By Jan Yager, Ph.D.

I come to this issue with multiple perspectives, having worked in time management since the early 1980s, as the co-author of two books about sleep, and from my own life experiences.

For my second time management book, Creative Time Management for the New Millennium, I surveyed 234 men and women. I discovered that Time Waster #1 is not procrastination— it's trying to do too much at once.

That often leads to finishing the day without having done the priority work that needed to be done. We all have multiple demands on our time. Very few people have the luxury of having only one thing to do. Most people are trying to do many projects at once, and with the downturn in the economy, they are trying to do many projects with fewer resources.

We have an epidemic of "distractionitis." I suggest that you write down what you need to do the next day before bedtime. You may find it enables you to go to sleep more quickly. Having a plan for the next day will replace the feeling of free-floating anxiety about the multiple demands on your time. Consider it a shopping list for your work time. Take control of your life by:

• prioritizing your goals
• planning your day
• and staying focused on what key tasks you need to do

"Workaholism" is usually a sign of poor time management. It takes a toll on your work and your social life. We need to change the attitude that workaholics are more productive than the rest of us. Working around the clock can become addictive, robbing us of time we should spend with family and friends—or just with ourselves. Some people are workaholics because they're avoiding relationships with others. They also tend to drive the people around them to an unrealistic view of what is really important in life. They are letting their work be the controlling force in their lives, rather than being in control of both work and personal/ relationship time.

Bragging about not needing a lot of sleep seems to have become the new status symbol for getting more out of your day. Unfortunately, you're creating a false and possibly counterproductive and unrealistic standard by which you're judging yourself and asking others to judge you. What's important is the number of hours of sleep you get and that it is the right amount for you, but also what you are doing with your waking hours so that you are productive and getting enough done. That will help you get the sleep you need and enjoy sleeping more without guilt.

Getting enough sleep is important for your physical and mental health and even for creativity—for example, my novel, Just Your Everyday People, (co-authored with Fred Yager) actually began as a dream that I wrote down upon awakening!

Jan Yager, Ph.D., is a work and relationship expert and author of Creative Time Management for the New Millennium (Hannacroix Creek, 1999) as well as co-author, with Michael J. Thorpy, M.D., of two books on sleep, Sleeping Well (Checkmark Books, 2001) and The Encyclopedia of Sleep and Sleep Disorders (Facts on File, Inc., 2nd edition, 2001). For more information on Dr. Yager’s writings and workshops, go to: www.drjanyager.com.

This article was published in the Fall 2004, Volume 6, Issue 4 of sleepmatters.