Some people cringe at the thought of "time management," thinking it limits their creativity. In reality, it's the opposite! Whether you're a stay-at-home parent or work in an office, when you add structure to your day and control your time, you'll get the important things done on time.

The following tips will help you "buy" time to enjoy your family, hobbies, sports, and other fun things in your life.

1. Set goals and priorities - Understanding your goals and priorities helps you identify the most important tasks and manage your time accordingly.

2. Write everything down - Free up your mind by writing down tasks, appointments, and reminders on a master to-do list (on your computer, handheld device, white board, or a piece of paper). This way, tasks won't fall through the cracks, and it's easier to prioritize.

3. Plan and schedule your next day - Doing this the night before helps you schedule time to accomplish the most important tasks. The next day, you can hit the ground running, because you have a clear plan.

4. Stop procrastinating - Common reasons for procrastinating include unpleasant, difficult, or overwhelming tasks; you've learned to produce under pressure; fear of failure; and perfectionism. If you procrastinate, think about why, and take steps to remedy the causes. Bonus: You'll reduce stress!

5. Organize your environment - Many office workers lose at least 2 hours every week hunting for lost papers and information. Invest time to organize your work space, and you'll be more efficient and less frustrated.

6. Toss old paper and electronic documents - Don't won't waste time shuffling through old piles and files looking for information you need. Toss and delete the old stuff, and set up easy paper and electronic filing systems that you'll use.  

7. Avoid the tyranny of the urgent - One study found that "knowledge workers" are interrupted every 11 minutes, and it takes 25 minutes or more to return to the task! This means you must distinguish between interruptions that are worthy of your immediate attention (e.g., a coworker delivers the report you need) and those you can tactfully put aside for another time (e.g., a friend wants to discuss last night's game). Also, don't interrupt yourself by constantly checking email.

Ready to take action? You can start today by creating your master to-do list. If you need more guidance, my APPLES Resource Guide includes forms and charts to help you create your master to-do list and plan your day. Or call me - I'm happy to help.