More and more beginning guitarists are putting down their instruments each day and the main reason is due to time. Most of them claim that they just don't have enough time to really get down to business.

It's understandable that you have a job, family, and friends to care for, but how is it that everyone else seems to handle the guitar with ease? Here's a list of 6 effective ways that you can create a guitar practice schedule that fits your busy lifestyle.

1. Each practice should be about 20 minutes.

20 minutes is about the minimum amount of time that you can really expect to get anything done if you're pressed for time. Ideally, you want to shoot for about 45 minutes so that you can work in the quick stretches, some scales, and still have adequate time to cover all the material you need.

2. Use guitar practice as a reward for a long day at work.

When you decided to start playing the guitar, I'm sure you weren't thinking of it as another difficult task that you would relate to work. Playing the guitar should always be fun and thought of as a reward.

So when you get home from a long day of work, change your guitar practice schedule and pick up your instrument for 20 minutes to release some stress.

3. Know what you've practiced before.

Fiddling around with guitar material that you've already covered is great to solidify it in your mind, but at some point, you need to move on. If you spend your practices covering the same material over and over, you'll definitely improve on those bits, but think about your long-term goals so you're not shorting yourself.

4. Plan your next practice before you have it.

Make something of your guitar practice schedule and know the material that you want to cover. Write it down or make a mental note so you're not getting sidetracked and you have a sense of business when you sit down with your guitar.

5. Play while watching television.

There are almost just as many commercials on television as there are real programs, and that's valuable time you could be spending on your guitar. Even if you have an electric and don't want to plug it in, just lay it across your lap and do some scales or picking exercises while you're taking in those advertisements.

6. Write in a scheduler.

Most everyone either has a planner on paper or a scheduler on their phone that they use to hold all of their appointments. Take advantage of this convenient thing and start a guitar practice schedule so you know when you'll have time to sit down and jam.

There are always going to be a million reasons not to pick up the guitar and play, but you have to just suck it up and make it work. You can't learn the guitar properly unless you practice... a lot.

So don't be afraid to switch a few things around for the sake of your guitar. It'll all be worth it when you're impressing your friends up on stage some day.