Pesach is known as the festival of freedom, yet the holiday preparations are so arduous that the common joke pictures us as "enslaved" by the process. Whether it's the housewife scrubbing till her nails crack or it's the shopping, there never seems to be enough time to do everything.

In truth, most of us are busy all year long. And the observant Jew has extra demands upon his or her time. In addition to work, housekeeping, and family obligations, which are universal concerns, we must devote time to Torah study, Shabbos and holidays, and other religious duties. A large family is common among Orthodox Jews, with the resultant additional time demands. Effectively organizing and using your time can seem an unrealistic or even a frightening prospect.

Goals and objectives must be specific and concrete, and should be in writing. Reading your goals on a daily basis makes them much more tangible.

We never seem to have enough time, but there is good news. Lack of time is often the result not of a busy schedule, but of failure to plan properly, procrastination, and other rectifiable traits.

Time is the most precious and irreplaceable resource of life. Every action involves time. The more distractions, laziness, and disorganization in your life, the harder it will be to successfully achieve your goals.

How seriously should we regard time? In Jewish law, if you steal an object, you can atone for the transgression somewhat by returning it. However, if you "steal" someone's time — for example, by being late — you can never repay the theft. The time lost is gone forever. There are 86,400 seconds in a day. How many do you waste — your time or others'? What can you do to improve your use of time: to be more organized, productive, and systematic? Time management takes work, because you will have to learn new habits and unlearn old ones. You will need to employ proven techniques, and you will have to maintain your motivation to better yourself. But it sure is worth the effort.

The techniques and ideas we discuss here are primarily derived from the business world, but they have been tested successfully in various spheres, including family life.

To better manage your time, you must first decide upon your goals, that is, the results you wish to achieve. You then need to determine your objectives, which are the stepping stones toward the eventual achievement of the goal. If my goal is to strike a business deal with Cooper, Inc., objectives may include securing an appointment with the C.E.O., preparing a presentation, and visiting the Cooper facility. I must define and list all the components that will lead to the final goal of making a huge sale to Cooper.

Goals and objectives must be specific and concrete, and they should be in writing. (Reading your goals on a daily basis makes them much more tangible.) After setting the goal, break the project down from the desired end result, working backwards by subdividing into necessary tasks and activities. The project is thus split into "bite-sized," manageable actions. Starting from the end, keep asking yourself, "In order to achieve this result, what must I do?"

It is important to reward yourself for accomplishment. Give what you promise yourself, and never give when you didn't earn the reward.

We typically have more than one goal competing for our time. Therefore, before organizing our time, we must prioritize our tasks.

Priority level is a measure of the amount of value created (or loss prevented) by spending time in a given way. The activities in which you engage produce a measure of value. In allocating your time, try as much as possible to prioritize the tasks that will return higher value. I use five priority levels in my evaluating system. An "A" priority is the highest level. An "A" is something necessary and of the utmost value. You cannot put off an "A." Get "A" priorities done as quickly and efficiently as you are able.

"B" indicates medium value. Some delay will not be costly, but make sure that you do the task so that you achieve the goal properly and on time.

"C" is low priority. It would be nice if done, but no loss occurs if it is not achieved.

"D" refers to a task you should not do. Perhaps it is not of significant value, or is not worth the cost. Perhaps it can cause harm, or will conflict with a more significant project. When you work with others, it is especially important to communicate that a "D" project is wasteful. If your division is inventing the automobile and another division is investing in a better horseshoe, someone must advise them that horseshoes are going to be obsolete soon!

Finally, "A+" is an unplanned task that is so important it preempts even an "A"; included are emergencies and unforeseen opportunities. Obviously you cannot build this last category into your planning. In scheduling "A," "B," and "C" activities, feel free to separate each level into plus and minus subcategories (e.g., B+). Schedule the most important tasks first; don't put them off until later. You might have to be flexible, however. For example, in your schedule for next week, you wish to complete all your "A" activities on Monday, but one task requires the help of someone who is only available on Thursday. Learn to adjust to the circumstances.

Recognize the difference between a "priority" and a "habit." You may do something habitually that is not important. A habit can blind you to your priorities. This is especially damaging if you neglect a priority because you habitually do something at a particular time. If you always go to your health club on Tuesday at noon, but that happens to be the best time to meet your client, the health club must wait. (Then again, if you are under doctor's orders to exercise, perhaps noon is not the time to schedule your client.)

