In today's digital age, we are continually bombarded with interruptions. Sometimes, there is so much information coming at us at once that we may experience "Analysis Paralysis" - a state of being so overwhelmed that no action is taken. Then at the end of the day, you're lacking a sense of accomplishment. We've compiled some easy hacks to help make your day more productive.

List and Prioritize

The best way to know what needs to be done is to make a list. Every year, every month, every week and every day, lists help to reach goals. There are plenty of online tools to help with your lists. Trello, for instance, is a free organizational tool that uses visuals and the opportunity to add others to help with your lists.

To make each day productive:

• make a list of the items that you need to look at the following day
• prioritize the list according to importance rather than urgency (see quote below)
• schedule the real amount of time each task takes on your calendar

"I have two kinds of problems: the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent." ~ President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1954

What is now known as the Eisenhower Principle notes that important tasks lead us to accomplish our goals while urgent tasks are usually for someone else's goals. An important task could also include taking a break, going for a quick walk or catching up with a loved one. Tackling activities in this order not only leads to a productive day, but more productive and happier life.

Manage Your Time

Emails, texts and social media notifications could all be renamed maximus interruptus. It's so easy to be responsive to the bells and whistles of our handheld devices letting us know that we have a message. Instead of an instant response, decide on a time to check them all at once. Perhaps check notifications, respond to emails and return calls every hour on the hour or once in the morning and once again in the afternoon. If you stop responding immediately, the messengers stop expecting an immediate response. These interruptions stop our focus and distract us from the task at hand. Even better, turn off the sounds that let you know when a message comes in. You'll get to it at your set time and you won't miss anything.

You've already set aside realistic time you need for each task. Now, stick to it. If you need to, set a timer for the allotted time and stay put until the activity is complete. Then you can mark another task off your list.

Just Say No

Since your calendar is filling up with tasks, to-dos and time for yourself, you will know when you're taking on too much. It is okay to say no. You will not be able to give your all if you're feeling overwhelmed and unproductive. In fact, you may end up disappointing someone if you simply don't have the time or brain power to take on another item on your list. If you're unable to say no, you can suggest a later date and add it to your schedule. In many cases, there is probably someone else that can work on the item. Sometimes, when you say "yes" to others, you're saying "no" to yourself. (see quote above)

Most often when we are feeling unproductive, it is because we are allowing interruptions to distract our focus. Once distracted, we become so overwhelmed that we procrastinate. These simple productivity hacks can help your days become more productive and your life a little more balanced.

Santa and Mrs. Claus' visit to A Better Answer last December was a success in more ways than one. Not only did kids get to visit with Santa and have their picture taken, but we also collected donations for Habitat for Humanity of Collin County.

As a consumer, there is nothing worse than a call into customer service. You really have no idea what you're in for, how long you'll be on hold, if your problem will be resolved or if the person on the other end of the line even cares to help you. Let us share a few familiar scenarios that will remind us all why we shudder to think of the dreaded customer service line.

Hot Potato

Scenario: Mark called his insurance company to ask about mental health coverage options. After spending an hour on hold, he spoke briefly with an agent who told him he needed to speak with someone in a different department. Mark went back on hold for 15 minutes, got redirected from the new representative to yet another person. Four hours later he hung up the phone without an answer to his issue.

There are few things that consumers hate more than having their time wasted. They understand that sometimes call volume is heavier than usual, and they are willing to wait a few minutes for service, but when they get shuffled from person to person and no one seems to have an answer, the consumer gets testy. Your call center solution should service your company in one of two ways. Either the staff can be trained enough to field most questions from the average consumer or they must be professional and courteous enough to gather contact information from the customer so the right person can call back with a response and the customer doesn't have to wait on the line.

No Habla Espanol

Scenario: Maria's son was arrested for staying out past curfew, and this agitated single mother tried desperately to find an attorney to help her get him out of jail. In her excited state her limited command of English vanished. She tried half a dozen attorneys offices, but after being met with a constant stream of "No habla Espanol", she gave up.

Demographics in the United States are changing rapidly. With more and more Spanish speakers arriving every day, a company that cannot communicate in both English and Spanish puts severe limitations on its customer base. Your call center needs to have a staff, not just one or two people, who are fluent in both languages and can move quickly back and forth between the two.

No One's Home

Scenario: Tim works 12 hour shifts, usually overnight, at an oilfield site. He needs to find an attorney to write a power of attorney document for his ailing father, but none of the offices he calls are open when he's awake and alert, and the few voice mail messages he left seem to be ignored.

People today work different hours and have different sleeping patterns than ever before. The typical 9-5 workday is too small a window to catch many of the customers that your business targets. A call center is a 24 hour service that provides a voice and a human connection with the caller, so they feel like someone is working on their problems.

The right call center is an extension of your business that serves you and your customers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Deliver the highest quality service you can, stop missing calls and improve the consumer experience by investing in a call center partner.

At A Better Answer, we've won countless awards for the quality customer service we provide to our clients and their customers. It is only fitting that we recognize those ABA employees who continue to help make us the best at what we do.

The holidays may be over but we're still remembering the holiday cheer brought by a special Christmas visitor. Santa came to A Better Answer during the week of Christmas to share the holiday spirit with our employees and clients!