Time management is a term thrown around so easily by business professionals and entrepreneurs but that few know how to truly master. They think it's just a matter of keeping everything filed on their smart device, or calendar, or having a secretary remind them.

Many keep tons of post-its stuck all over the place. The real question is; are you aware of how much time you really waste every day? In fact, are you someone who never seems to have enough free time in their day? If this is you, keep reading

From the moment you wake up and hit the ground running, all of those promises of getting to your dreams is yet again put on hold until you can catch up with life and get some breathing room. But typically you never do, do you?

This leads to the question, why are there others who seem to naturally master their time and find enough room for both the daily things and their dreams? What secrets do they possess that you don't? The simple answer is, they know the difference between things that are urgent and things that are important.

Urgent is the ringing telephone. Urgent is responding to a needy email or text right away. Important is anything that drives you, your career, or your future forward; financially or growth-wise.

How can you distinguish the two? Here's a simple litmus test; If the results of what you're doing have positive consequences towards your work, finances, health, or relationships, resulting in growth, and they move you forward, then it's important.

If, on the other hand, they only manage to suck up more of your time, consistently leaving you in overwhelm, then you're dealing only with "urgent" tasks.

Important tasks however, are those things that contribute to reaching your goals and long term future.

Remember, managing time is managing yourself. If you are someone who wants to finish what you start but could never figure out how to do it, here's your chance.

Want a great tip? This is one I learned from my mentor, Brian Tracy. Keep the word "Consequences" firmly fixed in your mind.

If you still can't figure out which emails, texts, phone calls or tasks are the important ones, remember the word "consequences".

Think to yourself, "What are the consequences if I do this particular task or activity?" The greater the possible consequence, the more important it is. Said another way, if the actions of what you do, brings the results you want, then it's an important task. If however, on the other hand, you are in the same place you were before or find you're farther behind, then the task or action is not an important one.

Another tip towards time management is to get the IMPORTANT things out of your head and down on paper. When something important is stuck up there along with "filling the car up with gas", "picking up the dry cleaning", "going grocery shopping", etc., you're never going to make it a priority. It will always be swimming around with all of the other "ordinary" daily tasks.

For more information keep checking in at http://www.Finish-What-You-Start.com and get your hands on a copy of the book Finish What You Start at Barnes & Noble, Apple iBooks, or Amazon, today.

Author's Bio: 

Craig Copeland Author of "Finish What You Start" Teaching people how to successfully reach their goals and dreams http://www.Finish-What-You-Start.com