From Sue . . .

Well, it’s that time of year again - the holiday rush. Everyone is busy and excited planning, shopping and spending time with friends and family. The holidays bring so much enjoyment, but what they don’t bring is extra time.

Time management and making the most of your time are year-round endeavors, both in your personal life and in business. I am always looking for ways to improve my time management whether it is a new type of electronic or paper-based planner or just a simple tip to make my day run smoother. Here are a few of my favorite time management tips:

• Take the first 30 minutes of every day to plan your day – prioritize your tasks and DELEGATE what you can.

• Limit distractions when you are working on a project– turn off your phone and email, and log out of Facebook and other social media.

• Put up a "Do not disturb" sign when you absolutely have to get work done.

• And remember to take care of yourself – get plenty of sleep, exercise and eat well. It will improve your focus and concentration.

Effective use of time is necessary not only for you and your staff, but also for your patients. Today’s article, Measuring Office Visit Cycle Time, is from guest author Tom Ludwig, President and CEO of Forward Healthcare Solutions, LLC. Tom explains how to measure the office time cycle to ensure your patients don’t have unnecessary wait times, and therefore, can effectively manage their time as well.