Here's a riddle - rich people can't buy it, older people are running out of it and children don't appreciate it. Can you guess what it is?

The answer is time. It seems that many people think most of their problems could be solved if they just had more time - more time for family, more time to get things done at work and more time for themselves. However, every person gets the same 24 hours in each day.

So, how do you make the most of your days? As you face the new year, think about the things that are important and resolve to accomplish them. Kurt Sutton, a trainer and time management consultant with Kurt Sutton and Associates in Buford, frequently speaks about time management, goal setting and making the most of time, not only at work but also to achieve personal goals.

For nurses and other allied health professionals, most time at work is spent taking care of other people. There's rarely a chance during the work day to sit back and catch a breath.

"Taking breaks is important to refresh your mind and your body," Sutton said. "Even a short break can give you perspective and help you perform your job better." He advises people to pay attention to the signs of ineffectiveness or fatigue.

"If you're experiencing these symptoms, stop and get your focus," he said. "I tell people to stop for just a second, close their eyes and say these six words - 'alert amused mind, calm healthy body' - to themselves. Take three deep breaths and then return to the task at hand."

The traditional tricks in time management - making lists, dealing with a piece of paper only once and keeping a rigid schedule of appointments - don't always work in the health care environment. Unexpected crises arise and people have immediate needs that cannot wait.

"But think about it," Sutton said. "There's no emergency in the emergency room. Sure, a patient having a heart attack is experiencing his own emergency, but every one of the people who work there knows exactly what to do, where to go and how to keep the situation calm."

Being able to manage personal time can work in the same way.

"In the health care setting, everyone works together," Sutton said. "Try the same approach at home. Bring the family together and ask them each to take at least 15 minutes every day just for themselves, to spend time alone working on a personal goal or project. This can free the health care professional to take personal time as well."

For people who spend much of their time taking care of others, taking care of themselves is important. "Personal time is one thing, but taking personal time without guilt is the real goal," Sutton said.