They say that time is valuable. As the VP of Special Events & Productivity of Planet Beach & HOTWORX Franchising, I make it my mission to ensure that every moment spent on the job is as efficient and productive as possible. I have the liberty of organizing the executive schedule for the CEO and his direct reports. Understanding that time is of the essence, I strive to establish a productive meeting schedule that includes recurring daily, weekly or singular meetings when necessary. The weekly productivity schedule is published the Friday prior to the following work week. This preview allows the executives to review and make the necessary meeting additions or revisions before the work week concludes. That way, everyone knows the game plan come Monday!

Regardless of the proactive measures taken to set and maintain a set schedule, we are always faced with those unforeseen interruptions. Although I’m married to my calendar and use it as my daily compass, there are times when I have impromptu discussions with colleagues or have an immediate issue at hand that needs to be dealt with. Learn to identify and embrace these moments. These unscheduled interruptions are inevitable, so allow some buffer in your daily schedule to ensure that you walk away with a sense of accomplishment at the end of the work day regardless of what comes your way. If you find that you are falling behind, get an early start by arriving to work 30 minutes early so that you can knock out your to-dos with no interruptions. If you have a serious pending deadline that needs your complete focus, you can always move to a quiet area in the office with minimal distractions so that you can get the job done. That works wonders for me!

Most importantly, use your time wisely by knowing your goals and prioritizing accordingly. Give your most pertinent projects your undivided attention and prioritize them based on your assigned or self-imposed deadline. If your project goals and where they fall on the priority list are not crystal clear, there will be no way to manage your time effectively.

Remember to run the day or the day will run you. Manage your time effectively by planning in advance, embrace interruptions, avoid distractions when necessary, focus on your goals and prioritize accordingly!

Written By: Jodie Mateu, VP of Special Events & Productivity