Always have a notepad within reach so that you can jot down an idea or a task as it occurs to you or as it is brought to your attention. At the office, keep a notepad on your desktop and carry one with you when you leave your desk. At home, keep a notepad and a pen or pencil by the phone, by your favorite chair, and by your bedside. If a brilliant idea strikes at 3:00 a.m., you should be able to write it down.
LEARN TO PROCESS YOUR INCOMING PAPERWORK EFFICIENTLY.
30
Sort through your in-box two or
three times a day.
Don’t drop everything every time someone drops a piece of paper in your in-box. This causes too many interruptions. Let the papers accumulate for a few hours while you work on your current projects. Going through your in-box two or three times a day (morning, midday, and midafternoon, for instance) will let you stay on top of incoming paperwork as well as your Things to Do list.
