What is, in your opinion, the biggest time management mistake people make at work?

Not realizing how much time they waste. We can’t manage time: we manage self. We can manage what we do with the time we have. Disorganization, unclear goals, too many personal phone calls, disjointed processes, no routines, poor planning, procrastination, lack of focus, lack of training, junk e-mail, surfing, and it goes on.

These are all time bandits that steal our time and people often don’t make the connection that it’s why they never have enough. Working in this state is an absolute breeding ground for stress.

How can you improve time management skills if your time isn’t “your own” – i.e., your boss is always changing schedules and plans at the last minute and giving you unplanned tasks?

This is definitely a tough situation. The first thing to do is to make sure you have your systems in order. The more organized and efficient you are, the better you’ll be able to deal with someone who’s not.