Most people feel that their inability to manage time is the biggest challenge they face both at work and at home. However, careful analysis of how you go about your daily activities can help you identify “time wasters” so that you can make simple changes to become more efficient, more productive, and less stressed.

The first step to mastering the use of time is to identify your time management strengths and weaknesses by completing a simple assessment of factors that impact time mastery such as attitudes, goals, priorities, analyzing, planning, scheduling, interruptions, meetings, paperwork, delegation, procrastination, and teamwork. One of the most well organized time mastery assessments available is produced by InScape (contact me if you would like to review their Time Mastery Assessment). An assessment will give you an objective picture of your current behaviors, which will help you easily identify the habits you want to change. You must then define the new habits you want to develop and begin to practice the new habits without deviation. Changing habits takes self discipline and in some cases you will need to ask others to help you make the changes you have decided to make.

Here are a few tips that will help you increase your focus and productivity:

• Don’t keep goals in your head, write them down.
• Set timeframes and deadlines for all of your projects.
• Set at least one significant goal to accomplish every day.
• Distinguish between important and urgent tasks.
• Allow time in your schedule for unexpected interruptions and problems.
• Keep a record of interruptions so you can identify how to minimize them.
• Clarify the purpose of all meetings to determine if they are necessary.
• Set time limits for meetings and stick to them.
• Create an agenda before calling or meeting with anyone.

Taking the time to implement simple ideas such as these can dramatically help you master your time and improve the overall quality of your work. If you take the time to objectively analyze how you use time and work diligently to eliminate “time wasters” you will reap the benefits of improved productivity and reduced stress.