Scrolling through junk emails? Frantically searching for a logins and password you can't remember? Read on to get a few helpful hints that will help you save an hour a day, the simple way. #1 - Organize your many passwords and logins to keep them easily accessible. Use an address book to do just that. Start by making a 'new contact' for each of your on-line accounts (i.e. frequent flier account, business email accounts, etc). Record pertinent information, such as the URL, password, login and account number, in the notes section under the contact heading. Be sure to set up a code to protect this information. For example, add two numbers and two letters to the beginning and end each password. Your real passwords will be obvious to you, but not to anyone else. #2 - Simplify Your Email Inbox! There are three types of email: 1. Junk mail. 2. Emails that require an immediate response or action. 3. Emails you want to read or are interesting in content (but do not require immediate action). You know what junk email is, so immediately delete it and then open and read the urgent emails, if you can. Make a "To Read" folder for the emails you find interesting but are not urgent in matter. Use email folders to continue the organization and make it your goal to clear out your inbox at the end of every business day when possible. If you can't respond fully to an urgent email, make an "Urgent" folder and make it a priority. Delete forwards and don't feel obligated to read or even open them. If you are interested in reading a certain email forward, but don't have time at the moment, use that "To Read" folder. Don't put urgent emails in that folder, better yet, send a personalized response right away and stop responding when an interchange has served its purpose. Diligently go through your "To-Read" folder and clean it out at the end of the work week. #3 - Try an experiment of scheduling your To-Do List into your daily calendar. For example, if one of your To-Do List items is "find a tree-trimming service", than put it into your calendar as an appointment - "Thursday, 10:00am-10:15am, find tree trimming service". Many things on your list will take less than 15 minutes, but schedule each such item for 15 minutes anyway. You will have about 12 "to do" items scheduled in a 3-hour time period, you will probably accomplish everything on the list early and will have had time to handle interruptions. Generally speaking, however much time you give yourself to complete a specific task is how much time it will take. If you give yourself two hours, you will probably get the project or list of small "to-do's" done in two hours. If you give yourself all day, it will most likely take you all day. When you focus your energy and give yourself a little deadline, you will get more done in less time and usually do it better. It's like finishing that 5-page college research paper in one night. Heidi DeCoux is the publisher of the Life Made Simple E-zine and a professional organizer in Minneapolis specializing in home organization. Heidi energizes her readers' by simplifying their homes & schedules. For more info, free tips, and to receive her FREE Report: The Fast & Easy Way to Get Organized and Stay Organized Forever, visit ClearSimpleLiving.com. | ||
Friday, 27 November 2009
3 Simple Ways to Save an Hour a Day
