Lauren's List: Take Control Of Your Time

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Sometimes, it feels like 24 hours in a day just isn't enough.

But taking two minutes to read this "Lauren's List" may help!

Between work, social activities, meal-prep, house-cleaning and sleep, there's not much time to waste.

So here are a few ways to take control of your time, according to CollegeBoard.com.

1. Make a list: Obviously, I'm prone to lists as I have an entire segment dedicated to them. But seriously, few things are more satisfying than crossing items off a to-do list. Put the most important tasks at the top, even if they're things you're dreading, and tackle them first. Try motivating yourself with a reward if you get to everything on your list.

2. Don't be afraid to say 'No': I have a huge problem with this and I understand the "fear of missing out" is strong, but sometimes, the best way to take control of your time is to realize it's not unlimited. Say "no" to that movie or dinner invitation rather than figuring out how to squeeze it into your schedule. Putting off important tasks for a fun night can be great at times, but you're asking for more stress later.

3. Get a good night's sleep: While spending precious time sleeping may seem like a "waste of time", it's actually key to keeping yourself at peak performance. If you're tired, all of those other things that need to get done may be done sloppily, and really, that's sometimes worse than not doing it at all.

4. Find your productive sweet spot: I saw a meme recently that said "I'm not an early bird, or a night owl. I'm just an exhausted pigeon". Trust me, I can relate. But even when I'm tired, I know I'm far more productive in the morning than at night. If that's the case for you, carve out extra time in the morning for getting stuff done before work. In my case, that means I'm emptying the dishwasher and folding laundry sometimes at 2 a.m.!

I want to know how you make the best use of your precious time.

Tell me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/laurenpastrananews) or Twitter (@LaurenPastrana).

If you have an idea for a future "Lauren's List", send it to lpastrana@cbs.com.