When People struggle to manage their time, they very often jump to the conclusion that they are internally flawed somehow, that they are born incompetent in this area of life. Or they throw their hands up in resignation, convinced that “out of control” is just how life is supposed to be in the modern world. Both of these perceptions are totally inaccurate and self-defeating. Often it’s a combination of forces that create time-management problems. Consider the top 10 time management mistakes and how to avoid them.

You may not love everything about your job, but as long as you feel you are choosing to stay, rather than being forced to, you will feel your power.

Most business owners know never to put all their eggs in one basket; they understand that true choice comes from having options. Every employee should take that lesson to heart. How do you increase your sense of freedom when you work for someone else?

Webster’s Riverside Dictionary defines an entrepreneur as “one who launches or manages a business venture, often assuming risks.” Sure, it’s easy to see how that applies to a business owner—but how does it apply to an employee.

How do workers choose what’s most important when their to-do list now goes on for pages?  What administrative services have been cut which create unexpected time sinks? How do they produce quality work when they are distracted with worry? On the other hand, what if your people are suffering from too little to do? 

If recent years were a boon time, and there is a sudden dearth of phone calls, emails and meetings, what should your team do with all their free time? The lack of structure can be very disorienting to workers who have gotten into the habit of being completely reactive.

The result? Harried, anxious workers who feel paralyzed and end up buried in a rut of disorganization and inefficiency.  Managers can combat the time management backlash by concentrating on the Five F’s with their team:

With the school year starting, you want your child to be successful from the beginning and your child’s bedroom is the best place to start. Create a space for everything in the room (e.g. a spot for reading, homework, creative arts, dressing/clothes, etc) and make sure that the space is defined and easy to identify. It’s important to remember that you are helping your child, follow his or her lead and what makes sense to them.

Struggles between parents and children about getting organized are common, but altogether unnecessary.

Between homework, after-school activities, friends, family, cleaning, errands and a zillion other events competing for your time, yours and your child’s life can be shockingly full of activity. It’s not easy fitting it all in, but you’d be surprised how much you can get done when you learn to organize your time.

Time spent getting organized is the best investment you can make for the entire school year. The 3 part back to school series will show you how to maintain organized enviornments that will make an easy, productive year.

In the lazy days of summer, it’s easier to get away with disorganization. But the structure of the school year brings deadlines, appointments, and early mornings that make any child (and some adults) wish for a snow day just to sleep in, watch cartoons, and avoid the often hectic mornings that come with rushing out of the house. Getting organized now will help you stay on schedule and keep the chaos at bay. It will also give you a wonderful feeling of control, so that mornings are calm, and relaxing, even if your child insists on checking the 7 am news for school cancelations.