• Delegate what should be delegated.
• Don't delegate what shouldn't be delegated.
• Purposefully decide which is which.

It sounds simple, but the kicker is the last statement. Many people don't take the necessary time to think out what is the most valuable use of their time. (And don't take valuable to mean economically productive - sometimes the most valuable use of your time might be taking a nap).

A lot of what we do is out of habit. For example: You hate mowing the lawn, but you continue to do it because you always have and because you think that only a "rich" person can afford to have it done be someone else. That pattern has you stuck doing something that drains your time and energy. What if you found another solution, like paying a neighborhood teenager to do it every other week for $20.  The time that it would free up could be used for activities worth well in excess of $20.  What would that free up in your life?

That brings us to the flip side of the process - not delegating the important things. The activities that bring real value to your life, ones that bring long-term growth, can't be delegated. Whether it's physical or mental exercise, building relationships, or spiritual pursuits like prayer or meditation, they can't be done by anyone except you.  By delegating out non-important activities, you can spend more focus on these – and reap the benefits.

Since we live in an economy increasingly oriented towards service, who has a service that you can use, and who can you provide a service to? Take a moment to examine what you can delegate in your professional and personal life, and find out what activities you can't delegate. Then find ways (be creative) to focus your time and energy on the most important things - that's leveraging your time.