Time Management: How to Manage Little Snippets of Time

Lots of little things rob you of potentially productive, valuable, time each day. Here are some tools and techniques to steal a little of that time back and put it to use. You'll feel good when you reclaim some of that wasted time and use it to get some little tasks accomplished!

My computer takes nearly five infuriating minutes to boot up and get into my e-mail. It used to be that there wasn't much that I could do but wait with a forlorn look on my face. But, lately, I've been brainstorming on the issue. There are things that you can do during these minutes of wasted time. In fact, some of these things can even monetize your wasted moments.

At the office, I can use a plain, old-fashioned, pen and paper to make a to-do list while my machine boots up. One key to putting time to use is to have the tools you need readily available. Just as your grandmother had her knitting available in a tote bag, you can carry more modern tools with you. As a writer, I've carried portable word processors like the AlphaSmart 2000, mini netbooks like the Sylvania 7-inch laptop, and tablet e-readers like the Nook Color. If you are a freelance photographer, it makes sense to take a camera with you everywhere.

The great thing about tablet computers and some mini-laptops is that they boot up almost instantaneously. If l find myself waiting in the car while my wife runs into a store, I can just pull into a space, boot up, and start writing in mere moments. Lost time is instantly transformed into productive time. A couple of spare minutes can easily become a paragraph or two.

A second key to making use of small amounts of wasted time is to have a list of mini projects. At work, I have a list of little things to do posted on my cube wall. If I have an extra five minutes, I can write a paragraph for the company newsletter, update my timesheet, update my status report, or update a list of work orders. In my personal life, I keep a list of home projects that I'm working on, professional development plans, and lots of article ideas.

By having the tools and the to do lists readily at hand, I'm always ready to jump into a project when I have five minutes free. Even this article was written five minutes at a time using a Nook Color tablet/reader. But, you can get time back using a smart phone, tablet, netbook, pad and paper, or even by keeping some knitting project in your purse.