Ever get the "bogged down" blues?

Running a successful e-biz can take its' toll on your lifestyle. So if you can keep up with your hectic daily routine, success is inevitable.

All you need to do is carry out your daily tasks with a twist -- a unique, unconventional way of tackling your to-do's. Use this quick, 3-step method to start reigning in your e-business, and eliminate time wasting BEFORE it starts:

1) Create a TIME-SCHEDULED, 4-column "to-do" list.

Write out everything you want to get done tomorrow, just like you would any other to-do list. Only this time, create one column for the activity, one column for the check mark to show you've completed a task, one column for the time you expect the task to take, and one final column to document the amount of time the task actually took.

It should look something like this:

----------------------------------------------------------
Done? Description of Task Time Allotted Time Taken
----- ------------------- ------------- ----------
  x Check e-mail   60 minutes  50 minutes
 Update website   90 minutes
  x Find syndicator script 15 minutes 35 minutes
----------------------------------------------------------

And, so on.

The purpose of the "Done" column is so you're able to remember which things you don't get to finish, so you can transfer them to your to-do list for the next day (or week).

Each column is VERY IMPORTANT, so don't leave any out. The "Time Taken" column is so you'll be able to contrast how long you expected a task to take, versus how long it actually took. This is one of the *most important* aspects of effective time-taming.

2) Oh, puleez! Can you REALLY check your e-mail in four minutes flat?

This won't work for you if you set unrealistic goals in the "Time Allotted" column.

Although you think you can be finished with a super-easy task item in three minutes, for instance, NEVER put any amount of time under five or ten. You'll have a greater sense of accomplishment when you complete your list with time to spare.

A strong sense of accomplishment is an important prerequisite to staying motivated in the business.

And likewise, NEVER set a time over an hour for any task. This sets way too leisurely of a pace.

If you really need more than an hour to complete a job, it needs to be put on a *weekly* to-do list. Break that "to-do" down into a series of smaller, much more easily manageable tasks. When most people do the same thing for over hour, they become unproductive and easily distracted.

If you want to work on a particular task for more than an hour a day, break it down into *non-consecutive*, one hour chunks.

For instance, if you were trying to do a complete redesign of a website, your chart might look like:

----------------------------------------------------------
Done? Description of Task Time Allotted Time Taken
----- ------------------- ------------- ----------
   Check e-mail   45 minutes
 Design new logo* 60 minutes
   Find forum script 30 minutes
   Replace broken links* 60 minutes
   Check e-mail again 10 minutes
   Create site template* 60 minutes
----------------------------------------------------------
* Various smaller tasks to completing the larger one.

Make sense?

3) Done! Now, to maximize your efficiency...

At the end of your workday, even if you DIDN'T finish everything on your list, compare the "Time Taken" and "Time Allotted" for each task, to identify *significant* discrepancies (or more than 15 minutes or so), to tighten your schedule for the next day.

If this is your first time working by a time-scheduled to-do list, you probably spent more time on each activity than you'd planned. That's okay! The point of evaluating your list at the end of the day is to gain a more accurate sense of the time it takes to complete your routine tasks, and eventually DECREASE that time.

If you took longer than you expected for a certain task, make sure you understand why.

Was it more work than you thought it would be?

Were you interrupted?

Were your time standards just a little too strict?

TIP: Whatever the cause was, try to prepare for that in the future. For instance, lock your door or turn off the ringer when you're working, to eliminate distractions.

Remember, don't be hard on yourself, and give yourself time enough to finish an activity completely AND effectively.

If you completed a task with lots of time to spare, why was that? Were you just faster than you thought? Did you get help from an outside source? Is your time schedule TOO lax?

HINT: The best way to judge whether or not your time  estimations are accurate is to list the actual time it took you to complete a task TODAY in the "Time Allotted" column for TOMORROW.

By doing this, you'll become more efficient at managing your time day by day ... just by following your list.

If you're saying:

"Why the heck should I care EXACTLY how much time I take per activity anyway?"

... it's simple.

Your main goal with this exercise is to DECREASE the time it takes you to complete your day to day routine, and WASTE LESS TIME in the long run.

The less time it takes you to complete scheduled tasks, the more time you have to build your business, spend with family, or do more of the stuff YOU love.

HINT: The key to effective time management is first  recognizing where you need improvement ... and then building on that.

By keeping track of how long it takes to complete each individual task, you'll soon be able to use your time more efficiently, and as a result, will get things done much FASTER.

NOTE: For more help making this article work for you, read "10 Crucial Time Management Tips to Make Your Day Move FASTER".