Time is one of the most precious gift we have been given. God has given us time to learn, love, work, have fun, and even to get healthier and wiser. As you grow into a more complete individual, you realize how precious time is, and how important it is to use it to your advantage. Whether it is time to go to school and get the most out of it, to start a family, to give more to your existing family, or even to start a business, learning how to organize and manage your time is the best way to reach your goals and become more successful.

Follow these simple tips to help you manage time and lead a more productive day:

Tip #1: Determine your priorities: Find out what is most important to you by giving everything in your life--from family, friends, and partners to work, play, studies--a level of priority. Divide a piece of paper in 4 sections each with a number from 1 to 4, 1 being the most important part of your life and 4 being the lowest priority. Then allocate each aspect of your life into the appropriate box. You will now have a clear idea of what things in your life should be considered big priorities, lower priorities, etc.

Tip #2: Make a list of your life-long dreams and start working towards them: Include any and every unfulfilled dream you ever had. Be creative and a little crazy. The paper can hold anything, so even if you don’t think it is possible in a million years, put it down. Write down a list of 100 or 1,000 goals and dreams that you want to achieve. Every year, at the start of the year, you can review this list, cross out whatever has been done and add new things. Then (and always with your priorities in mind) start working and moving towards achieving one or more of these dreams and goals.

Tip #3: Be Proactive / Plan Ahead: Write down on a piece of paper all of the things you must get done, need to get done, and want to get done on a daily basis. Organize your day the night before. That way, you will not waste time organizing and planning for the day that already started. The To Do List will also give you a chance to determine if you have enough time to do it all in one day or if you need to ask for help from others. It will also help you see how much time you need to accomplish every goal.

Tip #4: Stay organized: One of the key elements of managing your time is staying organized. If it took you half a day to clean your closets, office area, or apartment, it may very well be because that area was messy and unorganized. Understand that spending a few extra minutes each day putting things where they should go will save you hours later on. There is no excuse for being disorganized. It takes hardly any time to keep everything in order, and it prevents the stress and anxiety associated with living in a messy, cluttered area. Cleanliness also prevents the procrastination that comes from not wanting to deal with such a mess.

Tip #5: Stay focused: Keep in mind (or on a piece of paper hung on the wall) what you already have determined is important to you. Make your actions align with these thoughts, and continue to focus on the end goal.

Tip #6: Be grateful: Thank yourself and the divine every night before going to bed for all the big rocks and pebbles that you were able to fit in your jar. If you could not fit all the rocks, pebbles, and sand into your jar today, acknowledge it as a lesson learned and look at the new day ahead as a new 24-hour long opportunity to do more. You did a great job today, and tomorrow will be even better.

Tip #7: Ask for Help: We cannot do everything alone. As a matter of fact, we never do because we are never alone. Do not be afraid to ask for help for there are lessons to be learned from those who help us. When you create partnerships, delegate and negotiate if you are asking for or giving assistance. Allowing others to do what they must do will take away unnecessary things on your to do list.