Chasing Your Tail

Do you find yourself struggling with productivity? Do you chase your tail in circles with no end in sight? Here are just a few helps to get you out of that rut.

-Limit your time with your inbox. Rather than checking e-mail throughout the day and never feeling that job is done, set aside 30 minutes a day in your schedule to read and answer e-mail.
Remember, if you are going to maintain an e-mail address, do others the courtesy of responding to e-mails in a timely manner. To do otherwise is rude and unprofessional.

-Say no. You cannot do it all so choose what is important and say no to everything else. To never say no is to half-do everything. You will never realize true success if you settle for mediocrity.

-Voice mail is your friend. Don't drop the people in front of you to attend to the unknown at the end of the phone. Set aside time slots throughout your day to return missed calls. That person you are having lunch with didn't set aside time in their day to watch you answer your cell phone.

-Leave it at work. Whatever remains undone should be put in line for your attention first thing on the following day. Don't take it home with you. Working constantly doesn't equal efficiency so give your brain some rest at night.

-If you have tried and failed repeatedly at organizing your time, get some outside help. Attend a workshop on time management, find a mentor, read some books on the topic. Don't settle for less than excellence...keep working on being a better you so that you can multiply value in the lives of those in your sphere of influence.