Here are six things that can each save you ten minutes. Do them each day and you’ll save an hour. What you do with that hour is up to you, but we encourage you to use at least a part of it to check out more time-saving tips from SmallBusiness.com.

1. Plan ahead

Forget 10 minutes; if you can plan your day ahead of time, you will save hours. There are endless methods for planning ones day but they all point to this: Know what must be done and don’t avoid those things. Whatever method you use, become an expert at that method.

2. Set a starting time and ending time

Even if your business has flextime, setting — and sticking with — exact times to arrive and leave work can boost your personal productivity. Adding any possible similarity to the flow of work days allows you to provide structure to even the most chaotic of jobs.

3. Schedule breaks

We all need time to take our minds off our to-do list, stretch our legs and maybe even get a little exercise. Scheduling small breaks throughout the day also is the best way to increase quality of work.

4. Avoid distractions

(Image: via Jockular.com)

Cut yourself off from distractions, and set a working interval in between breaks. If you need a list of distractions, we’ll start with this one: Don’t watch funny animations on the internet.

5. Organize your personal “stuff”

Just like Ben Franklin (and lots of others who are credited with saying it), there’s “a place for everything and everything in its place.” Chances are, you spend more than 12 minutes each day looking for that pair of glasses that are resting up on the top of your head.

6. Have walking meetings

Steve Jobs was famous for this. Rather than sitting at a desk and having a conversation with a colleague, go for a walk. In addition to adding productivity to the meeting by avoiding distractions, the walk with improve your performance afterwards, as well.

Do have suggestions for saving time? We are planning future “save an hour” ideas. Send us your’s to: [email protected] or add them to the comments below.

(Featured image from twm1340 on Flickr)