"I don't have enough time in my day." If only I received a nickel each time I heard those words. Come to think of it, I do. Sort of.

Plenty of smart, successful people hire me to help them deal with issue of time management. Some have read latest time management books. Most use perfect day-planner or latest hand-held computer. Yet, they still struggle with ever-shrinking twenty-four hour day.

Even I, on occasion, have suspected some sort of global conspiracy to rob me of my most precious commodity. Do each of us really get only 24 hours in each day? I'm certain some fortunate souls get more. And some, it seems, get far less. Have you ever wondered why?

Having more time. Is it really as simple as learning a few new skills? Is it enough to make your daily list, prioritize that list and check them off as they're completed? I don’t think so.

I propose root of problem lies not with a lack of time but with how you experience your life in relation to time. How is your experience of time different when your day is filled with things you love to do versus filled with things you feel you HAVE to do.

Already, I can hear you passionately interjecting.

“Helaine, be realistic. How can I only do things I love to do? I have to work. There are mouths to feed, tasks to achieve and responsibilities to fulfill. People rely on me."

I agree, and here’s a taste of some foundational strategies I invite my clients to adopt in conjunction with any time management program. I challenge you to consider how these strategies might positively shift your thinking about not only managing your time but enjoying it.

You Come First

This strategy applies to everyone, but it especially applies to women. People do rely on you. Which is why it's so important to take care of you first. Surely, you're aware of golden goose idea. It serves no one to starve goose.

Oprah said it better in a recent "O Magazine" article. "If you allow yourself to be depleted to point where your emotional and spiritual tank is empty and running on fumes of habit, everybody loses. Especially you."

Our culture teaches otherwise, but paradox is that you owe it to yourself and those who rely upon you to become more selfish. Yes. Selfish. You can put yourself at top of your list without being mean or taking away from those who are most important to you. Just let idea sink in. I'll admit, in practice, it's not easy initially. But try it for 30 days. I can almost guarantee your life will look and feel dramatically more fulfilling than it does today.

The Purpose Driven Life

Empty isn't a good thing in most cases. Empty wallet? Empty gas tank? Empty bank account? Empty restaurant? These aren't conditions we find satisfying. Mention your feelings of "emptiness" to your doctor and you may end up with a prescription for Prozac. Would you take it as a compliment if someone referred to you as "empty-headed"? Not likely.

We seek fullness in our bellies, our hearts and our lives. Going for empty goes against grain.

We've already got plenty of reasons to avoid meditation. It seems difficult, uncomfortable, or just plain boring to a lot of newcomers. We don't need any semantic obstacles. Hearing that little voice saying, "Your mind is not empty--you're lousy at this!" only adds to clutter that muddies our spirit, fogs our intention, and paralyzes our progress.

We must relinquish this expectation that we are supposed to attain this state of emptiness--complete non-thinking--in order to have a good meditation session. Staying attached to this ideal is likely to provide just one more nudge in never-mind direction.

David Allen is a productivity trainer and consultant who is author of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. He offers valuable tips for dealing with clutter that crowds our minds so that we can free up space for greater creativity.