You only have so many hours in the day.  You want to make sure you get time to drink  that cup of coffee or that diet soda and have time for a mid morning break to see if there are any donuts or bagels  left in the break room.  Plus you don’t want to still be at the office past midnight.  You want to keep your life on track with a reasonable daily schedule.  Here are some thoughts on using your day wisely so you don’t have to stay on the treadmill all day long.

1. E-mail management.  Don’t become a slave to your e-mail account.  Most people can waste up to half their day with an unorganized e-mail account.   To start, leverage the management of your e-mail account by organizing it through your smart phone.  For additional tips on organizing your e-mail account go to – http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/02/21/how-to-clean-your-inbox_n_1285511.html
2. Organize using a planner.  Figure out the most efficient way for you to track meetings, tasks and other events.  Use what works best for you, but keep it simple.  The system you develop, whether it’s electronic, manual or a combination, must be one you will use and use consistently.  Your smart phone is the best place to start.  If you need an organizer app for your phone, go to http://thenextweb.com/apps/2013/08/16/12-of-the-best-calendar-apps-available-for-your-android-smartphone-today/ 
3. Organize your life.  It’s all about planning the day in advance.  Sure things change quickly as the day gets going.  But, start your day out with an outline of your mind.  Take a moment before you start your day to think through what you need to get accomplished.  Write it down or save it in your smart phone.
4. Be realistic in what you can accomplish in a given time frame.  You know what you can get done on a daily basis.  Don’t over commit yourself with appointments and projects that you have no hope of finishing.  Balance out each day when scheduling in advance with the right mix of meetings and tasks that you will have the energy and focus to complete.
5. Manage your distractions appropriately.  You know what level of distractions you can handle to successfully complete any task.  Take time to eliminate distractions (hold calls, close doors, get out of the office) so you can focus on the task at hand.
6. Maintain antivirus and anti e-mail spam software.   You don’t want to think about it.  Most offices have it covered on their work computers.  If you are doing work at home, though, make sure you’re covered there as well.  An infected computer can really slow you down.   Check with your IT person at work for suggest ions on what to do to cover your computer from viruses and e-mail spam.  You can get more info at  – http://betanews.com/2013/11/28/the-best-tools-for-removing-malware/  and  http://download.cnet.com/windows/spam-filters/
7. Make sure to get breaks.  You need a break to recharge your mind and refocus.  A quick walk or a ten minute meditation session can be just the thing to get your mind back on track.
8. Make sure to eat regularly.  Don’t skip meals.  Starting off with breakfast you need to fuel up your body and mind to run efficiently throughout the day.  Some thoughts on healthy eating – http://www.fitness.gov/eat-healthy/how-to-eat-healthy/

The sooner you make these changes the sooner you’ll have a more organized and productive day.  That should free up time to start that exercise routine you wanted to begin or give you extra time to relax at night with a good book, and a bowl of ice cream.