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At the end of the night, do you ever wonder where the day went? Do you feel that your day is a blur that whizzes by with meetings, chores, and family obligations? Take ten days to improve your time management skills by changing one thing each day. Keep the things that work and ditch the things that don’t.

Day 1: Throughout the day keep a journal of how you spend your time. Before going to bed, look at the amount of time that you spend on each activity. Do you spend three hours watching television? Did you take advantage of the thirty minutes when you were waiting for Chinese take out? The first step is to realize how you spend your time and make simple improvements where you can.

Day 2: Prioritize your time. Make a list of things that you want to accomplish in the day. Split the list into thirds. The first third of the list should be ‘must do’ activities. The second third of the list should contain items you want to get done, but aren’t necessarily tasks you have to do. The last part of your list should be put aside. If they are important tasks, put them on the top of your list tomorrow. Don’t try to accomplish an unreasonable amount of work in one day. It will make you feel overwhelmed and unproductive.

Day 3: Do one thing at a time. Multitasking is not productive and usually wastes more time than it saves. Choose the first item on your list and focus completely on that task. Don’t move on until it’s done.

Day 4: Dust off your planner. Do you keep an updated calendar with you at all times? If not, you need to. Put in special dates (birthdays and anniversaries) and record events that you want to attend. Check your calendar each day before you make your to-do list and you’ll never miss a friend’s birthday again.

Day 5: Say no. If you don’t have time to make brownies for the bake sale, decline the request. Don’t take on extra work if you can’t handle it to be a ‘better’ mother, wife, or coworker. It adds stress and makes you more frazzled. When you take on extra work, it leaves less quality time for you to spend with friends and family.

Day 6: Turn the phone off. While accomplishing the first three items of your to-do list, turn the ringer off. Check voice-mails after finishing your must do items and you won’t feel rushed when you return Aunt Ida’s phone call.

Day 7: Decide if you’re a morning or night person. Do your work when your body is alert. If you’re a morning person, set aside the morning for your most important activities. Don’t waste that time watching television or talking to friends on-line. If you’re a night person, try to find a work schedule that allows you to work in the evening.

Day 8: Get rid of clutter. Clean your office or work area and make it a space that you enjoy being in. If you hate your work area, your work will reflect it. Paint the walls, put up your favorite art, add a bulletin board to the area, and file all loose papers. Take ten minutes at the end of each day to clean your office. When you come back to it the next morning, you will be ready to start work immediately.

Day 9: Don’t procrastinate. Is there a specific task that you are dreading to complete? Tackle it by setting aside ten minutes a day to work on it until it’s complete. Once you start, you might not stop.

Day 10: Schedule time for yourself. Make sure to include exercise and sleep in your daily routine. You will be healthier and happier. Include an activity that you enjoy doing like reading, writing, knitting, or painting on most days. Thirty minutes a day for yourself will increase your happiness which will affect your work and family life in a positive way.

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