How often do you work so diligently and busily all day long but at the end of the day still feel as though you really haven't done anything worthwhile? To prevent this from happening, use the Rule of Two to help you out.

The Rule of Two states that you should identify two items on your to-do list—two e-mails to write, two phone calls you need to make, and two errands that you can do so that if you get nothing else completed during the day you will feel as though you accomplished something. When you complete the first two items, then identify two more items. The Rule of Two keeps you focused on only two things at a time, even when your e-mail inbox may be full, there's a pile of notes you need to go over, and there's a list of phone calls to answer that's a mile long. When you are feeling overwhelmed and you don't know where to start, start with the Rule of Two. Focus on two projects, no matter how large or small, until you complete them. Then move on to the next two items.

The Rule of Two is a great way to focus on the real top priorities when you're feeling overwhelmed and feeling like everything today is a top priority. It is important to realize that you may not get everything done that you plan to do in one day. But that doesn't mean you can't still accomplish the top two items each day, which means making headway.