It sounds like a trick question doesn't it?

My first thought was "Yes, I can plan my day by prioritizing and to-do lists and that's time management!" Well, no matter how much you plan, block time, prioritize, etc. everyone on this planet still only has 24 hours in a day. We get no more and no less ...

Stop trying to figure out how to fit it all in and more about how we can make better use of the time.

Remember the analogy about fitting rocks, pebbles, sand and water into a jar? The teacher after adding each item kept asking his students if the jar was full and they would say yes, but the next item would always fit in. In a nutshell, it illustrated that you had to fit the big rocks in first or you'll never fit them all in.

In other-words, do your most important tasks first, then work your way down. Instead of feeling exhausted at the end of the day and not feeling like anything was accomplished, commit to this way of thinking. And maybe you'll be able to reflect back on your day, not exhausted,  but able to measure your production knowing it got you that much closer to realizing a goal.

I received some great advice on time management strategies today that I'd like to share in another post. For now, it's time for me to move on to that next big rock on my list!