Sometimes the simplest time management techniques are the most powerful. Incredibly, you’re already doing what I’m about to suggest. You’re just doing it at the wrong time. The way I’m going to suggest you do it will save you oodles and boodles of time each and every day. All it requires is shifting a simple task forward by 12 hours.

You already have a task list. It might be online, on your laptop, on your phone, or on a legal pad. You add to it all day long. It’s dynamic, you’re marking items done, you’re moving items up and down, and you’re adding new items as you hang up the phone, finish up an e-mail, or complete a conversation. The task list system is in place.

You know what needs to be done. The only question that remains is when to do it.

An Easy Way to Boost Your Productivity

What you need to do is this—it really is easy—simply plan each day in advance. That’s it. That’s all you need to do.

Sit down at the end of the day, review your list, and plan the next day. Figure out what you’re going to do and put it where it’s constantly visible. Wait until morning and then do it. Work your way through the prioritized items.

Be careful not to overload your day. Don’t be overly ambitious. Pick a few items and segregate them out from the others. Just do those things first. If you have extra time, then move on to things you didn’t prioritize.

The reason this works is that you stay focused. You stop letting priorities set themselves based on interruptions. You get the primary work done because you’ve decided that these tasks are what’s required of you today.

Leave a few minutes at the end of the day today. Sit back, breathe, review your list, and decide what really needs doing tomorrow. What are the highest-priority items? Got it? Now you’re set for a much more productive day.