10 time-saving secrets you’re not using

We’d all like to spend a little less time working. If you resolved to work more efficiently in 2009, you’re not alone.

Fortunately, common programs include many tools to help you work smarter. Here are 10 of my favorites to get you started.

Flag e-mail for recipients in Outlook

Microsoft Outlook lets you flag messages for follow-up. As your deadline approaches, Outlook reminds you to take action. Wouldn’t it be great if you could flag messages you send, too? You can!

Open a new e-mail message. Click the Follow Up button and select Flag for Recipients. Select the flag type and reminder time. Click OK.

Categorize e-mail messages

Outlook helps you categorize e-mail. You can quickly view categorized messages related to a specific project.

Select a message and click Actions>>Categorize. Select a color-coded category for the message. If the category hasn’t been used before, you can create a category name.

Categorized messages appear in the Categorized Search Folder, organized by category.

Create Search Folders

Search Folders in Outlook automatically collect e-mail based on criteria you specify. You can use the folders to find particular messages quickly.