Now matter how hard you try, you can’t add an hour to a day. Instead, you can be more productive with your time making it feel like you have added an hour to your day. By using the time management technique described below you will increase your productivity and decrease your stress. The technique is easy to follow. A habit takes 21 consecutive days to form, so stick to it.

2.  Catch-All List: This is one of the most powerful organizing tools. It is a comprehensive list of all that you want to do whether chores or pleasures. Record a "to do" on this list as you think of it. Even when a thoughtful gesture comes to mind like having lunch with Sue or sending Great Uncle Henry a note, record it on the list. Remember this is your comprehensive list. This will free your memory from all the "to do’s" you are trying to remember. You can carry this list with you or it can be as simple as using the undated squares on your calendar. This list can even be broken down into categories, "To Do," "To Call," "To Buy," and "Errands." If using the undated squares, make each square a different category, but keep it simple.

Under the corresponding calendar dates, record the following in pencil:

Holidays and Special Occasions (birthday, anniversary, etc.)

Monthly Commitments for Yourself (exercise time, a class, etc.)

Monthly Commitments for Your Family members that require your attention (driving/carpooling, etc.)

Special Events for that Month (child home from college, vacation, etc.)

Begin scheduling routine tasks for the entire month. Consider choosing standard days for routine tasks – bill paying and telephone calls on Tuesday’s, all errands on Thursday mornings, etc. Put thought into the choosing the day, i.e. when will there be the least amount of traffic?

If your schedule does not permit you to have routine days, there is an alternative. Your first free day or block of time, can be for bill paying, your next for another routine task, etc.

Now locate free time in the first week. Begin to schedule items from your comprehensive list in your free time. Schedule the most important items first. Only schedule one week at a time unless it is date oriented like mail Aunt Sarah’s birthday card.

By scheduling only one week at a time, you will be able to easily make adjustments to your schedule (i.e., catch up time from the previous week). Cross off items on your comprehensive lists once they are scheduled. Cross of items on your calendar once they are complete. If items were not completed, do not waste time transferring uncompleted items to new days. Each day you should look back at the previous day(s) to see if there are uncompleted tasks. Incorporate uncompleted tasks into the next day(s).

Once a week spend 15 minutes updating your list and scheduling your week. An ideal time for at-home-use is Sunday evening. An ideal time for office-use is at the end of the day on Friday.

You may schedule a "to do" without ever writing it on your comprehensive list. As you become more proficient using this calendar method, you will find yourself frequently put your "to do" right on the calendar date instead of putting it under a comprehensive "to do" list. Do this whenever possible, it will simplify the process

Look at your calendar each morning to see what is on your schedule for the day. Jump right in and start accomplishing your "to do’s." Once you have accomplished an item, put a line through it.

After the first week you may find yourself ahead of schedule or behind schedule. Initially you may find yourself over scheduling yourself. The more efficient you become, the more you will accomplish. If you find you are becoming stressed or rushed, be sure you are "scheduling" all that you are doing in that day.

Large Tasks

If you have a time consuming task, such as purging a file cabinet, divide it into attainable segments. Purge five folders at one time instead of entire file cabinet.

Simple Tasks

Schedule even the simplest tasks such as call Mary.

Errands

Schedule your errands in a block of time, preferably only one day a week. Predetermine your route to avoid overlapping routes.

Computer 

Consider buying on the Internet – no need to leave home and often less expensive.
Have a template for letterhead and envelopes.

Greeting Cards

Buy all your cards for the month 1 to 3 months in advance.

Keep everyday cards on hand – get well, sympathy, thinking of you, thank you, note cards, birthday for anyone.

Meals

Plan your meals for the week, especially prior to grocery shopping.

Grocery Shopping

Keep an ongoing grocery list on your refrigerator (a magnetic notepad). Encourage everyone in your family to add items to the list when they see a grocery item is running low.

If the "grocery shopper" is the person who is mainly writing the list, write down the grocery items in the order the foods are in the grocery store. If produce is in the first aisle and milk is in the last isle, write down your produce items at the top of the list and your dairy items at the bottom of the list.

Double Your Time – Think of things you can do two at a time. It will require minimal preplanning.

While Talking on the Telephone

Fold laundry
Iron
Unload dishwasher
File and polish your nails
Dust (if you have a cordless telephone)

While Watching Television

Fold laundry
File or polish your nails
Clean the room
Mend
Iron

While waiting for someone (child, dentist, etc.)

Pay bills
Read articles, magazines, and school papers
Calculate your checkbook balance
Tidy up your car and glove compartment (if in your car)
Make lists – to do, grocery, etc.
Tidy up your purse

While your child’s in the bathtub playing (remain in the bathroom for safety)

Organize the medicine cabinet and discard outdated medicine
Organize your bathroom cabinets
Clean the bathroom (except the tub)
Pay bills
Read articles, magazines, and school papers
Calculate your checkbook balance
Make lists – to do, grocery, etc.
Clean out your purse

The best words of advice we can give for staying organized

Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail
Do it now!