This may be an obvious one, but I started doing this a while ago and it helps.
When building kits, I feel I waste time after soldering in one component, and then hunting down the next one. Then I started laying them out ahead of time, which helped a lot, but then I would accidentally bump them and they would get out of order.
So, here is my solution: just tape them down to your work surface, in order. Then you can even take a break (days even) and everything should be where you left off.
Here's another tip. Save egg cartons. They're about the right size for holding components.
If not I use a corn bread tin or muffin tin.