Now that you have defined and prioritized your goals, you need to organize and schedule the tasks that lead to achievement of the goals. Scheduling means "translating" your plan into an actionable order within manageable time frames — whether days, weeks, or hours.

A well-designed planner is essential to set your schedule. Write down your goals for the day, week, or other time frame you are using. For each goal, evaluate its priority, the tasks necessary to achieve it, and any other relevant details. Be sure to note the priority code for each task. Build in flexibility for the unpredictable and uncontrollable, such as traffic jams and interruptions. Have a backup plan — an alternate travel destination, paperwork, Torah study — for when your client cancels or doesn't show up.

For regular planning needs (e.g., daily or weekly), prepare the ensuing schedule at the end of the previous time frame, not at the beginning of the next. This allows you to think about the upcoming time unit, refine your ideas for it, and start fresh and motivated at the beginning of that time period.

Realistically estimate the time it will take you to complete each task. If it turns out that there is too much work for the time available in your schedule, put off lower priority tasks. Alternatively, you can work longer hours or extend the deadline for task completion.

Use a "to do" list every day. Add and delete constantly. Use whatever tools (daily planner, pocket calendar, computer program) you require. Don't scratch off a task until you have completed it or determined to cancel it.

Monitor your time and results periodically. Use logs to discern "enemies" of time management, and to analyze problems, patterns, results, and how to keep improving. List "time killers," especially recurrent ones (interruptions, procrastination, disorganization).

You can plan and schedule, but if you do not take action, you will have no results. It is imperative to avoid procrastination. There are numerous causes of procrastination, including fear of working with numbers, paper, or people; tedium; change and new technology; fear of rejection; fear of failure; and indecision.

There are many strategies for overcoming procrastination. Read up on new technology; acquiring more knowledge will lessen your apprehension. Consider the greater harm caused by delaying an unpleasant task. Work on self-discipline, and appreciate the opportunity to grow each time you overcome resistance to doing what is required. Tell others what you intend to do, so that you will become hesitant about avoiding the project, since others expect you to act. Modify your environment to eliminate barriers and distractions or to introduce helpful elements. To overcome hesitation, strengthen your skills in the decision-making process, including analysis of pertinent data. But don't get caught in overanalyzing a problem — "analysis paralysis." The more time you spend on unjustifiable deliberation, the more unpleasant and off-putting the task can become.

If you are worried about something going wrong, make a "calamity list" and use it to monitor the task. Take a sheet of paper and draw a line down the middle. On the left side, write down every calamity that you believe may occur during your performance of the task. On the right side, record every calamity that actually did happen. Most people find that few or none of the feared calamities actually occur.

Finally, it is great to be organized, but unless you control your time, you won't accomplish your goals. Life throws "curveballs" and distractions at us. The priority levels we assign allow us to weigh what we are doing against the value of the interruption. When do we let an interruption change our schedule? Some things (e.g., illness, a bridge collapse) are unavoidable, but many interruptions can be controlled.

This does not give you license to be rude or callous to people who sincerely think their interruption is important. Always be gracious and considerate. Don't ever reject the person; reject the issue or its low priority level on a non-personal, respectful basis.

It helps if you can give the person a short explanation for your action. You can say: "I'll get back to you at 4:00, when I'll have this mountain of papers cleared off my desk"; or "Let's talk about this over lunch, when we can both think with a clear head."

When you succeed in accomplishing a significant goal, mazel tov! It is important for you to set motivating rewards for your achievements. These don't have to be expensive; in fact, the size of the reward should be commensurate with the size of the achievement. Give what you promise yourself, and never give when you didn't earn the reward.

The more you control your time, the more you can achieve valuable goals, which, after all, is the reason G-d put us on earth. Proper organization allows you to determine how much productivity and fulfillment you achieve with your life. Be thankful for the power and opportunity to make your life as constructive, positive, and purposeful as possible!

Rabbi Jeff Forsythe, a columnist for The Jewish Press, lectures widely on dating, marriage, and other interpersonal issues. He is available for private counseling, and may be reached at 718-851-4131.