Organizing Your Day: Time Management Techniques That Will Work for You

by Sandra Felton, Marsha Sims

For more than twenty years, Sandra Felton's books have helped countless readers organize their homes, rooms, offices, and paperwork. She now joins forces with professional organizer Marsha Sims and applies some of the same principles to help readers build a successful system for organizing their daily schedules and routines.
Their unique approach with helpful anecdotal stories offers a variety of easy-to-implement, effective ideas. From goal setting, project management, and to-do lists to daily scheduling, creating new habits, and curing chronic lateness, the topics covered in Organizing Your Day will hit home with busy readers. Everyone from creative free-wheelers to well-organized perfectionists will love these solutions. With solutions for both home and work, this book is ideal for office workers, homemakers, business owners, retirees, or anyone who wants to get more out of their days.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Productivity, Business, Personal Development

272 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2009

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Given the current situation in our household, I have decided to write reviews for the time being instead of simply post star ratings. Check my last general update for more on that.)

Synopsis: With all the distractions in our modern world, time management can be rather difficult. Let organizational gurus Sandra Felton and Marsha Sims assist you in making better usage of your day. Drawing from personal experience, as well as the writings of successful folks such as Stephen Covey (The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People), Sims and Felton will help you get more done in less time.

My Review: As a longtime fan of entertainment, time management has been rather challenging for me. I could have done a lot better in school if I'd spent more time on my assignments, and less time playing Pokémon Red, watching Mork & Mindy reruns, or endlessly researching Hilary Duff online. Though I've improved in that department, I still have a long way to go; the advice given in this book will definitely steer me in the right direction. I'm glad to see that they drew from the writings of the late Stephen Covey; his words on the four quadrants of activities are among the wisest I've read (outside of the Bible, of course). Plus, I couldn't believe that this book taught me a new word: lapidary. I was an advanced reader from a young age--seriously, I was at a eighth grade reading level when I was only in third grade--so, I've always known words that my friends and others didn't...but, that one had me stumped.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very tempted to rate this book as only 2 stars. There are many faults I found in the book:

-Much of the information has been better presented elsewhere by other authors and systems.
-I found the tone of much of the book to be condescending and rather simplistic.
-Particularly frustrating were the questions at the end of each chapter that led the reader into the next. Even if I did answer all the questions as yes/no, true/false, it doesn't mean that the next chapter wouldn't be useful and I found the peeks ahead to the next chapter unnecessary.
-There was also a religious undertone to parts of the writing, which rose to the surface with specific mentions of God, which I disliked in a book meant to be applicable to a wide audience. -Finally, I disliked the section on decluttering, which mostly consisted of boxing up items and storing them in another room, out of sight. This is not decluttering - it is simply storing the items and avoiding decisions.

What finally made me give the book 3 stars were the many useful worksheets and interactive questions throughout the book and at the end. Many of these templates can be used no matter your current organization system and I gleaned a couple ideas that I will implement immediately. I also will use the three rules:

1. The 30-second rule (or the 2-minute rule)
2. Putting something back quickly when you get it out
3. Keeping surfaces clear

Recommendation: Scan the book for useful templates, such as Chapter 11: Working with Your Projects. Also scan the tips for useful suggestions you can use in your own life, such as reflecting on common interruptions and writing out possible solutions.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting pointers, but it's heavy on redundant examples and many of the elements here don't apply to me. There's also a slight emphasis on christianity that seems kind of random for a time management book and may put some readers off.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some really helpful tips - I particularly liked the practical exercises - but a bit repetitious.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful. Got a bit repetitive but I enjoyed it.

[K K · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. Too many unnecessary examples. I have read other better books on time management such as Eat That Frog and Leo Babauta's books.

[TalviLinna]

This is the book I've been waiting for all my life! Or at least most of my adult life, which is when my time management problems started.

Before this I read Getting Things Done and Designing Your Life, hoping these would help me get my life together. But Getting Things Done (GTD) is basically a whole book about how to make to-do lists, which still left me wondering, but how am I supposed to actually find time/motivation to do all the things on my to-do lists? And Designing Your Life has more to do with big picture questions, like which career is right for you. But I already know *what* I want to do (write and publish fantasy novels, around my day jobs, one of which already is my dream career other than fiction writing). What I wanted to know was how to design my day-to-day life to actually get those things done.

Well, this book has the answers.

Although apparently, I didn't take those answers to heart, since it's been over a year since I read the book and I'm only now finishing my review and adding the book on Goodreads XD

[klagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful tool! I have struggled with time management for years, and even though I've improved greatly, I needed a little help, particularly in the areas of prioritizing tasks and project management. Not only did this book give me helpful information in these areas, but I also learned that I need to delegate, eliminate time wasters (and what those are for me), and to quit procrastinating (which I didn't realize I still did). I recommend this book for anyone who feels they need help (whether a lot or a little) in the area of time management.

[Carter Hemphill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this in a bargain bin in a Christian book store. I didn't realize that it was rather outdated. Fortunately, except for the discussions about PDAs, most of the concepts were still relevant. It was a good rehash of the usual best practices, and I liked the tips provided at the end of each chapter.

[Dora · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for a basic overview of productivity management. There are some helpful tips and tricks as well as amazing techniques to guide and aid those suffering from an overload of tasks, projects, and to-do-lists.

[Juanita · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was already doing a lot of things in this book already so I really started skimming through the book. It was probably worth 2.5 stars nothing new struck me that I had not read before.
At the end of each chapter it had a box with some questions but the font was quite small and off putting.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty basic information.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had some good tips. The section on managing projects was the most helpful. Much of it was what one has heard before, but never hurts to hear again.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - a lot of traditional time management stuff, but a few new thoughts for me too. Writing style was solid.

