To be more productive and successful we need to spend time working effectively on the things that are important to us.
While everyone is unique, we all have the same hours in a day, days in a week and weeks in a year.
The difference comes down to how we effectively use our time.
If you want to achieve success, reach your goals and live a healthy and productive life; then you need to learn how to manage your time.
The tips below are a great starting point:

• Deadlines: Deadlines make us work harder and achieve results by a certain date.
  While we normally have deadlines set by our bosses or by external sources, we need to learn to set deadlines for ourselves and our goals.
  Once a deadline is in place, respect it and try not to change it.
  
• Allocate your time: While many people write a to do list (which is good), not many use their calendar to allocate their time.
  Allocating your time allows you to take control, and forces you to work out how long each activity will take.
  You can also block out time in your calendar so that others can't book meetings.
  If you don't control your time, someone else will control it for you.
  
• To do list: We have spoken about the benefits of a to do list many times before, and while we may be preaching to the converted, we will continue to say just what an impact it can have on your life and productivity.
  If you don't follow anything else from this article, at least follow this and write a to do list everyday.
  
• Actively think about your time: Take some time to think about how you spend each day, and see where you can make improves in your time management.
  Remember, you don't have to be a saint, and some down time is good for you.
  However, if you are spending six hours a day watching television you might want to consider reducing this.
  Our exception though, is when the Olympics are on! Can't get enough of the games...
  Go the Aussies!
• Avoid disruptions: Disruptions do occur during the day, but you need to do your best to manage these.
  When you are working on a specific task, take the phone off the hook or put your phone on silent.
  Also tame your iPhone or Blackberry.
  While these are great for staying in touch, they can cause incredible disruptions.
  In addition, make sure that you stay on task.
  If you allocate half an hour or an hour for a task, don't chop and change between activities focus on the task.
  You will be way more productive.
  
• Organize your desk/office: While you may often think that you are too busy to organize your desk or office, the time you spending doing this will save you time.
  Have a good filing system and a sound system for placing items.
  
• Don't multi task: Ok.
  We know this is contrary to popular time management experts out there.
  In our mind jumping from task to task, doesn't make you more productive.
  It adds stress and slows you down.
  While using the phone and typing can be done together, any work that makes you think shouldn't.
  Would you want your surgeon working on you, and answering the phone at the same time?

By making a few minor changes to your time management practices, you can dramatically increase the amount of time you have to spend on productive tasks and with your family each day.
What's more you will also reduce your stress levels.
Follow the tips above, and you will be well on your way to being a time management master!