It's remarkable how much we can all achieve when pushed, so cut down on your workload by slashing the time spent doing it. It's a point which many have taken exception to over the years, but there does seem to be some truth in it. 'Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion,' declared British civil servant Cyril Parkinson. 'If you automate your income streams you can focus on the important things in life,' she says. All systems must also undergo the 'Tilly Test' (named after Bird's young daughter), which means they must be so simple that even a child could understand them. Her company uses a range of easy to operate systems to handle emails, follow up on sales and handle admin. Bird built up her company while also raising a family and is a strong advocate of simplifying life wherever possible. 'If you've done it more than three times then create a system to do it for you,' advises Nicola Bird, CEO and founder of online coaching company Jigsawbox. A regular review of your current methods might well reveal ways of improving efficiency through automation. With online tools emerging all the time, our existing working practices quickly become old-fashioned. Often it's about training others as to how you work and taking control,' says Gardner. We wouldn't respond if we were in a meeting or at the hospital, so it is doable. Also, I let calls go to voicemail if I am busy. 'I recommend only checking emails three times per day, in the morning, midday and evening. 'A two minute phone call takes away about 15 minutes of productivity if it interrupts an important task, similarly emails are very distracting,' says Gardner.

Also, try to limit distractions and persuade others to leave you alone when you're busy. It's not always possible to prevent every interruption, but don't float between tasks. Constant interruptions break our train of thought and increase the time it takes to do tasks. Take it as far as you can and then move on to the next thing.' One task at a timeĬoncentration works best when it is focused on a task in hand. 'I recommend that people write down three things they want to achieve and focus on those first. However, an action list of three things, which can only be done by the individual, should work for most people, he says.

To-do lists are great for left-brain logical types, but for some they can be a problem. 'It's generally agreed that they should be done at the same time every day, for me it's the night before,' he says. Time management expert and business consultant Mike Gardner recommends writing a to-do list at the same time every day. To-do lists are typically done daily and are meant to help us focus on what's urgent and important. Sir Richard Branson believes in lists so much that he adorned the inner sleeves of his biography with them. Every successful time manager has a to-do list of some sort and entrepreneurs are no exception.

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