Goals to Action Newsletter

Goals to Action Newsletter
(Rodger Constandse www.GoalsToAction.com)

Here are 7 simple but effective productivity tools that can help you save time and get things done:

1) Your Planner
Of all your productivity tools, your planner is one of the most important ones, because it's something that you'll use every day to get things done.
Productivity often comes down to having a clear system to capture, organize, prioritize, plan and take action on all the projects, tasks and activities that you need to get done each day.
A good planner can make a big difference in your results, but even a simple blank notebook can do wonders if you're used to keeping everything in your head.
If you want a proven software planner for Windows that can help you get organized and take control of your time, you'll want to check out Achieve Planner: http://www.effexis.com/achieve/

2) Dry Erase Calendar
You may also find it helpful to buy a large dry erase calendar and hang it in a prominent location in your home or office.
Walls in your office, the kitchen or a frequently-traveled hallway are good locations.
On this calendar, you can mark down important activities and commitments for all members of the family.
For example, you can record your kids' activities, your own meetings, doctor and dentist appointments, special functions, etc. You can plan a week ahead of time, or even a whole month at a time.
After each event has passed, erase it so you have a clear, at-a-glance view of the things coming up next.

3) A Password Manager
If you use a web browser and need to keep track of passwords for different websites, then a password manager can be a BIG time saver.
In case you are not familiar with this kind of software, it's a tool that helps you keep track of your online passwords so you don't have to remember them off the top of your head or use silly little passwords that are easy to crack.
The best password managers even auto-fill the login forms for you so you don't even have to type the passwords yourself.
A very popular and well-known password manager is RoboForm:
http://www.effexis.com/recommends/RoboForm/

4) Reminders and Alarms
Many of the email, planning and organization software programs available today offer great little settings that can remind you of important activities.
You can schedule everything from birthday and anniversary reminders to notes of encouragement for yourself! Or, you can use a reminder service. There are also reminder services out there that are absolutely free to use. You simply sign up for a free account, set the dates and activities you want to be reminded about, and they will send an email notification on the date and time you specify.
This is a handy tool worth using if you need help remembering activities and special occasions.
One popular service is www.MemoToMe.com; or try an internet search for "reminder service."

5) "Text Replacement" Utilities
This is another little productivity tool that can save you a lot of time and effort. It works great for common email replies, signatures, quotes and lots of other boilerplate text that you may need to type.
I recommend that you check out, Direct Access which reduces time consuming, repetitive tasks through the use of abbreviations for text replacement and application launching. Check it out here:
http://www.goalstoaction.com/resources/directaccess/

6) Outsourcing Services
If your daily schedule is packed full of chores and obligations that you can't seem to pare down or delegate, consider outsourcing some of them to individuals or companies that can help.
For example, if you find that you spend a lot of time nagging your spouse to do the yard work (or you're forced to do it yourself and it poses a real drain on your time and energy), call a few local landscaping companies and check out their rates.
Do the same for housecleaning services, dog walkers, grocery delivery services, and more. You might think these services are too expensive, but you'd be surprised at how inexpensive they CAN be.
Of course, you're going to have to decide if the costs are worth the extra time you get by using these services. It all depends on your budget and time commitments.
You might also consider a 'virtual assistant' to help you with errands and other computer-related busywork.

7) Organizational Tools
If you spend a lot of time hunting for things you need because you're swimming in a sea of clutter, consider investing in a few good organizational systems and tools.
Once again, this probably will involve some extra expense at first, but the extra organization and peace of mind may well be worth it.
All of these tools may seem overly simple, but don't be fooled! They can go a long way toward helping you save time, be more productive and balance your life activities.
BTW, if you want a tool that can help you take your productivity to the next level I encourage you to take a look at Achieve Planner. You get a free 30-day trial so you can take it for a test drive and decide for yourself if it will work for you... http://www.effexis.com/achieve/
With the monthly payment plan option, Achieve Planner is more affordable than ever before!
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