Each and every one of us has, and contributes to, the same 24 hours in the day.

However, how we spend these hours varies quite a bit from person to person. If you think about it, there are probably over a billion different ways you can spend your 24 hours. You could sleep through them, party through them, travel through them, Netflix through them -- you could even do all of those things, depending on how you manage your time.

What brought this idea to my attention was when I realized that not everyone has the same strategy when it comes to managing their time. It was also brought to my attention that some people actually really struggle with time management to the point that they can even end up missing out on doing the things they love simply because they do not have the skills to effectively manage their time.

I get it, you are busy. I am busy, too. See all of those people over there? I bet they are just as busy and you and me, but they are still managing to accomplish what they need to -- because they are effectively managing their time.

I would be lying if I didn't say that it is easier said than done, but it can be done.

Below are a few key factors that contribute to time management that may be negatively impacting your ability to manage your time.

1. Failing to keep a planner

We may not realize it, but it is extremely easy to forget information in general, nevermind trying to remember 10 things we have to do between now and the 15th of next month. Using a planner or an agenda is my personal key to success. Being able to see the days, weeks and months along with the times of the day allow you to space things out and easily see when you have something going on or if you free. Instead of saying "I'll get back to you" when someone is asking if you are free, you can crack open your planner and, lo and behold, you are able to see a mapped out time frame of all your responsibilities.

2. Not setting goals

How often do we say "Someday I want to do this" or "When I get the time" or "Eventually I will get to it" and where does saying these things get us? When we don't set deadlines for ourselves, we measure time with words like "someday", which could be tomorrow or 20 years from now, that do not describe quantitative amounts. When we set goals, we are keeping a vision in mind with an intention to reach them. It might not be an exact date or time, but it is something that you want to accomplish. Setting both long term and short term goals can give you a concrete idea of what can happen within a certain time frame.

3. Not taking enough breaks

Because we always have so much going on, we can easily get distracted by simply the thought of all of the things we "have" to do or "should" be doing and they can become completely daunting and even trigger more stress, making your ability to manage your time even worse. That is why when you are feeling overwhelmed or as if you have a million things to do, you need to stop for a second, regroup and take a break. If you don't allow yourself to relax and instead constantly rush around trying to get things done, you won't accomplish anything! Taking a break is just as important as taking the initiative to manage your time. Relax. If you aren't well rested, how will you be able to get anything done?

So for a recap:

1. Own, keep and use a planner.

2. Set goals for yourself; both long and short term.

3. Take breaks as needed.

Incorporating these practices into your daily life can help you make better use of your time and manage it efficiently to complete every task on your plate. It can seem overwhelming at first, but just remember, nothing grows inside our comfort zones and to make a change, we must push ourselves, and our limits.

You will be amazed at how making a few small changes when it comes to time management and life, in general, gives us the ability to accomplish far more than we thought we could.