It’s no longer a matter of time management.  It’s more like time protection, as the pace keeps getting faster, and the ways to get thrown off task have hi-tech multiplied. 

The bottom line:  Your time is under assault, and the attacks are ongoing, relentless.  Some will be from well-intentioned acquaintances who want to invite you to join this or that social network.  Others are look-alike spam offers looking to rob your identity or cut you in on a multi-million deal in a bank in Nigeria.  Regardless, well-intentioned or otherwise — these time bandits can rob your productivity, as well as that of your staff.   

It used to be that you could close your door and route your calls to voice mail.  These days, you can get Twittered, Ipoded (ipode?) and Blackberry spammed ‘til you’re black and blue.  If you fail to maintain control, if you don’t pay attention … well, I know some people who spend up to 20% of their time dealing with the relentless requests for this and that. 

Here are few rules to help you keep sane and save your mind, time and soul from the time bandits of the e-world:

1. Turn off your email when you’re at the computer.  Check your mail once or twice a day, as a scheduled part of your day.
2. Don’t hesitate to tell people to please remove you from their contact list.  (I’m expecting a handful of gleeful replies to that bit of advice.)
3. Do not reply to spams asking to be taken off their email list.  (This is like telling your big brother to stop poking you.  He’ll only do it more, now that he has your attention.)
4. Do not hand out your email address and cell phone number to everyone. 
5. Don’t hesitate to use spam blockers to reduce the tidal wave of junk mail that flows in every day.
6. Do not feel obligated to reply to every request to join each social network invitation you receive.  Assess their value before joining. 
7. go ahead … turn off your cell phone and Blackberry when you are concentrating, when you are in a meeting, when you are off work and just want some personal time with yourself or someone special.  
8.  Invest in decent anti-virus programs.  A virus that shuts you down can reduce your productivity to zero and your attitude to blood red.  Protect yourself.
9. Consider separate email accounts (and even phones) for different uses:  One for close family and friends (your A-List people who need to have 24/7 access to you; another for acquaintances and others (who can generally survive if you do not get back to them right away); a third for people you may need to deal with … but not today … maybe never. 
10. Have two business cards, one with your email address, another without. 

Work hard, make money, have fun, and protect your time like it’s your most precious asset … because it is.

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