There’s always that feeling that something important is lost in a city where so many are in a rush to get from point A to point B. If only we had the freedom to drop out, sit back and simply orbit effortlessly. Time, like oil, is a non-renewable resource and incredibly easy to burn. So here are a few tips towards a proper and productive use of time.

Set your alarm
Wake up half an hour earlier than usual – this extra chunk of time in the morning means that you can have breakfast (you know, that meal you always neglect), have a workout session or avoid early morning traffic. Getting up earlier will prevent you from rushing because you know you have time to spare. Don’t worry; a healthy body can easily adapt to 30 minutes less sleep easily.

Prioritise
Some people are more alert in the morning, some at night. So find your peak time and then get the more pressing responsibilities done during this time frame. You’ll get more done during your peak time than the rest of the day, which is more ideal for more trivial errands. And on Sunday, tie up loose ends after lunch. This leaves you free to relax with no worries in the evening and you’ll be set for the week ahead.

Make time to read
People forget how fulfilling a decent book can be. Set aside 30 minutes before bed and allow yourself to unwind. Reading can reawaken your imagination and relieve stress and often within minutes, your everyday worries will slip away leaving you engrossed in a story.

To-do list
Obvious, we know. Today’s modern world has us micro-managing and multi-tasking between the office/home/gym/commute like never before. It helps to work out what needs to be accomplished before you start the day so you know when to do what. If you have an iPhone or iPod touch, we find the Awesome Notes apps (USD2.99/Free for the ‘lite’ version) to be very useful for this. Otherwise, get a Moleskine Weekly Planner Twin Set 2010 (Kinokuniya, Suria KLCC/Cziplee, 39 Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar. RM94) to keep track of your engagements, meetings, appointments and special occasions – so you don’t get too bogged down with relying on your (scatterbrained) memory.

Just say no
Don’t feel obliged to say yes to everything. Keep at least a day or two for yourself and spend it however you like.

Timing
It pays to learn when and how to fall out of sync with the rest of the world (thus the rationale for taking vacations during off-peak season). When it comes to calling customer-service, for example, call the lines the moment they open when call volume is lowest. Or when visiting the post office, do so half an hour after opening to avoid the lingering early birds. There’s a perfect time for everything.

Take a break
The grind of everyday life – get up, wash, eat, work, drink, sleep – can add to your stress levels. Give yourself an hour for some ‘me’ time. It doesn’t matter what you do: take a stroll at KLCC park, go to a cafe by yourself (for some Parisian decadence we suggest Societe Lot 10, KL. 03 2144 8288), or have a soak in the tub with The Body Shop’s Shea Foaming Bath (RM38). It’s a moment to breathe, step back, assess your direction and stop the day sliding into oblivion. Once you do that, you’ll feel more refreshed and eager to tackle your workload.

Organise your space
Take time to file and organise. If you’re a pack rat, break the habit and go by the one month rule: if you’ve gone more than 30 days without using a particular paper/file, chuck it. File things away in a place that’s easily accessible. You’ll see a major increase in your day-to-day productivity.