An effective starting point to avoid wasting time is to identify how you spend the 168 hours you have each week (24 hours 3 7 days)

An effective starting point to avoid wasting time is to identify how you spend the 168 hours you have each week (24 hours 3 7 days). For two weeks, catalog all the time you spend, down to as much detail as you can tolerate. Include the large obvious items, as well as the small items that are easy to forget. Keep track of any activity that requires at least five minutes. Major items would include working, attending class, studying, reading, watching television, sleeping, eating, going places, and time with loved ones and friends (hanging out). Small items would include visiting the coffee shop or vending machine, purchasing gum, and clipping your nails. If you multitask, such as walking and listening to music, do not double-count the time. When your time logs have been completed, search for complete wastes of time, or activities that could be shortened. You might find, for example, that you spend about 45 minutes per day in the pursuit and consumption of coffee. If you reduced that time to 30 minutes, you would have an additional 15 minutes per day that you could invest in your career. If, however, coffee time includes forming alliances with people or maintaining relationships, maybe the 45-minute-per-day investment is worthwhile.