Make a Time Diary
Take a week and plot out what you do every day. Be honest. If you watch 25 hours of TV each week, write it down.
Learn to Say “No”
Turn off your cell phone. When someone asks you to do something that you really don’t have time to do, say no politely, but firmly. And don’t allow yourself to feel guilty.
Multitask
Is there a more overused buzzword today? We all combine several activities into one all the time. But some multitasking is dangerous. Talk on the phone while driving and your chance of being involved in a traffic accident rises dramatically. That being said, lots of activities can be effectively and safely combined. Listen to books on tape while commuting. When you watch television, pay your bills.
Don’t be a Perfectionist
There’s nothing wrong with being ordinary. Perfectionism, otherwise known as paying excessive attention to every detail (important or not), is a kind of procrastination.