minute. With my email delayed, I'm amazed at how much work I can get done in-between messages flying into my inbox.

I can remember emails at my last job flying in constantly. One can't help but look to see who is sending the message and what it is about, which can get distracting, lead to mistakes, and use a lot of time. Try 10 minutes; it will make a difference.

Thanks to: Brian Chandler, APR of Commonwealth Public Relations.

105. Ten Minutes Makes A Difference

Thanks to: Brian Chandler, APR of Commonwealth Public Relations.

106. The # One Productivity Tip

Time Management Idea: Never do more than 15 minutes of e-mail first thing in the morning. Don't use up precious energy by spending two hours in front of your computer answering e-mail! The 15 minutes you spend on e-mail is only for the most important messages that need an immediate response. All the other e-mails can be answered later in the afternoon or early evening.

Thanks to: Alan Vengel of The Vengel Consulting Group.

107. Busy life? Plan around it.

Time Management Idea: Start by listing 6 major items to be handled during the day (roughly one per hour). They must be significant enough to help you accomplish your goals but small enough that you can actually do it in the day. COMPLETING THE LIST EVERYDAY IS ESSENTIAL. Allocate time to each major item based on how long you need to complete it. The longest/toughest tasks should probably be done first. Be sure to also include 2 hours of miscellaneous time in case something throws you off.

Thanks to: Brian Kumarasamy of International Web Development .

108. Working out keeps it level.

Time Management Idea: I work 40-50 hours from home and I have two children and a husband with a varying schedule. I have no nanny. So I have to manage all this, and I have no choice but to do it well.
For me, the workout is key. But I have to get it in before anyone else gets up. I get up about 5/5:30 everyday and get my body moving, get those endorphins flowing. Once I start with carpool and then work, there is no more time. Having that workout helps me focus and get through the day.

Thanks to: Shane Shaps of 520 East Brands.

109. To-Do List no Longer Disppears

Time Management Idea: Finding Google Desktop (specifically the to-do lists) has saved me time, headaches and clients. I used to write my to-do lists on post it notes and they continually managed to float away. On my desktop, I can add things quickly and check them off when done. It especially works great for tasks that need time that I don't have at the moment. For example, when an email comes in right as I am leaving work that needs a detailed answer, I will read it, but then write a "to-do" to answer in the AM.

Thanks to: Julie Bonn Heath of JBH Marketing & PR.

110. Work early while others sleep

Time Management Idea: I design and manufacture women's clothing. The single best thing I do is get up 2 hours before my family, get my coffee, and go to my studio and work. The last thing I do the day before is make sure I have some production work ready--either cutting, sewing, or packing orders. That way I have a real feeling of accomplishment after my early morning work. No phone, no interruptions, no computer.

Thanks to: Marguerite Swope of Ivy Reed.

111. The Best Time Management Tip

Time Management Idea: When you're your own boss, your boss is watching you all the time. So act accordingly. Work just as diligently, as focused and as responsibly as you would if you were right under the nose of the best boss you ever had: the one you really wanted to please; the one you really wanted to impress. That means prioritizing your daily objectives and making sure the high priorities usually get advanced if not necessarily completed.

Thanks to: Barry Maher of Barry Maher & Associates.

112. Play "Beat the Clock"

Time Management Idea: I put time limits on just about everything -- it makes the most tedious tasks bearable and the guilty pleasures less guilty. When my to-do list is as long as my arm, I assign a time to every task. Seeing it all laid out in front of me shows me that it's doable, and the time limit motivates me to focus. It also works for bigger projects that keep waiting for a free weekend (what's that?) – if I spend just 10 or 20 minutes a day on them, I at least “advance the ball” and eventually finish.

Thanks to: Laura Brady Saade of Give Me 10!.

113. All hands on TweetDeck!

Time Management Idea: As a PR consultant, I monitor social media channels throughout to keep up with the latest news, especially news that could affect my clients. Trouble is, that can be a big time suck. Really big. To help me manage my time most efficiently, I use TweetDeck (www.tweetdeck.com). It's a free program that lets you separate your Twitter, Facebook, FourSquare and LinkedIn streams into columns on one screen so you can scan and search all posts quickly and easily. For me, Tweetdeck is a lifesaver.

Thanks to: Roger Friedensen, APR of Forge Communications.

114. Big picture for growth!

Time Management Idea: Put together a to do list at the end of every day! Second set a daily calendar event to review your top 10 personal and business goals every morning before you start your day. Last but not least adjust your to do list in order to insure you are staying focused on the big picture items highlighted by your top 10 personal and business goals. I believe this process ties long term goals and goal setting to short term day to day planning very effectively.

Thanks to: Dennis Brown of Logistic Dynamics, Inc..

115. The Central Question

Time Management Idea: You don't manage time, you manage priorities. It’s is about making good judgments about the value that can be created by your use of time and resources. I teach people to keep what I call "The Central Question" (of life) in mind at all times: "What choice can I make and action can I take, in this moment, to create the greatest net value?" This question is about a lot more than "time management." It helps people think better and align their priorities; focused on what matters most right now.

