18 Minutes

The 18-minute strategy developed by Peter Bregman, CEO of global management consulting firm Bregman Partners, enables us to navigate through a tangle of emails, phone calls, text messages, and interminable meetings that hinder us from spending our time on what is important.

Five minutes in the morning: Sit down and consider what you need to do today to succeed. Then cross those items off your to-do list and add them to your calendar.

1 minute every hour: Refocus.
Set an hourly alarm and when it goes off, "take a deep breath and ask yourself if you spent your previous hour productively."

Turn off your computer for five minutes in the evening and reflect on your day.

Overall, the 18-minute strategy provides a simple way to organise your day and reclaim your life from distractions.