Unfortunately, this resolution quickly falls by the wayside - not through lack of commitment, but rather due to the inability to manage time.

Managing Time
When people wish for more time in their lives, they usually talk of “finding” it, meaning they hope it will come along all on its own. This never works. Time cannot be found. Rather, it has to be made. In other words, your time has to be carefully planned out to create more hours for yourself.

Here are some ways of better managing your time:

• Track it. For one week, track your time in 15 minute segments. You don’t have to make an elaborate chart. Just jotting a brief description down on a piece of lined paper will suffice. By the end of the week, you will have an accurate picture of where your time goes. For most people, this picture is both surprising and revealing. Once you have a true idea of how your time is spent, you can start rescheduling.
• Prioritize. Every morning, write out on a piece of paper the things you hope to achieve or accomplish during the day. Then rewrite these tasks in order of importance. Do only those that you can comfortably do, and leave the least important for another time. (Some people like to do this the night before.)
• Be realistic. Set goals that are specific, measurable, realistic and achievable. If having the entire workshop sorted out “this weekend” is less realistic than allowing two or three weekends for the job, revise your plans accordingly and use the time you have saved for something you really want to do.
• Demand less of yourself. You don’t have to be Superwoman or Superman. If you hear of someone who runs her own company, sits on four boards, organizes the lives of three children, volunteers at the local hospital and does all her own housework and cooking, you have cause for suspicion. No one can “do it all.”
• Develop a network of helpers. Tying in with the previous tip, seek expert help in areas of need. If, for example you are having a party, and the planning is cutting into family time, retain the services of a catering firm, or ask the guests to each bring a dish.
• Learn to say no. Many people fear that, by saying “no” to somebody’s request, they will become unpopular or be thought lazy. In actual fact, the reverse is true. A polite refusal and brief explanation (when necessary) will simply make you look busy, and in control.
• Multitask. Look at your list of things to do and see how many you can group together. For example, will walking to the school to pick up your child help you accomplish your daily exercise? If one of your desires is to spend more time with your family, why not involve them more in your work, chores, or fitness activity?

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