Thanks to: Peter Demarest of Valuecentrics, LLC.

116. Egg Timer Countdown

Time Management Idea: Set a timer (I use an old fashioned egg timer, but any type will do) for 15 minutes. See if you can work for 15 solid minutes on whatever it is you are procrastinating about doing. When the timer goes off, you can keep working or stop. Usually when I do this I discover that I was procrastinating over something that was easy and fast to do, or something that was actually kind of fun once I started..... at any rate it is something that gets me over the inertia of NOT doing the task.

Thanks to: Melissa Brumback of Construction Law in NC Blogger.

117. Time Can NOT be managed...

Time Management Idea: ...but my activities can. My activities are managed with an “emotion free system”. Everything gets a percentage of my time. And of course, the percentages will change over time with more success.
My “necessities” get 50% of my time
Each of the following get 10%:
Contribution – volunteer etc.
Paying myself first (me time)
Play – of course!
LTPS (my business /life plan)
Education – if I am not growing I am dying.
Time is valuable, there is no “wasted time”.

Thanks to: Barbilee Hemmings of Are You For Real?.

118. Thursday the NEW Friday

Time Management Idea: I do a weekly planning and strategy session OUT of my office on Fridays. I use this time to plan all of my projects and the steps to move them forward, one per column. From these lists, I then schedule them into the weeks ahead and create a delegation list for the members of my virtual team. I have recently added a virtual business manager to manage all of the projects that I have delegated. Now that summer is here, Thursday is the new Friday for these planning sessions.

Thanks to: Stacey Hylen of Business Optimizer Coach.

119. Map Out Your Enitre Day

Time Management Idea: I use Google Calendars. Every minute of my day is mapped out from email checking to client work to even tasks like checking HARO. Having these things written down with deadlines puts pressure on me to complete them and keeps me on task. I also have a call with my business partner every morning at 9am to make sure both of us have filled out our calendars and are doing the appropriate things.

Thanks to: Jared O'Toole of Under30CEO.

120. Focus -Do Just That!

Time Management Idea: To stay focused, do just that. Work on one item at a time, your top priorities, and do not check email or get distracted by other people or things. Allow voice mail to take your messages. Anything can wait an hour, except a fire.

If you focus for just 1 hour a day, you will accomplish more than if you do not focus at all.

Thanks to: Eileen Roth of Everything in its Place.

121. Say No to Post-its

Time Management Idea: I mastered Outlook for my tasks and managing my time which is crucial to my success. It keeps me focused, helps me be efficient and saves time. Most of the time I find myself working on multiple projects and each project has milestones, metrics and detailed tasks to be accomplished along the way.
Years ago in college studying accounting, I was taught to never handle the same piece of paper twice – either toss it, file it or take action on it. With electronic files, the theory still works.

Thanks to: Mark Zaifman of Spiritus Financial Planning.

122. Organize your team with a wiki

Time Management Idea: I put up everything on the wiki except salary and financial data. Putting all your internal company information and conversation on an internal website (a wiki), where all consultants/employees can access it. The more information your people have, the more they will be able to make smarter decisions on their own. And, you'll find that they contribute information themselves to the wiki that will make you better informed, which helps you make better decisions.

Thanks to: Christopher Sherrod of Abundance Unlimited.

123. Phone Calls Can Waste Your Day

Time Management Idea: Return your phone calls ONLY twice a day - in the morning when you get in and in the afternoon before you leave for the day. This will prevent you from jumping all over the place during the day and will let you focus on your work at hand.

Thanks to: Julie Eaton of Eaton Realty Advisors, Inc..

124. Time Saving Tips

Time Management Idea: Time is money - Use an online and mobile apps to track and update tasks/to-do list. being organized reduces stress.
Meetings must have be a huge waste of time. Follow these tips:
1-Always have an agenda
2-Set a specific allotted of time and hard end time
3-Send agendas ahead of time
4-Have goals
5-Take notes and transcribe – send to all participants
6-End meetings with follow up activities and action items
7-Set next meeting time and date at the meeting
8-Send reminders

Thanks to: William Corbett of Corbett Public Relations .

125. Time savers for entrepreneurs

Time Management Idea: Being a serial entrepreneur and training hundreds of entrepreneurs each week through live webinars, here are the top tools I use to keep things running smoothly:
1. Develop daily to do list
2. Train your employees on how to use to-do lists
3. Don't attend a meeting without an agenda including fixed start and end times!
4. Develop systems and checklists to manage your business
5. Plan your week in advance
6. Delegate
7. Outsource

Thanks to: Andrew Patricio of Bizlaunch.

126. Time Managed or Time Wasted!

Time Management Idea: One of the most effective and productive time management tools I share and use, is to use a timer. IT CAN BE ANYTHING from the oven
timer (home based) an alarm clock or a regular timer. A timer keeps you hyper-focused and on track. It also gives you a way to always be on time for appointments and if used properly will allow you to get 80% of the work done in 20% of the time.

