How many times have you run into a friend or colleague and asked them how they are, only to have them respond, “I’m so busy!?”   Busy is the new normal.   Everyone has a full plate and seems to be juggling numerous balls in the air simultaneously.   But, just because you are busy – or just because you say you are busy – doesn’t mean you are actually getting things done.   Though we all have the same 24 hours in a day, time seems to be in short supply.   So, here are a few things you can do if you are feeling the time crunch:

1. Don’t rush – Having to do it ‘over’ will just take more time.

2. Give deadlines with assignments – Always indicate when something is to be completed.

3. Keep files lean – The more you have, the harder it is to find anything.

4. Organize your work area – Make it easy to find what you need when you need it.

5. Respect the time of others – Accumulate questions, concerns, ideas, & assignments so you only approach a colleague once to confer with them, rather then interrupt them multiple times.   Ask for the same in return.