By Management Expert and Business Coach: Nancy Proffitt MBA CBC

Often people complain about the lack of time, even though we all get the same amount of time in a given day... there are the same 24 hours in a day and 60 minutes in an hour for everyone. Do you ever wonder why some people are always rushed, stressed, anxious and constantly running while others have the time to think, plan, work and play with balance? The constant demands of everyday life can seem overwhelming and stalemate us in our ability to get things done. It is not really our lack of time but actually it is our lack of how to effectively use that time. So what can we do about it? Here are some helpful thoughts and steps to free up more time.

Deal with your "reality" about time. Many of our time management issues are actually related to our own behavior. So the first step to freeing up more time is to understand yourself and your limiting behavior.

Prioritize tasks. All too often everything is treated with the same level of importance. Prioritize work based on importance instead of size of project. Think about important and urgent vs. important but not urgent. Over time, shift your list so that you are being proactive about your tasks.

Track your time. Analyze how you spend your time. Take a week and record everything you do and the time you spend on each task. Map this out so you can visually see how you spend your day.

One at a time. Try to complete projects by working on each project individually. Let the computers multi-task. Have only one project at a time on your desk.

Delegate tasks you should not do. Many people hang on to tasks that should be delegated to someone else. Determine what it is costing you by doing these tasks then find/train someone else to do them for you.

Learn to say "No". Many people overload themselves with work. You can become overwhelmed and others cannot count on you to meet deadlines.

Schedule your work. Create time to work on projects by scheduling them as you would a meeting.

Always ask why. Things change and sometimes we continue doing things one way when a better way is available. Always question yourself.

Make time for yourself. We all need down time. It will allow you to recharge the batteries so you can be more productive when you go back to work. A simple walk around the parking lot can reenergize you.

Create your own method. Whether its Outlook, a day planner, or a notepad, you need to create your way to manage your time.

Plan your success. Set goals, create an action plan, and track your performance. Always follow-up and measure where you are so you stay on track with your goals... Understand how goals impact what you do.

Nancy Proffitt, MBA, Certified Business Coach is the president of Proffitt Management Solutions and Proffitt Management Leadership Institute, an internationally recognized Leadership coaching firm dedicated to unleashing the full potential of individuals and organizations.