Work study experts have shown that it is more efficient to group like tasks together:  making phone calls, answering e-mails, grading papers, assigning tasks, etc.  G-mail (and possibly other e-mail providers) has an excellent feature that allows you to compose many e-mails, one after another, and then determine when to send them out!

This can be used to send out invitations and follow-up reminders, a birthday greeting on the EXACT day of the birthday (without having to remind yourself to send it on that day), or even to send a reminder to yourself 6 months in the future to do something (such as changing batteries, scheduling a medical appointment, or check to see if you’ve received something that was promised to you).

First, compose your e-mail as usual.  But DO NOT hit the “Send” button.  Instead, to the right of the word “Send” is a down arrow.  Click on the arrow.

The window that appears suggests a date and time to send the e-mail.  Or you can select your own time to send it.

It will then reside in your “Scheduled” box, waiting for the date and time that you have chosen.

At any time, you can open a “Scheduled” e-mail and modify it (e.g., the body of the text, the recipients, or even delete it).

Now, in just a few minutes, you’ve sent out birthday greetings to arrive on the correct day, reminded yourself to take a future action, informed friends of a party and even sent a follow-up email!  My, look how efficient and organized you are!