How to work more effectively and waste less time

Don't we all want to waste less time and get our work done more efficiently?

Here are strategies to reclaim two hours of your life every day from Jerry Bellune's self-study course on Time Management. Bellune, a retired community newspaper publisher/editor, is head of The Bellune Company, 131 Swartz Rd., Lexington, S.C. 29072. He's also a member of the executive board of the S.C. Press Association. His Web site is: http://www.jerrybellune.com/


1. Get organized. Quit wasting time looking for things you’ve hidden from yourself.

2. Buy an appointment book. There are a number to choose from at any office supply store.

3. Choose one with a two-page calendar for each month so you can see your schedule a month at a time.

4. Make sure your choice of appointment books also has a daily sheet for each day for you to jot down projects and appointments and a way to prioritize each by importance.

5. Make it a habit at the end of each day to go over your schedule for tomorrow, adding any projects that you were not able to complete today and prioritize everything in order of importance.

6. Turn off your cell phone (or leave it on at only certain times during the day/night.)

7. Have a regular time (or maybe two times) each day that you check and respond to e-mail.