Introduction 6

Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day, yet some people get so much more out of them than others. Good time management is the reason.

Each day, people make big and small decisions that shape their lives. Some decisions are satisfying and produce good results. Others create frustration and stress. Using time effectively involves making choices that produce positive results, increase good feelings, and reduce the potential for stress. In other words, when people manage time well, they can also improve their management of stress.

It’s easy to recognize poor use of time. People rush, feel overwhelmed, miss deadlines, and have difficulty making choices. They neglect personal time needed for rest and relaxation. They confuse “keeping busy” with truly being productive and getting results.

To improve how time is used, goals must be set, priorities arranged, and time wasters eliminated. All this requires a plan of action. The exercises in this unit provide the guidance needed to get the most out of 24 hours.