As time management has been defined as activity management, that is, your time is managed when you have control over the activities and events in your life, the first step towards successful time management is to control the mix of events in your life. What this means is that you must evaluate each activity that comes your way and decide whether or not you allow it to occupy your time. In order to be objective and consistent in filtering activities, you must have a basis for your decision.

If you have a set of clearly stated goals for each facet of your life, you have the ability to test every activity that comes your way and see whether it leads you towards or away from the appropriate goal. Reject the activities that will not help you accomplish your goals.

A value system is a set of beliefs, behavior traits, and virtues that govern your thoughts, decisions, and actions. Create an internally consistent set of values and live by them.

When you create a set of goals, anchor each goal...