Time is undoubtedly the most valuable asset which any of us have, and most of us are certainly guilty of wasting a significant amount of it. Whether that’s by slacking at work, or inefficiently doing things, almost all of us could be making better and more effective use of the time that we have, leaving us with more spare hours to spend doing the stuff that we truly enjoy.

Becoming a genuinely active user of time requires a bit of practice and self-discipline. In this article, we’ll take you through a few strategies which can help you to become a master of your own hours.

Make a List of Your Tasks

A to-do list may not sound like the most exciting innovation which you could bring to your life, but it’s a fantastic way actually to see what your day involves, and prioritise it appropriately. You have a vast range of choices when it comes to how you keep and present your to-do list. If you’re a fan of stationery, then buy yourself a lovely notebook. If you’re more technically inclined, then one of the many to do list apps that are available will help you to do that.

Do More Stuff on the Move

If you commute by public transport, then chances are that you have a lot of time in your day which is effectively dead. You’re not doing anything that you enjoy, and you’re not earning any money. You can put a stop to that by building something new into your routine. Whether that’s keeping an eye on your health by using the livi app, learning a new language on your phone, or even just taking a little bit of time to meditate, there are a massive range of possibilities, and a great series of opportunities, to try new things and see what works for you.

Work out What Is Truly Important

Many of us overpromise and are then forced to under-deliver because we just don’t have time to do the things which we genuinely set out to do. While saying no to people may sound like a difficult thing to do, it can actually help you to make much better use of your time and do an outstanding job on the things that are left in your life. Set expectations of others at the earliest opportunity, and you’ll be able to avoid the stress and unhappiness, that comes from feeling that you are letting someone down by not doing an excellent job for them.

Taking some time to organise your life now, will make things far better for you in the weeks and months ahead; put a process in place which works for you and enjoy the results.