With such a shortage of time, who has time to be organized?

[Mirelle]

Check out the ten secrets that super-organized folks use in order to make the most efficient use of each day.

Make a to-do list.
Take about five minutes to make a to-do list. You wanna climb Mt. Fuji? Make a list of what it will take to get yourself atop that mountain. You wanna make more money moonlighting? Make a list of how to do it. Wanna promote your blog? Make a list.

Add key information.
Believe it or not, many people fail to add important details to their to-do lists. Each activity should include a due date or self-imposed deadline. Make no mistake: a task without a deadline will not get done. Also, don't forget to add contact information to an activity when necessary.

Make a not-to-do list.
The mistakes we make are life's way of telling us what to stop doing. If you're stubborn, forgetful, or continue to engage in behavior that you know you shouldn't, put it on your not-to-do list. This type of list keeps you honest with yourself. It also frees up time for the things you really want to do.

Prioritize your tasks.
The most important secret of super-organized people remains the most ignored: Prioritization. You can do many things in life--just not all of them at once. The 1-2-3 Method works best. Prioritize each listed item based on their level of importance to you, your family, your job, your business, and/or your life. Rank important tasks that must be undertaken soon with a "1". Activities that are important but not urgent are level "2" tasks. Lastly, things that can wait a bit before becoming a problem are level "3" activities.

Take your list with you.
Everywhere you go, your list must go with you. Part of being organized means adding activities to your list as soon as they come to you. So put your list on a piece of paper, or in a special planner, or in your smartphone--anywhere you can get to it quickly no matter where you are.

Eliminate list items.
As you complete each listed activity, cross them off of your list. After a while, it'll become your new favorite thing to do. (By the way, do not erase or delete completed items. More about that later.)

Delegate tasks.
Who says you must be the one completing all of the items on your to-do list? Take a look at your list and ask yourself, "Which of these tasks could I possibly get someone else to do for me?" Getting help from someone else can be a powerful way to get a job done, especially when the person you put on the job is better or faster at it than you are.

Keep your lists.
Crossed-off items on a to-do list are wonderful things! Each item is a reminder that you've accomplished something, and over time, accomplishments add up to form big achievements.

Assess your progress.
How did you do for the week? How about for the month? Take a look at your list(s) and assess your completion rate as well as your progress toward becoming more organized. This isn't just about seeing what you did or didn't do. It's also about making sure you're not overlooking something important. Fifteen minutes a week of assessing your lists can make a big difference.

And you? What do you think?