* Originally Published July 2008

Respect the egg timer.  This is an idea I fought for a long time.  I believed in my heart of hearts that being able to move on the moment, adjust on a dime and fly by the seat of my pants was a plus.  That’s when I thought I was busy.  Now that I have four children and a blooming business – this is busy.

Respect the egg timer.  Just as in physical organization, when discussing time and schedules, there is a place for everything and everything has its place.  Paying attention to your schedule and where you spend your time will add time and sanity to your day.

But respecting the egg timer does more than just keep your day straight.  It is also the best defense against time suckers.  These are those chain emails we have to investigate, the latest entertainment gossip story we have to catch up on or the social media site that is becoming more social than media.

Try it for a week.  Track your time and how you spend it.  Look at what makes tasks last longer than they should.  Make it a point to begin and end on time.  Try it and watch your productivity increase.

April Goves, Real Estate