First Things First

You have a long to-do list for the day. Where do you start?

Do the most important task first. Schedule and complete the most important task on your To Do list during the first 15 minutes of your work day. Not only will get the most important task done, but the feeling of accomplishment will set the tone for the rest of the day.

Linen Storage Ideas

Tidy bundle of sheets. After laundry, fold the flat, fitted and one pillow case and place in the other pillowcase for storing.

No fold sheets. Put the sheets back on the bed immediately after drying to eliminate folding entirely.

Quilt and blanket storage. Bulky quilts and blankets take up a lot of valuable space in closets and linen storage areas. Buy a few pillow shams that match your décor and store the out of season quilts right in the sham. Arrange the shams, which now look exactly like pillows, on the beds.

#1 Productivity Tip

If I could only give you one tip to help you be more productive, it would be...WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN.

Don’t rely on your memory. You run the risk of letting tasks and appointments fall through the cracks. The best way to never forget an appointment, a deadline or a detail again, is to write everything down.

Clear Your Desk and Brain, Too

An uncluttered desk frees your mind from distractions and keeps you focused on tasks that require immediate attention. Keep only the items on your desk that relate to your current project.

Need Extra Living Room Storage?

Look for an attractive trunk (which can double as an ottoman or coffee table) to store board games, puzzles, extra bedding and pillows.

Your Peak Time

Are you alert in the mornings? Hit a second gear in the afternoons? Use your most productive time to do your most productive work.

No Such Thing as Miscellaneous

Be specific in labeling your file folders. Filing papers in vague folders labeled miscellaneous, future or stuff wastes time having to go through that folder each sheet of paper one by one. If the paper is important enough to file, it should be clearly categorized in your filing system.