llows us to see tasks that can be accomplished on the same trip downtown; it enables us to see tasks that could be more easily completed by someone else in the family or on our work teams; enables us to identify tasks that are inconsistent with our goals and action plans for the day.
• Make sure that those items you want to get done today, really represent your priorities and your values and not those of someone or something that is no longer important to you.
• Not everything that you needA wise man once said that time is the greatest gift in the world. And how true it is. Few of us have enough time to get everything done that we think is important. This article will explore how we can make the best use of the time we have available.

First of all, the good news. If you feel that you are not a good manager of time, it is possible for you to improve. Time management, like many other things in life, is a skill that can be learned. Some of the best leaders have reached the pinnacle of their careers, in part, by focusing on how they use time and how their use of time could be made more efficient.

Here are some concrete tips which will help you make better use of your time.
• Spend five minutes at the beginning of every day making a list of things that “must” get done and a second list of things that “should” get done. The “must” list contains items that are directly connected to your personal or professional success…life will be even more difficult if you don’t get them done today! The “should” list contains tasks that can wait until after all the “must” do tasks are completed. Both lists should be prioritized from most important to least.
• Schedule everything. Realistically think about the time that each and every task ought to take and make an appointment in your calendar to do that task. Lots of times we make a list of the small tasks, like telephone calls, without thinking about how much time they will take, only to learn that we used up most of the morning completing what seemed like a series of 3-minute chores.
• Take the time to plan. While most of us know about how we will spend every hour of a two week vacation, very few of us have a plan for the other 50 weeks of the year. Having a plan makes it possible for us to be less confused about what to do next; we can prioritize the use of our time and the work that must fit into it.
• Planning makes our lives more efficient. The few minutes that establishing a plan-for-the-day involves allows us to see tasks that can be accomplished on the same trip downtown; it enables us to see tasks that could be more easily completed by someone else in the family or on our work teams; enables us to identify tasks that are inconsistent with our goals and action plans for the day.
• Make sure that those items you want to get done today, really represent your priorities and your values and not those of someone or something that is no longer important to you.
• Not everything that you need

e of their careers, in part, by focusing on how they use time and how their use of time could be made more efficient.

Here are some concrete tips which will help you make better use of your time.
• Spend five minutes at the beginning of every day making a list of things that “must” get done and a second list of things that “should” get done. The “must” list contains items that are directly connected to your personal or professional success…life will be even more difficult if you don’t get them done today! The “should” list contains tasks that can wait until after all the “must” do tasks are completed. Both lists should be prioritized from most important to least.
• Schedule everything. Realistically think about the time that each and every task ought to take and make an appointment in your calendar to do that task. Lots of times we make a list of the small tasks, like telephone calls, without thinking about how much time they will take, only to learn that we used up most of the morning completing what seemed like a series of 3-minute chores.
• Take the time to plan. While most of us know about how we will spend every hour of a two week vacation, very few of us have a plan for the other 50 weeks of the year. Having a plan makes it possible for us to be less confused about what to do next; we can prioritize the use of our time and the work that must fit into it.
• Planning makes our lives more efficient. The few minutes that establishing a plan-for-the-day involves allows us to see tasks that can be accomplished on the same trip downtown; it enables us to see tasks that could be more easily completed by someone else in the family or on our work teams; enables us to identify tasks that are inconsistent with our goals and action plans for the day.
• Make sure that those items you want to get done today, really represent your priorities and your values and not those of someone or something that is no longer important to you.
• Not everything that you need

m done today! The “should” list contains tasks that can wait until after all the “must” do tasks are completed. Both lists should be prioritized from most important to least.
• Schedule everything. Realistically think about the time that each and every task ought to take and make an appointment in your calendar to do that task. Lots of times we make a list of the small tasks, like telephone calls, without thinking about how much time they will take, only to learn that we used up most of the morning completing what seemed like a series of 3-minute chores.
• Take the time to plan. While most of us know about how we will spend every hour of a two week vacation, very few of us have a plan for the other 50 weeks of the year. Having a plan makes it possible for us to be less confused about what to do next; we can prioritize the use of our time and the work that must fit into it.
• Planning makes our lives more efficient. The few minutes that establishing a plan-for-the-day involves allows us to see tasks that can be accomplished on the same trip downtown; it enables us to see tasks that could be more easily completed by someone else in the family or on our work teams; enables us to identify tasks that are inconsistent with our goals and action plans for the day.
• Make sure that those items you want to get done today, really represent your priorities and your values and not those of someone or something that is no longer important to you.
• Not everything that you needmorning completing what seemed like a series of 3-minute chores.
• Take the time to plan. While most of us know about how we will spend every hour of a two week vacation, very few of us have a plan for the other 50 weeks of the year. Having a plan makes it possible for us to be less confused about what to do next; we can prioritize the use of our time and the work that must fit into it.
• Planning makes our lives more efficient. The few minutes that establishing a plan-for-the-day involves allows us to see tasks that can be accomplished on the same trip downtown; it enables us to see tasks that could be more easily completed by someone else in the family or on our work teams; enables us to identify tasks that are inconsistent with our goals and action plans for the day.
• Make sure that those items you want to get done today, really represent your priorities and your values and not those of someone or something that is no longer important to you.
• Not everything that you needllows us to see tasks that can be accomplished on the same trip downtown; it enables us to see tasks that could be more easily completed by someone else in the family or on our work teams; enables us to identify tasks that are inconsistent with our goals and action plans for the day.
• Make sure that those items you want to get done today, really represent your priorities and your values and not those of someone or something that is no longer important to you.
• Not everything that you need to do will be pleasant. Get the tough stuff done first. That will free your mind and give you more confidence to approach the challenges that are held later in the day. E.M. Gray said, “The successful person has the habit of doing the things that failures don’t like to do.”
• Finally, don’t take on the responsibilities of others…that puts them in charge of your day and not you. It’s a sure way to feel swamped, when you promise too much to too many.

Stretching the day to 25 hours is beyond the capability of most of us but as Leonardo da Vinci wrote, “Time stays long enough for those who understand its nature and use it intelligently.”