In today's fast paced world, time is a precious commodity! Many people feel as though they have little input on how they spend their time. Learning to manage your time more effectively can help lower your stress levels and make life more enjoyable.

• Know your preferences & use them to make your work more effective. When is your most productive time of day? How do you work best (alone or in a group, doing things, writing, speaking)?
• Recognize the value of your time. Knowing how much your time is worth helps you to determine if certain tasks are profitable…are they worth doing?
• Prioritize. Part of focusing on results is figuring out what to focus on! Avoid "spinning your wheels" by having a plan of attack. Prepare & use a "To Do" list which helps to keep things in perspective.
• Minimize interruptions. Create quiet time - no contact with others unless absolutely necessary. Make yourself unavailable to calls or visitors for part of the day. Don't let e-mail distract you - set aside time to respond & send messages.
• Organization saves time. Take time to create a place for everything & discipline yourself to return everything to its place. Valuable time is wasted just looking for things! If organizing your space seems overwhelming, break it down and spend a few minutes a day until you reach your goal.
• Personal goal setting. Breakdown your long-term goals into smaller and smaller targets which can guide you in decision making. Reaching a goal gives you a sense of accomplishment and helps you continue on your path.