Time Management From the Inside Out

Julie Morgenstern's book has some useful ideas:

• Figure out how long it take YOU to do things. Then just accept it and plan for it. If it takes you two hours to get ready for work in the morning or make dinner, then so be it and work your schedule around it accordingly.
  
• Treat time like a container. Although knowing that only so many hours will fit into a day or week isn't original, it helps me to compare it to a physical space. There's only so much room on a shelf or closet. When you run out of space, you have to get rid of something. It's the same with time. When you had something to a time container, something else has to go. And, having a set place for a particular activity also helps, but I find that more challenging.
  
• She also discusses connecting each activity in your day to a particular goal or value. While this is useful, I find that I need some diversions that have no goal at all. Still, it makes think more about choosing a healthy meal or getting out to rollerskate.