"Where did the day go?!" I can't count the number of times I've said that at the end of a long work day! Sometimes it seems like I just started and the clock fast-forwarded to 5pm. If you know that feeling, you also know it can really create a real sense of overwhelm - like you are NEVER going to finish what you REALLY need to get done! In fact, productivity and getting more out of our work day is always at the top of a company's goals for the year. But you and I both know that we can be our own worst enemies when it comes to time management. So here's how to FINALLY take control of your time!

1. No Multitasking

There have been so many studies that finally prove that multitasking is a big myth! It's one of the WORST ways to get things done. So if you're still trying to do three things at once - you are definitely wasting your time. It's about working smarter, not harder. And that means you have to really FOCUS on what you're trying to accomplish. Take one thing at a time and give it every bit of your attention. You'll move much more quickly through your gotta-get-it-done items if you are fully focused on each one before moving to the next!

2. Learn to Say No

Interior designers are people pleasers at their core🙋‍♀️ - it's what makes us so good at our jobs! But it can also be a problem, especially when it comes to saying NO when you need to. If you're asked to take something on when you're swamped, to move beyond the scope of a project, or if you're saying yes to every job out of a sense of fear, you're definitely going to have a time management issue! For your own sanity - and your team's - you need to know when "no" is the right answer. You've got to be fair to your current clients, and to yourself, by keeping your workload at a manageable level. Saying "yes" to everything is only going to lead to issues and disappointment!

3. Prioritize Your To Do List

Most of us have list of items to get done that is pages and pages long - UGH. There is NO WAY that you can get every single thing done for every project in one day. And looking at that very long list can be so overwhelming that you end up paralyzed by the sheer amount of work. So I like to have TWO lists. One is that very long one, and another is a shorter list of what needs to get done TODAY. Usually there are only three to four things on that list, because that is realistically about all you can get done in one day. And if you can move on to a fifth or even sixth item, you're going to feel like you're having a AMAZINGLY productive day. Prioritize your to-do list so it's more manageable, and be sure that you're also delegating anything you can to your team members!

4. Block Your Calendar

If you've been following me for a while, you know how much I swear by this idea! If you need to be in your office, focused on a presentation, then block your calendar so your team knows that you cannot be disturbed for anything else! If you must meet with your financial team, then block that out. Train everyone - family, too! - to understand that you can't be disturbed when you are focused on that specific task or project. But YOU have to live by those rules, too. Put your phone down (and on SILENT). Do not let yourself get distracted by other things going on in the office. Stick to what your calendar says, even if it's a task you don't like or that you've been dreading.

To help you get MORE out of your day, download my free Guide for how to Prioritize Your To-Do List! It will really help you get more done.