Making better use of our own time !

Intelligent leaders make resolutions and set quarterly targets, charting progress against ambitious plans and goals. Wise leaders, however, take a different approach: they root themselves in a noble purpose, align it with a compelling vision, and then take action — not just for that year, but for the rest of their lives.

We have a choice in creating the life that we desire. With our judgment, choices, actions we take, we change the course of our future and steer our destiny, moment by moment. Wisdom is not about focusing on the future, but rather about acting in the present, and having a abilty to priotitize .

Prioritizing requires reflection, reflection takes time, and many of the individuals I meet are so busy racing just to keep up they don't believe they have time to stop and think about much of anything. Therefore saying no, thoughtfully, may be the most undervalued capacity of our times. In a world of relentless demands and infinite options, it behooves us to prioritize the tasks that add the most value. That also means deciding what to do less of, or to stop doing altogether.

Making the correct choices requires that we regularly step back from the madding crowd. It's only when we pause — when we say no to the next urgent demand or seductive source of instant gratification — that we give ourselves the space to reflect on, metabolize, assess, and make sense of what we've just experienced.
Taking time also allows us to collect ourselves, refuel and renew, and make conscious course corrections that ultimately save us time when we plunge back into the fray.

Therefore take 30 minutes out of your diary at the end of each week to reflect on the last 5 days of work . Once you have had to chance to reflect , map out what elements you want to give more focus on for the following week. This simple process will allow you to be in control of each week and it will give you focus to get most of your time at work thereby giving yourself more time to relax when you get home.