Successful time management has to do more with what we are not doing rather than what we are doing. Sometimes it is our mistakes and what we leave out that causes us to fail at achieving the maximum use of our time.

Are you guilty of any of these time management mistakes? I often see people who are pretty good users of their time make many of these. Read the following list and check any that you have done. Then resolve to do better starting today.

1. 1. Not working toward a balance in your life. Wait. This is a column about time management, right? Right. Then what does balance have to do with it? Everything. Because if you don't have a good balance between your personal life and your work, you will never succeed at making better use of your time. Experts say that our lives are made up of seven vital areas, health, family, financial, intellectual, social, professional, and spiritual. Each of these must be in balance.

      For instance, if you do not take care of your health, you will lose work time due to feeling bad in one way or another, having to spend time in a doctor's office, or worse, for a hospital stay. Your family and social life will be hurt. Neglecting one area or another will eventually sabotage your success.

   2. Doing what you "feel" like doing first each day. When you do this you are missing the most basic premise of time management. That is to do the right things. We all have to prioritize ruthlessly because no one has enough time anymore to do everything.

      So start each day with a plan of action. Use a "to-do" list for this. Each item should be rated either "A," "B" or "C." Start with your "A" number one and work forward from there. Don't scan the list and pick what you feel like doing first. It may be a "C" item that is of little importance.

   3. Work with a messy desk or work area. Now, this is definitely one of my problems. My office is too small for all the papers, books, and reference materials I have. So consequently, they are piled on the floor and tables. Every time I look at them, I get stressed and am reminded of how much I have to do.

      Studies have shown that the person with a messy work area spends, on average, one and one-half hours per day looking for things or being distracted by all that disorder. If you do your math, you'll realize that's seven and one-half hours per week! Kind of scary, huh?

      No, it's not a solid block of an hour and a half, but a minute here and a minute there, and before you know it, it has added up to some serious time. Resolve now to get your work area in order and as clutter-free as you can make it.

   4. Don't take a lunch break or any breaks, for that matter. It is essential to take frequent, short breaks. I'm only talking about a minute or two for the breaks and maybe a half hour or more for lunch. When you work without stopping you gradually become less efficient and are taking more time to do each task. You will get more done in less time when you allow yourself breaks.

Contact us for our list of time management programs. peggy@peggymorrow.com, www.peggmorrow.com, 281-280-8190

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Peggy Morrow, CSP, is a professional speaker, seminar leader, and author of the recently-released book, "Customer Service: How To Do It Right!" To have her work with your group call (281) 280-8190 or email peggy@peggymorrow.com.