Would you like to slow time down? Just enough to fit in all the (millions of) things you have to do today? I know I would!

Well, I wish I could freeze time - but that's impossible. However, I did read something yesterday that I think could help you. It definitely helped me!

You see, I was flipping through an office copy of “144 Smart Management Strategies for Managers” and I a came across a section that really “hit home”. And I have to confess I felt pretty inspired. And I wanted to share some of these ideas with you too… So here are nine steps I believe will help revolutionise your day:

1. Stop! Catch your breath and PLAN. The single biggest hindrance to effective time management is a lack of planning. The more rushed and stressed you feel, the lower your productivity will be. The more frantic and distracted you are, the less decisive you’ll be. Take a five minute ‘time out’ and refocus.

2. Use your most productive hours wisely. Most people are at their peak early in the morning, although there are those who function better late at night. Either way, schedule the most demanding or unpleasant projects for when you have the most energy to tackle them. There’s nothing worse than facing a gruelling task when the post-lunch slump kicks in. It will take you twice as long and will stress you out more than if you get it out the way first thing.

3. Find a quiet spot. Most of us work in open plan offices these days, which has its plusses. But when you need absolute silence to concentrate on a task, it can be infuriating. Find an empty meeting room or go to the library on your lunch break. Sometimes it’s only a matter of 15 minutes’ quiet time to think clearly – and you’ll be able to focus on what needs doing.

4. Learn to say “No”. If you’re a perfectionist and someone asks for your help, you may be tempted to take on the whole project. Don’t! Agree to do only what the other person can’t do without your help, and leave the rest to them.

5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If a certain program on your computer isn’t your forte, and one of your colleagues knows it well, ask them for five minutes of their time. It’ll save you loads of time and frustration, and will make them feel good too.

6. Start thinking of those around you (including your boss) as your helpers. Don’t get so caught up in controlling a project that you can’t let go of the finer details. There’s no shame in backing off and using the people around you as resources to achieve your end goal. One of the biggest time wasters is the belief that no one else can do it as well as you can.

7. Focus on one task at a time. Gender jokes aside, women generally tend to find this one harder to achieve, as they’re used to multi-tasking. Sometimes it’s best to give each task your undivided attention.

8. Be utterly ruthless with paper and emails. Once you touch a piece of paper, act on it, file it, or throw it away. Clutter just adds to the feeling that you’re swamped. The same goes for emails. As soon as you open one, deal with it – straight away. But keep the task of clearing your inbox to certain times of the day only. Checking your inbox every 10 minutes for new emails is distracting and a big time waster.

9. Limit your time out of the office – it can be costly. The key is planning and using your telephone.
– If you’re meeting someone else, phone to confirm before you leave.
– If you’re going to the bank, phone first to find out what you need to take with you in order to process the transaction. There’s nothing more irritating than getting there, standing in a queue, then being told they need your salary slip, or a passport photo.
– If you’re going on a business trip, phone the bank to order your forex instead of going in personally – then you only have to go in once to collect it.

Use every free five minutes you get – it all adds up. Whenever you leave the office, make sure you take reading material with you. Every time you wait for someone, the gap in your day can be used effectively. And at the end of the day, go home with a clear conscience that you’ve given it your best.