[Jamie Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of common sense pointers but no eureka moment for me.

[Kyle Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Felton and Sims' Organizing Your Day to be extremely helpful because of its careful detail and focus on real practicality. If you've read any of the more popular books on time management, you'll recognize some of the tips and processes, but likely find plenty to help you think productively about your time. The book is organized into 24 short chapters, which lets the reader easily pick and choose the ones that speak to her particular challenges. Each chapter includes about three page-long "case studies," which can help the reader to diagnose her own biggest problems with organization and time management.

The chapters cover the challenges of multi-tasking, goal setting, project management, procrastination, interruptions and time-wasters, behavior changing, physical organization, and more. The book taught me to build more efficient work habits into a daily routine, and to think concretely about my responsibilities and how my work environment can both help and hinder those. For example, I schedule projects that require higher concentration for the quietest times around the office, and work on more routine tasks during the times of day that have more interruptions. I've stopped working on projects chose to the due date, and instead work on them during the "appointments" that I make for them. It's made a great difference in my stress level and my productivity. Felton and Sims take the reader through all the questions one might ask about the work environment, the nature of one's projects, personal and personality-based challenges with productivity, and personal habits.

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book addresses many aspects of our lives and the time management challenges associated with them. The topics are diverse and may apply to the home as well as the office such as project management, to-do lists, filing, priority setting, and reducing clutter. Each chapter is relatively short with many practical ideas for implementation but many anecdotal passages which seem unnecessary. In addition, the chapters could stand alone well and could be read in any order (perhaps with the last chapter being read last.) The suggestions were helpful to me but mostly mechanical. Deeper subjects like project management and prioritization would have benefitted by more development and figures to illustrate the suggestions. Perhaps the best chapter was the last in which the author becomes more abstract and inspirational and tries to tackle organizing one's opportunities. This chapter did a nice job of putting the tools of organization into context with other life skills and their impact on achieving ones overall goals.

I enjoyed the book and walked away with several ideas for accomplishing more, better goals with the time I have.

[Frangipani · Rating 5 out of 5]

When this book arrived I didn’t leave it alone! I got so much out of this book, so many good ideas and insights into my own character when it comes to procrastination and the reasons why I do that. The best things I loved about this book were about finding your most productive time of the day v. your worst and scheduling the important things for when you're at your best and the more mundane stuff like laundry folding, for the least productive time of day. Planning, project management and mind maps and timelines as tools for planning your projects. Managing interruptions (this would have been invaluable in the workplace). And finding reasons for your procrastination and overcoming your tendency to procrastinate - I really got a LOT out of that particular chapter! All in all I found this book a valuable tool for improving my own productivity.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some really good techniques in this book about organizing and ways to overcome procrastination. Alot of things we may have read before. I do like the maps and tips on how to figure out ways to prioritize. I like the helpful hints about day planners and how they can help achieve your goals. I like this saying, "It's not what you do once in a while, it's what you do day in and day out that makes the difference." Jenny Craig. One of the messages is to make it a routine, and if you do the same thing everyday it will become second nature to where you don't have to think so much about it anymore. It will come naturally. Some parts of the book didn't relate to me and others I found really helpful and will be giving some of them a try.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this book. It opened my eyes to the idea of time management and made me realize all that I'm doing wrong. Perhaps I enjoyed it so much because it was my first experience with reading about time management, but whatever the case, I recommend it.

It gives great tips on forming to-do lists, choosing priorities, letting go of non-priorities, and accepting the fact that you are a limited human being with limited time. It helped me realize and accept that just because I WANT to do something doesn't mean I can or should.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a left-brain, list-making, organization-loving gal, so of course I loved this book.... I may have been able to write more than half of it.
Not that I didn't learn a thing or two. Mostly, however, I felt like I was having a conversation with a like-minded friend.

For those who are organizationally challenged: this read is quite painless. Real life examples behind concepts,steps broken down for you, and diagrams of worksheets.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is more about basic time management (setting and keeping schedules, prioritizing tasks, organizing stuff) than it is about fine-tuning what you're doing. I actually do OK with the basics, so this wasn't as useful as I was hoping it would be. Also, much of the book is spent on cheerleading and explaining why it's good to make the effort to manage your time well, which again, I already do OK at.

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of great big-picture and inspiring material about organization, but rather tediously too-specific on the details. Best information is a list on pages 196-7 of suggested habits to cultivate (Leave a room the way you want it to be when you return.), the chapters on procrastination and perfectionism (Done is better than perfect.), and the "streamlined to-do list" (List tasks in order of importance; do them in the order listed.)

[Jill Kemerer · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many useful tips and suggestions! This book helps you recognize your problem areas with organization and time management--and it gives oodles of options to try to overcome the problems. I particularly like the Quadrant system and the tournament format for prioritizing.

Excellent book!

[Alexandria Blaelock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a lot of information for small businesses owners, which was a shame because that’s what I was looking for. Might be useful for the last people left standing in the latest round of restructures who need to get more done.

[Alissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good basic tips, learned a few new pointers, the most beneficial for me was the planning worksheet.

[Joana Augusto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good, has a lot of useful ideas and tips. The only drawbacks: the religious references and the oversimplified "real life" examples.

[Lori Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A should-read book on how to be productive in your job as your manage your career.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read everything Sandra Felton has written. This is one of the best of her books.