It might seem counter-intuitive to approach time management from the perspective of what you can not do. But if you're feeling pressed for time, it's unlikely that you feel that way only because you need to be more efficient. Probably you have too much on your plate to begin with. If you have enough on your plate, then you will either get to very little of it or do it badly-- because your efforts are diluted.

I know that you don't want to give anything up, but as I've discussed previously, every commitment you make is also a lack of commitment to something else that you could be doing instead. What is worth giving up? More importantly, what do you want to do in your life that is worth giving up other things for? What are you giving up by being so busy that you aren't doing the projects that matter to you the most?

I challenge you to give up three projects today and see if you aren't able to get more done by doing less. Here's how:

1. Review your list of projects. (Or, generate a list of projects if you don't have one already.)

2. Identify the three projects or commitments that matter to you the most.

3. Of the projects remaining, identify those that meet at least two of the following criteria:

• It's been on your to-do list for ages, but you've made little or no progress on it for several months because you haven't put it first, but it's also not one of your top priorities.
• You're doing it because you feel like you should or someone expects it, not because it's really important to you.
• It would be nice to do, but you're also fine with it not getting done.
• Someone else (spouse, business associate, family member) would be far better suited to doing it.

4. Of those you identify, choose three to give up or put off. Remember that you are free to pick them up again later. Do you feel a sense of relief? How much time and energy has been freed up for you by actually, consciously and completely choosing not to do some things?

5. Make a commitment to make strong, focused progress on your three projects that you decided do matter. If you don't already have project time set aside on your calendar for these, book an appointment with yourself, and keep it.

You can also do less and make more time by cutting out time wasters. Essentially, this approach is similar to cutting out projects, except that it targets activities that have become habit or routine rather than looking at all the things you are trying to accomplish.

Do more by doing less. This time management approach is a bit paradoxical, but it works. Know what matters, know what feeds you, know what follows your values... and do more of that by doing less of all the others stuff. Sometimes you have to make space in your life for your dreams before they can manifest.