If you have an auto-notify on your email system, please turn it off. Interruptions rob us of our productivity. Instead of letting the *ding* of each new email dictate the flow of your day, take control. Set scheduled times to check your emails and then stick with the program by resisting the temptation to take a sneak peek. Try checking emails at the top of the even hours: 8 AM, 10 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM and 4 PM. Setting specific times to handle email not only cuts interruptions but also allows you to know how much time you're spending on emails. Is email the best use of your time?

Tickle Yourself Organized
With tax season just around the corner, any shortcomings in your paper management system may really be rearing their ugly little heads. The good news is this: when you create an effective paper management system, it takes the stress out of finding your important papers, not only during tax season, but all year long. In the spirit of effective paper management, this month’s storage solution will help you stay on top of your important, actionable papers.

What it is: this month’s storage solution is the tickler file, a simple filing system made up of 43 folders—one folder for each day of the month (numbered 1 through 31), plus one folder for each month of the year, each labeled—you guessed it—with the name of one month.

How it works: a tickler file allows you to gain control over paper that you want or need to take action on at a date in the future, but not today. So, if you’re going out of town on the 15th of the month, you can file your travel itinerary, directions and confirmation numbers in the folder labeled 15. If your child’s birthday is in November, throughout the year you can collect birthday party ideas and file them in the October folder—giving you plenty of time to plan the big event in November. The best part of all, by having a spot for these future actions, you no longer need to let them pile up on the counter in hopes they remind you to take action! You simply check your tickler file each day, and your actionable papers are right there waiting for you.

Where to get one: You can make your own tickler file using plain manila file folders or decorated file folders and a labeler. Or, you can simplify things a bit and purchase a pre-made tickler file.

Who knew forty-three simple folders could make life so much easier?