Time's a-wastin'

Become aware of the things you do in your day that waste time. Recreation and relaxation don't count – those can be emotionally and physically therapeutic, so build those into your day. But we all engage in activities that serve no purpose (many of them include our phones, computers, televisions, and couches).

Identify those time killers and replace them with more productive activities. If you're confused about whether Angry Birds or Facebook is relaxing or wasteful for you, set a timer for 10 minutes when you start, so you don't get sucked in. When the timer goes off, do something productive. (And next time, choose a book you've wanted to read, or take a bath, or take time out to meditate or pray when you need to relax.)