How to Make Time Work for You

Is time your biggest enemy? Do you feel like there is never enough time in a day for you to accomplish what you would like to? Here are some tips and ideas on how to make time work for you and to help you in taking advantage of the time you do have.

1. Never multi-task unless you are watching TV, listening to music or some other passive activity. Multi-tasking takes away your concentration from your primary activity and makes it harder for you to be productive.

2. Never just sit in front of the TV. If you are watching TV, take advantage of the time to write letters, clean your house, organize your things, read your email, cook dinner or do other things where you can still watch but get more than one thing done at a time.

3. Take time out for you. Everyone needs 15-30 minutes per day to meditate, relax or exercise and take time to breathe and release your stress.

4. Plan your day and week in advance. Use a day timer or planner and write out a week in advance what you will do each day. Include any appointments and obligations. Take another 10 minutes each night and go over your plans and actions for the following day.

5. Avoid time wasters and robbers such as talking on the phone for too long, reading your email every few minutes, surfing the web, and watching TV.

6. Realize that everyone has exactly the same amount of time per day that you do and if you take advantage of your time then you will get more done.

7. Never be caught waiting at a doctor's office, stuck in a traffic jam, or anywhere else where you have to wait without a book to read or something to do. Plan ahead and be sure you will never be bored while waiting.

8. Make a master list of everything you would eventually like to do or accomplish and then when you have some extra time set a goal to do one of these things.

9. Realize that depending upon your current schedule and obligations certain things may not be possible for you right now. Accept this and move on.

10. Consistently evaluate your progress and make goals to improve wherever you can.