Inter-Office Odyssey

3 steps for getting more done when you're swamped

Spend 15 minutes taking care of the "easiest, fastest tasks" and 35 minutes doing the most difficult or stressful task - then take a 10-minute break, Peter Bregman advises. "Working within a specific and limited time frame is important because the race against time keeps us focused," Bregman writes.

Read more from Harvard Business Review here.

3 tips for dealing with e-mail overload

Many people get overwhelmed with e-mail, but a lack of a prompt response on your part can still be seen as uncivil, Tony Schwartz warns. Consider a generic statement to those you don't intend to answer -- something along the lines of "Thanks for writing. I'm inundated and just won't be able to get to this anytime soon. Many apologies," he suggests.