Do you sometimes feel as though there are just not enough hours in the day to get done everything you need or want to get done? Do you struggle trying to balance your work, your family and social life? This article will provide you with a simple three-step process on how to earn more while working less.

First and foremost you need to be organized. Most of the people who earn six or seven figures and only work 20 hours per week or less are highly organized individuals.

In addition to being organized you need to prioritize. For most of us, 80% of what we spend our time doing, only makes 20% of the difference. People who only work part-time and make six and seven figures know exactly what matters and that’s what they spend their time doing. They skip or delegate everything else.

Step 1 — Get organized and prioritize. Make a list of everything there is to do and handle in your life, your home and your business or job. Just sit down and start listing things you either want or need to get done in no particular order, as they pop into your head. This list of “to do’s” is finite and in reality will probably only take you a couple of hours to create.

Step 2 – Sit in silence for 20 minutes and meditate over your list. Ask for guidance on which are the most important items that will have the greatest impact on your income and quality of life. The most impactful items on your list will start becoming apparent to you. Highlight those items.

Step 3 – Move all of the highlighted items from your list into your calendar. Schedule each item. Be realistic when determining how much time to allow for each item. For example, you might schedule one item for Tuesday from 4pm-5pm, another item on Wednesday from 8pm-10pm, and so on.

If you are unable to get all of the items into your calendar within the next two weeks, then you need to refine your highlighted list again before entering them into your schedule.

This simple three-step process will help you get organized, focus on the 20% that will make the biggest impact on your income and quality of life and it will help prevent you from taking on more tasks than you can handle effectively. If you are unable to complete a task during the scheduled time, re-schedule the task for another time. Treat your tasks like they are important meetings because they are.

Once you switch over from keeping a running “to do” list to scheduling every task, you will begin to feel more relaxed, be more efficient, feel like you have more time and you will get done the most important tasks that make the biggest difference in your life.

When you have a running “to do” list you are more likely to stress over what you need to get done because you don’t know when or how it’s going to get done. By just scheduling what needs to get done, you can relax because it will get done when it’s time to do it. You know you won’t forget because it’s in your calendar, you have made an appointment with yourself to get it done. No more stressing or agonizing over it. Even if it’s just a simple task like making a phone call, if it’s in your schedule you know you won’t forget about it and you will get it done.

Be sure to leave open space in your calendar for interruptions and putting out fires. Also, schedule family time, exercise time, alone time, mealtime and organization time (go through your mail, file, etc). This will help keep you organized and in balance.

Heidi is a professional organizer, creator of The Fast-Filing Method home filing system, & publisher of Life Made Simple e-Magazine. Heidi energizes her readers’ lives by teaching effective organizational systems to help you accomplish more & GAIN peace of mind! Visit ClearSimpleLiving.com to get a complimentary subscription AND a FREE Home Organization Kit.