Thanks to: Hazel Palache of Say Yes to YOU Coaching.

127. Wizard Tip

Time Management Idea: KNOW THYSELF AND TRACK YOUR EFFORTS – Are you a morning or an evening person? Do you find yourself more focused when you’re by yourself or in a busy environment filled with people? Knowing which one works for you will actually maximize the time you allot for each task. Try to experiment with what works for you and make an analysis after. For instance, I found out that I easily write during the morning than in the afternoon.
Cool tools: Toggl, Paymo and Basecamp.

Thanks to: Sofia Ribeiro of Kiwano Marketing.

128. Speed Date Your To-Do List

Time Management Idea: If your to-do list is overwhelmingly long, don't power through a single task. Instead, speed date your tasks. List from 3-10 tasks, one per line, on a piece of paper. Draw 3-4 columns to the right of your task list. Set a timer for exactly 5 minutes. Work on task 1 until the timer goes off. Put a check in task 1, column 1. restart the timer, and continue with task 2. Continue until you've worked 5 minutes on all tasks. Take a break then start over with column 2. You'll be amazed at the momentum.

Thanks to: Stever Robbins of Stever Robbins, Inc..

129. Manage Your Time & Sanity

Time Management Idea: Social media is a necessity for small business owners. Create a strategy for managing the process. Set aside specific times for updating, connecting, and sharing. One hour early in the morning before the day starts, sit down and create your messages for the day. They can be motivational messages, promotions, interesting articles, announcements. Use aggregator sites like Ping.fm and Hootsuite to schedule when you want them to go out. Then let the automation do it's job. It frees a lot of time.

Thanks to: Adrienne Graham of Empower Me! Corporation.

11 Comments »

Dr. Amicitia Maloon-Gibson said:
Time Management Tip: Place a value or dollar amount on your time. I can simplify it and say our time is priceless. As a former senior military manage and leader time is one of our greatest assest in being successful in any career. What work for me was creating a to do list and sticking to it. Emails and phone calls will consume your time, so check those at the end of the day. Open door policy is great for employees to see you, limit this time to Friday afternoons. Be on time and respect others time is a characteristics of a great leader.

# 23 June 2010 at 2:35 pm
Keeping a Log to Show I Really DID Accomplish Something TodayGive Me 10! | Give Me 10! said:
[...] — in an article on time management in “The Entreprenette Gazette”. The article is “129 ways to manage your time?” and mine is listed at 112 — what? I know this is not related to Give Me 10! unless my goal is [...]

# 23 June 2010 at 4:25 pm
Tom said:
These are great ideas, but the title is misldeading, so many people had the same tip. It would have been much more valuable for readers if someone took the time to go through and take out the redundant tips.

# 23 June 2010 at 8:51 pm
Sarah Shaw (author) said:
Tom,

We decided to keep in some of the redundant ones as we felt those were useful tips that skimmers might miss and catch further down the list. Believe me……we had to pass on about 50 more!

Thanks for your note,
Lucy (editor)

# 23 June 2010 at 11:20 pm
Home Office Mommy on Time Management « Home Office Mommy Magazine said:
[...] the fall, so if you want to get a jump on your time sooner hop over to Sarah’s site and read 129 Ways to Manage Your Time. [...]

# 24 June 2010 at 4:06 am
Home Office Mommy said:
Wow Sarah,

I had to blog about this list! http://homeofficemommymagazine.com/?p=594. After reading these tips I was able to say no to my husband in a way that was compelling for both of us. We have even decided to use some of these tips to take our business to the next level. Thanks so much!

# 24 June 2010 at 6:06 am
June said:
I really enjoy this gazette. I am a life coach junesteedlifecoach.com and find your ideas very helpful in my life and business world.

I have several ezine articles that may be of interest to readers, if you would care to google me.

June Steed

# 24 June 2010 at 3:42 pm
Kiwano Shares Time Management Tips | Kiwano Marketing said:
[...] Continue reading this article at the Entreprenette Gazette. [...]

# 24 June 2010 at 5:09 pm
In The News « Musings from the Moonroom said:
[...] recently had two leads published on dealing with time management. My tip is #75 on The Entreprenette Gazette and #43 on The Toilet Paper [...]

# 29 June 2010 at 3:05 pm
Home Office Mommy on Time Management | Home Office Mommy Magazine said:
[...] I didn’t even think to include a disclaimer about how starting a new venture online can throw a schedule to the wind for a short time. It’s another animal all together! That new resource is due out in the fall, so if you want to get a jump on your time sooner hop over to Sarah’s site and read 129 Ways to Manage Your Time. [...]

# 29 July 2010 at 7:34 am
VIP Mobile Day Spa-Cameo said:
All great tips! Organization is key when you own a business, have a family or a demanding job. You definitely need to work smarter, not harder to get things done in order to enjoy life. Thanks for the tips!

# 16 November 2010 at 8:58 am