If you’ve ever gotten to the end of a long day of work and felt like you had nothing to show for it, you’re not alone.  The advent of new technology enables us to get more done now than we ever have before.  The human race is busier than it has ever been and yet sometimes all that busyness can feel like nothing more than running in a wheel like a hamster.

As with anything new, these new technologies take some getting used to.  We have to adapt our work-style to accommodate them efficiently.  I’m probably not alone in saying that I simply cannot get anything done when I have an instant messenger application running.

So, in the spirit of equipping you to succeed in this dynamic working world we live in, here are some practical tips for managing your time:

1. Establish a system: When you start a new job, you spend a lot of time getting to know how things work and how things need to be done.  A good next step is to then establish a system for accomplishing your work goals.  The human brain is wired in such a way as to accommodate new routines and, over time, execute these routines faster and more consistently.  A new routine will take awhile to get used to, but after awhile you’ll be able to do your job faster and better and will not need to think about it as much.
2. Tame your inbox: To me, figuring out how to address emails is as much knowing yourself and how you work as it is knowing your job and how your emails should be handled.  For example, Penelope Trunk, of Brazen Careerist fame, advises that emails should be dealt with immediately and that no email should be left sitting in your inbox.  Emails should be responded to or filed appropriately but never just left sitting.  Other people, such as Tim Ferriss, suggest checking email only at certain times of the day and letting people know about your email response schedule.  Essentially, what this boils down to is the importance of emails in your business and how comfortable you are with switching tasks.  Once you’ve figured this out, handle emails accordingly.
3. Close the loop: This tip is courtesy of Web Worker Daily.  It’s a good one because it will simplify your life a lot.  If there are any loose threads left at the end of the day, take care of them.  I’ve noticed personally that some of the things I tend to leave hanging are the easy things, like sending out follow-up emails or filing an article properly.  Finish your tasks completely and not only will you feel better but your to-do list will look a lot less cluttered.
4. Get organized: Organization is not just for neat freaks and your mother.  It can make your job so much easier and help you do it so much better.  My husband is a good example of this.  When he started his job as a mortgage consultant, he was easily one of the most disorganized people around.  The sheer magnitude of his work coupled with the severe consequences for letting things slip through the cracks forced him to get organized.  The system he employs to keep track of all his clients has saved him a number of times and helped him do his job much better.  Like establishing a system, getting organized takes time but is well worth it.
5. Learn when to hang up:  We have gotten very good at multitasking in our society but we still don’t perform at our best when we do.  If you have a lot to do and a personal phone call, email, or text message interrupts you, know when not to deal with them.  Most of these things can wait.  If you give yourself the opportunity to maintain your focus you may surprise yourself at how much you accomplish.

What time management skills do you employ to help you get your work done?  Have you tried any of these tips and met with success or failure?