As a working woman I've often wished I had ten hands instead of two and even that would not suffice. However, with experience and tips that I gleaned from successful women I saw around me , I have arrived at my own secret 'mantra' for time management , which have made me the object of both admiration and envy . 'How is it you can pack so much into one day, I've often been asked. Here are my ten secret tips:

1. GROUP JOBS TOGETHER This is popularly known as 'multi-tasking'. A lot of time gets wasted in doing one chore at a time. By this I do not mean that you should cook with one hand and feed the baby with the other and carry on a conversation on the phone with the phone tucked into the crook of your neck. For instance, I generally chop my vegetables for the next day while supervising my children at play in the backyard. I've often listened to my favourite Carnatic music songs and slokas while cooking. This gives me a chance to find time for my slokas and music on a busy workday and also ensures that good vibrations go into the food I am preparing--- for it is said that the mood of the person cooking finds its way into the food. Again to multitask you could wash the wash basin immediately after you brush your teeth so that the basin remains spic and clean even if anybody were to walk in suddenly. I've often done my ironing for the week while I talk to my friends on the phone and kept up my busy social network, without sitting for hours on end by the phone at the cost of pressing housework which in the process remains unfinished.

2. ALLOT CHORES TO YOUR CHILDREN 'Real caring is sharing', in my opinion. Even your small kids can help. Everyday, my eight year old ties up the mouth of the garbage bag with a rubber band and takes it to the rubbish bin provided at the back of the house. He then puts a fresh bag for the rubbish bin My older child makes his own bed and also the bed of the youngest one, everyday. The toys and books that they take out have to be put back by them before they go to bed. This ensures you are not wasting time doing the same chores and picking up after the kids or an untidy spouse again and again.

3. I NEVER TRY TO BE 'SUPERMOM'. Many women make the mistake of thing they are superwomen. I chalk out out my day with what I can 'really' accomplish. Don't bite off more than you can chew. I space out my work for the day , also give myself breaks in between for a nice hot cup of coffee and try not to do too much in one go.

4. I DRAW UP A SCHEDULE AND STICK TO IT. This is one point I observe even at office. This way I do not have any work pending even at my workplace. Time management is very important when it comes to housework. A routine helps you to stay with your nose to the grindstone. I chalk out the next day's menu the previous day itself and even chop veggies overnight if required. I divide the work for the day into bit sized chores so the work is not over whelming.

5. I NEVER LEAVE TASKS PENDING OR HALF DONE Sometimes it is very easy to postpone a chore or leave it undone. 'I'LL finish it later', you think. That is a 'no-no'. This may end up taking up more of your time to complete it. For instance, if you do not wipe the table immediately after dinner, the food particles on it like rice, dry out and become even harder to remove the next day.

6. REDUCE ERRANDS WHEREVER POSSIBLE. I try to pay most of my bills online. Nowadays many supermarkets advertise home delivery at no extra charge. So I call up my local supermarket ( where I shop regularly) and give them my shopping list on phone. I buy my veggies for the week from the local bazaar taking my children with me. This way I kill four birds with one stone-- my veggies work out cheaper than a supermarket,the kids get a fun outing, I get help carrying the veggies and the children learn shopping in the process.

7. USE MODERN TECHNOLOGY WHEREVER POSSIBLE. Instead of spending half the day sweeping with your broom and still finding your floor dirty, it makes sense to use your vacuum (if you have one ) and get the job done better and in minutes. Similarly washing clothes in a machine saves a lot of time and effort especially for working women. Gadgets are there to add comfort to our lives----use them.

8. DO NOT BE TOO FASTIDIOUS I remember my mother would ask us to wash dishes and would never be satisfied however well we washed them. Instead of correcting us telling us where we had gone wrong, she would end up rewashing all the dishes again because they we not as clean as 'she wanted them'. What a waste of time and energy! Some people are too fastidious about the jobs they do and want their jobs to be just perfect that they will never let anybody do anything for them because they think it will not be as good as their job. They will spend hours polishing silver which already looks well polished or washing off that invisible stain on the floor. Most of the time the extra polishing, cleaning or re-doing jobs , just robs one of the time meant for other jobs.

9. NEVER BE ASHAMED TO GET HELP Sometimes work piles up ---like when you are sick, some other unexpected work crops up or you have guests at home. During such times instead of postponing jobs to later to do them yourself , get help and get the job done, even if it means hiring help. This way you don't get too stressed out and the house remains spic and span.

10. TAKE TIME OUT FOR YOURSELF By this I do not mean taking a break for a cup of coffee or putting up your feet in- between chores, but real time to yourself, when you can pursue your hobby, pamper yourself at a beauty saloon, spend quality time with your children or have that long- due lunch with your old schoolfriend. These are the tips I swear by and with them have balanced beautifully a job in a Bank and raising two children one of whom is a 'special' child. I feel young and fresh and am 'raring to go' even at 53.