Most everyone, everyday, anywhere in the world struggles with managing their time to accomplish what’s most important to them. As much as you may struggle to be efficient and get the most of each minute, you also struggle with where to “spend” disposable minutes and hours. Do you let them slip through your hands with distractions? If you look back at the day, do you chide yourself for time wasted? How do you build your plans around this day-to-day challenge and ease the stress of time management?

FIRST, admit that you may have a problem by making yourself aware of potential time thieves.

Here are the top five traditional time wasters: telephone interruptions, drop-in visitors, meetings (both scheduled and non-scheduled), apparent crises, and a lack of objectives, priorities and deadlines. In addition to these, include the latest technical wizardry of cell phones, email and text messaging. A less obvious, but equally treacherous foe includes inadequate, inaccurate or delayed information, along with the inability to say “no.”

While most items noted are valuable tools for your efficiency, when not managed properly they can also work against you! Stay on top of how you use (or don’t use) these tools to your benefit and you’ll take a big step toward reducing wasted time.

SECOND, use planning to establish short- and long-term goals, and to accomplish those goals.

There are three major excuses for bypassing planning: “I’m too busy putting out fires”; “There isn’t enough time to plan”; and “Planning limits my freedom.” Instead of having multiple to-do lists scattered about, use a daily planner to keep notes easily accessible in one place. Spend 10–15 minutes each day, when you won’t be interrupted, to go over daily tasks and review goals. It takes some discipline to establish this new routine, but time and energy saved will be the reward!

THIRD, understand priorities and procrastination.

To execute a successful plan, you need to understand and identify the difference between what’s important, urgent and optional. Understanding how to prioritize your tasks and projects will help you avoid procrastination! We all procrastinate, often because we choose to do the tasks that feel most comfortable. With due diligence, you can expand your comfort zone when you follow where your priorities guide you next.

FINALLY, by working smarter you can accomplish more.

Delegate tasks when possible; cooperate with coworkers to save time for everyone; learn to say “no”; and work for results, not perfection or neatness.

The PAY-OFF.

It’s never too late to change old habits and develop new, more productive ones. Once you are working more efficiently, you’ll have less stress and more disposable time to spend as you want, in recreation or relaxation.

Jean, Director of Production Services