Want a great time saver for your work and personal life? Try a solution promoted in the GTD methodology: the two minute rule.
When processing your inbox any action associated with an item that will take two minutes or less to do should be done immediately. This is because it would take more time to organize the item in your system then to resolve it straight away.
The two minute rule has some flexibility. For example, if you have lots of time available for processing, extend it to three minutes or more per item. If you have limited time, reduce it to a minute or ninety seconds per item.
In the end, some actions are best done when they first show up. That is why completion of two minute items leads to less stress and more success in your work and life.
Why aren’t people able to be productive and manage their time well?
It would be nice if productivity and efficiency practices were instant install, point, click, and forget applications; the type of thing you only have to do once to set on autopilot forever. Unfortunately, the art of knowledge work requires ongoing diligent application of core concepts in order to keep the system functioning smoothly. Alas, it is very easy to fall off the wagon and resume old habits.
In the past I have pointed to the work of 
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How would you like to hear a succinct, yet detailed overview of the whole Getting Things Done methodology as told by the man himself, David Allen?
Unfortunately, our regular jobs rarely come with scoreboards. Lacking that immediate feedback, it can be challenging to know if you daily work is making a difference. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a scoreboard of your own to measure progress? There is a way to create one – write down SMART Goals.
Given how much time we spend at work every week, it is natural to dream about our next vacation. However, vacations can quickly turn into a work week experienced outside the office if not careful. On the Getting Things Done blog, a person recently submitted the following question:
Efficient Librarian 