With the holiday season already upon us, sometimes we forget that we all need to take a break, relax, and enjoy the mad rush of gift shoppers struggling to buy the last of the seasonal gifts and make it to the office party on time.

If this is you (or someone you know), maybe we can help. Scheduling your life may seem impossible, but in today's hectic and chaotic world, the only way to manage your time is to schedule your life. We all know that something is inevitably going to change, but just like your business plan, you can make the most of your time with work, family, friends and you! Schedule your day, your week, and your month - you'll be surprised how much time you really can have, and you'll learn to enjoy planning your time and look forward to "your" time.

How does it work?
Start with a weekly planner where you can see the entire week in one page. Use a pen and a pencil. Why? Your schedule in ink cannot change - your schedule in pencil can fluctuate. If you use a PDA, or computer organizer, that's great, but it's too easy to change your schedule on a computer - if it's in ink, it has to get done!

First: Use the pen to add specific events that you know will not change (like your Tuesday morning office meeting or your children's school pageant) - then make sure you schedule your to and from time. How long does it take to get to the office for the meeting? How long will it take to get home after the pageant?

More than likely - all of these events will be scattered throughout the week, so plan your business plan around these events. If you are going into the office on Tuesday for the meeting, schedule the rest of the day to make your cold calls, get your mailings together and get all of the work you can done at the office - while you're at the office.

Second: Add priority events to your calendar. You'll want to put these items in ink; these are the things that have to get done too! Grocery shopping, laundry, checking email, and whatever else you know must get done! Be sure to include time to work on your goals that are part of your business plan!

Now your calendar should start looking pretty full. Take your pen and categorize your events. Place a (B) next to all business related events; place a (P) next to all your personal events.

Third: It's time to put your pencil to work! Minus your sleep time, begin planning every minute in your empty time. Block out time for your breakfast, lunch, daily workout, personal grooming and anything else that you can think.

If you're like most people who do this type of scheduling, you'll still notice a great deal of time left open. Here is where you can fully utilize your time! Take half of the time left and schedule (B) for business; these can be appointments, cold calls, database updating or anything else business related. Mark the other half of your time (P) for personal - and take time for yourself! After only a few weeks you'll notice your life becoming more organized and more productive! It works, and this system is used by some of the most productive and profitable business people in the world today.