1. Organise

• Make a To Do list – Keep it with you or keep it visible
• Use a calendar, fridge or wall planner for the family events
• Cut clutter in your home or office so you can easily find things
• Double up on errands (e.g., bank and post office together)
• Use commuting time for some tasks (e.g., reading, organising your week)
• Organise your email and computer files into folders
• Keep a folder or file of home maintenance jobs that need to be done
• Designate a single place where family members can check for messages
• Keep a grocery list where the family can see it and add items as they run out
• Get your exercise gear ready the night before or keep it with you.

2. Prioritise

• Set priorities on a daily, weekly and monthly basis so you can see the big picture.
• Rank items as urgent, non-urgent, important or non-important
• Incorporate work and play times
• Review your priorities during your day and week
• Include time for errands, preferably at non-rush-hour times
• Let more calls go to the answering machine or voicemail
• Return phone calls when its convenient to you
• Schedule tasks into your day with room for activity and meal planning.

3. Plan your time

• Allocate a time limit to tasks and stick to it where possible
• Set a count-down timer to signal time to stop a task
• Count back from a deadline to create your timeline
• Establish a quiet time to block off for non-interruptible tasks
• Set your alarm to go to bed as well as to wake up
• Plan your weekly menu and activity times in advance.

4. Delegate

• Ask family members to help with household tasks (e.g., putting away clothes)
• Communicate expectations clearly
• Hire someone to help with the cleaning, if you can
• Ask nearby relatives for help, if you can
• Ask children to set or clear the table
• Let teenagers prepare meals for the family.

5. Learn to say “No!”

• Avoid saying an automatic “Yes”. Say, you'll think about it and get back to them
• Practise saying “No” in the mirror, then do it for real
• Let people know when you will be available, plus how much time you have
•   Decide exactly which interruptions you will and won't allow.

6. Avoid perfectionism

• Be realistic about what you can achieve.
• Avoid over-planning or planning to minute detail.
• Settle for good-enough for more tasks.
• Know it's OK to reassess your priorities.

7. Reduce procrastination

• Build an awareness of why you procrastinate. Feeling overwhelmed? Lack of patience?  Fear of failure?
• Break larger jobs into smaller, more manageable tasks.
• Do one job at a time, where possible.
• Do your most important work at times when your energy levels are high.
• Reduce distractions, like emails, so you can focus on the task at hand.
• Consider how putting things off is likely to create more work or pressure.

8. Be flexible

• Take a break when you hit a wall with a task.
• Allow time for unavoidable interruptions.
• Maintain a sense of humour, especially when your day gets thrown out.