Almost everyone needs or wants more time than they currently have, whether that’s to start a second business, or just to make the most of the time spent with the kids or with friends. It's true that people are very busy, but extra time can almost always be found with the help of a smidgen of discipline!

 

The first thing to do is to sit down with pencil and paper, and list your daily schedule. What time do you wake up - then step-by-step, list everything you do each day. Most people will find that they have about 3 hours each day that could be used in a more constructive or efficient manner. You may have to give up the time you waste in your local pub or a few of the television programs you watch, but it should be worth it in the long run.

 

Efficient time management boils down to planning what you're going to do, and then doing it without back-tracking. Start by making a list of the things you want to do tomorrow, each evening before you jump into bed. Schedule your trips to the supermarket or wherever to coincide with other things you have to do, and with your trips to or from work. Organize your journeys to take care of as many things as possible whilst you're out of the house. Take stock of the time you spend standing around and not achieving much - especially the time you spend on the telephone - and eliminate all that isn't necessary.

 

Whatever chores you have to do at home, set aside a specific time to do them, and a specific amount of time to devote to them. For instance, just one hour a day on housework would probably make your home much cleaner and a more pleasant place to be rather than waiting for that Saturday blitz day. It would also free up your Saturday for something much more fun! Don't try to do a week's work in one big flurry. Whether it's painting your house, fixing leaky taps, or mowing your lawn and trimming your shrubs, do a little bit or one particular job each day and you'll be amazed at your progress.

 

Take care of all your mail the day you receive it. Don't let those bills and letters pile up on you. If you're unable to pay a bill immediately, file it in a special place that's visible and note on the envelope the date you intend to pay it. Answer your letters the same day you get them.

 

The important thing is to think of your time as your most valuable asset - it is - so organize what you have to do, and what you want to do. From there, it's just a matter of arranging your priorities.

 

Once you start listing and planning what you want to do, and then carry out your plans, you'll find plenty of extra time for doing the stuff that really matters. People in general may not like routines or schedules, but without some sort of plan relative to what is supposed to be done, the world would be lost in mass confusion!

 

Taking stock of the time you waste each day, and then reorganising your activities is what it's all about. It's a matter of becoming time-efficient in everything you do. It's really easy to do, and you'll not only accomplish a lot more, you'll become a happier person.