Below are three common ways you might sabotage your own efforts at better time management, and how to avoid them:

- Expecting too much from others. Just because you feel a great need to make changes in your life doesn't mean everyone else feels the same way! Remember that your life overlaps with the lives of the people around you. If you try placing unreasonable demands and pressure tactics on them, you'll probably end up causing more problems. That doesn't mean you can't ask for help and work together to satisfy everyone, but your approach in seeking cooperation will be important.

Rather than making unrealistic demands or expecting perfection from the people in your life, try first explaining why you are unhappy with the way things are now. Give a clear view of the way you'd like things to be, and highlight the changes they would have to make in order to make it work. Then, be forthright in asking if they are willing to do it. For example, if your spouse is not in the habit of helping out around the house, ask if he or she would be willing to take on a few very specific chores (spell out what they would be) and how doing so would help you. If he or she agrees, confirm that such and such tasks are now his/hers, and confirm that he or she is going to do them from now on. Don't be surprised if you have to issue a few gentle reminders before the new habits kick in for good - but try not to get upset or frustrated about it. That will only cause more resistance.

- Demanding too much from yourself. Just like you don't want to place undue stress and expectations upon others, you also don't want to do it to yourself. Wanting to make changes in your habits and goals is a good thing; but expecting everything to change as if by magic overnight is not!

Instead, vow to take it one day at a time and be gentle with yourself. Each day when you wake up, promise that you're going to give your best effort to keep your activities running smoothly and on-time, but if events don't go as planned you will simply dust yourself off and start again. At all costs, avoid berating or scolding yourself because you aren't "perfect" at managing the events and activities of your life. You'll never be perfect at it - and neither is anyone else!

- Unrealistic idea of what a balanced life really is. You may be interested in learning time management techniques because you dream of a completely serene, peaceful life where no upheavals occur . . . ever. Unfortunately, such a dream is unlikely to become reality. Perhaps it could if you moved to a secluded island and lived like a hermit in your rustic cabin on the beach. But you've got a full life that inevitably comes with the need to juggle and prioritize constantly.

Rather than wishing for the impossible, remember that time management is an ongoing process of planning, preparation and readjustment. There will never be a time when you get it perfect. Instead look at it as an ever evolving process of growth and mastery. Over time you'll find yourself getting better and stronger at time management, and it will seem like less effort is needed to keep everything balanced.