After writing an earlier post this week on how I manage e-mail, I thought I’d share some productivity tips that also work for me.

1. The Sticky Note To-Do List

This is my best productivity tip of all. I keep a running To-Do list on my desk on an 8×5 steno notepad. Each morning I choose three to five tasks I plan to accomplish for the day and write them on a sticky note that goes on top of the list—and that becomes my focus for the day. If I have some extra time, I’ll pluck an extra item off the running list, but at least I know I’m handling the biggest priorities first.

2. Filter Phone Calls

Years back when I worked in software sales, I watched one of my coworkers ignore most incoming phone calls. I was appalled! “How can you do that?” I asked. After all, we were sales people and I viewed each call as getting me closer to a purchase order.

He told me that he let calls go to voice mail for two reasons. First, he didn’t want the constant interruptions in his day when he was trying to focus on projects. Second, he liked having the opportunity to think through his responses before returning a call.

The biggest lesson I got from that was that business doesn’t come to a halt simply because you don’t answer the phone. Phone calls can be a big interrupt in the flow of things, so reviewing messages and returning calls later actually makes you much more efficient. It also prevents you from having to take unexpected, annoying sales calls.

3. Minimize In-person Meetings

I know that a lot of business owners love to schedule coffee dates. It’s part of the whole business networking community where you plan to meet for an hour and figure out how to help each other with business (or sell to each other!). Though I enjoy meeting new people, I have grown to loathe these kinds of meetings. A better use of time is to schedule a 15-minute phone call. You can get enough information from each other in that time to get started. If a follow-up meeting is warranted, then fine. See the next step…

4. Schedule Meetings at the Beginning or End of the Day

On the rare occasion that I attend an in-person meeting, I always request either first thing in the morning, the end of the day, or before or after another event that I’m attending. I remember in my early years as a business owner, I ran myself ragged going to networking functions, attending coffee and lunch meetings, and saying Yes to everything.

Then it finally occurred to me that I could put some boundaries around my time. Just because I don’t have something officially scheduled on my calendar at 11AM doesn’t mean that’s a good time for me. Going to a meeting at that hour breaks up the flow of my day and eats up too much time. The good news is that you can take back control of your time and suggest meeting times that work for your schedule.

5. Plan Ahead

If you have projects with deadlines, waiting until the last minute can throw your entire schedule off. Instead, block out time on your calendar well before the project is due. Devote that time to that project only. Getting it done in advance of your deadline will take the pressure off, keep your schedule in check, and will allow you to produce the best results possible.