Getting time under control is a necessary skill for any EA. With more tasks in the day than there are hours, you always need to be ticking tasks off your list to keep up.

Here are three tips for getting things done in a timely fashion.

1. Remember the 80/20 rule

The 80/20 rule - also known as the Pareto principle - is not really a rule so much as it is an observation about how thinks in the world tend to work. It says that 80 per cent of the results come from 20 percent of the effort. So if you're strapped for time - which let's face it, most EAs are - remember that you can make a lot of headway in a project with a relatively small amount of effort. Sure, you mightn't be able to polish it to its final form but you can get a good portion done in a short amount of time.

2. Remove distractions when it's necessary

If you know something is a constant distraction for you, do your best to remove it from your work environment. For example, you can get free software for your computer that can block certain websites at certain times - if you constantly find yourself on social media, this can be an incredible time saver.

It's a similar idea to when people are trying to lose weight and eat healthy - if you know you're going to be tempted by a packet of biscuits in the pantry, don't have them there in the first place. You don't have to be strong enough to resist temptation or distraction if you can manage your circumstances to remove it.

3. 'Eat the frog'

If there's a task that's playing on your mind - eating the proverbial frog - get it out the way as soon as you can.

Doing this has two benefits. The first is that the task you've been dreading or apprehensive of is now out of the way, and won't be on your mind for the rest of the day. The second is that it gives you a feeling of accomplishment straight out of the gate - the first task you've completed in the day is one of the most difficult, so anything you do after that is going to be comparatively easy. Leaving it to the last thing in the day is only going to make it more difficult.

Time is always going to be short, so the sooner you learn how to manage it well, the better. Follow these 3 time management tips, and you'll be well on your way.