Five Tips to Help You Be More Efficient at Everything

No matter how hard you work, it seems there is always something else you know you need to do: the phone call you owe to Aunt Mildred; the report your boss needs "yesterday"; the garage that sorely requires cleaning and organizing. You do not know how you will ever get it all done. You already feel like you stay busy from the moment the alarm clock rings in the morning until you drop, exhausted, into bed at night.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to accomplish more every day. And, no, you don't have to hire an assistant, learn how to require less sleep, or even clone yourself! Follow these simple tips and you may even find yourself with some free time to spend doing something fun!

1. Make a list and check it twice.

At the end of every day, make a list of all of your "to-do's". After you have completed the list, take a fresh sheet of paper and transfer your list, putting them in order of priority. The top section of your list will be your "musts" - the spreadsheet you need to create for the next day's meeting, or the cupcakes you need to deliver to the church bake sale that afternoon, for example. The middle section of your list will have your "shoulds" - reading a couple chapters of your book club's monthly selection, or gathering data for your month-end's expense report. The end of your list will show your "somedays". These are the jobs that do need to eventually get done, but don't have a specific deadline. The next day start at the top of the list and work your way down. This will allow you to tackle those things that really have to get done, and the satisfaction of crossing off items as you go along is motivational.

2. Are you an email addict?

Do you feel the need to check your messages every five minutes, or every time you get that little popup telling you there's new mail? Well you don't have to quit cold turkey. But you'll find you are much more productive if you cut down. Try this: before you do anything else, check your email and immediately respond to, take action on, and file or delete any messages you can. Then close it. Check it again midday, and then just prior to the end of your day. If it's a life-or-death matter and you don't immediately respond, they'll call you. But be honest; how many of your daily emails are that crucial? You'll likely find yourself feeling a certain freedom!

3. Delegate!

It doesn't matter if you are a stay-at-home mom, a CEO, or someone in between. You do not have to do it all! Kids can dust and vacuum; coworkers can pitch in and help finish a project. When people are accustomed to you taking on every task, they may not realize you could use an extra hand. Simply ask. The worst that can happen is they say no.

4. Set short term goals.

You've probably heard the old adage about how to eat an elephant: one bite at a time. Whatever your elephant might be, break it down into "bite-size" pieces and do one thing at a time. Maybe you had the entire clan at your house for Thanksgiving dinner; the kitchen is stacked with dishes and leftovers. Start by focusing on only the dishes that are in the sink. When that's done, go on to a counter, and so on. This principle works for business as well. Have a big presentation to prepare? Focus on one PowerPoint slide. When that one is completely finished, go on to the next. And try not to multi-task; studies show you'll get more done if you concentrate on one undertaking at a time.

5. Reward yourself!

Schedule a small but enjoyable incentive for yourself between duties. Allow yourself fifteen minutes of mindless web-surfing or one uninterrupted sitcom. Soak in a bubble bath or read a magazine that's been collecting dust. If you don't plan - and follow through with - something fun, you'll start to feel resentful and stuck in a rut. Got a task that will take a week or longer to complete? Plan something really good to celebrate completion. A weekend getaway with your spouse or a luxurious spa treatment will not only motivate you to make it through, it'll also be a great way to rejuvenate after all that hard work. Go ahead, you deserve it!