Practicing

Practicing is where it's at - everyone knows that, so it's worth having a look at some of the problems that go with it. Malcolm Gladwell - an American writer - reckons that to be really outstanding at anything - chess master, pianist, writer whatever, it takes 10,000 hours of practice to get there. That's about 3 hours a day, 7 days a week for 10 years. Hmmm. They say the amateur practises to the point where they don't make mistakes but professionals practice to the point at which they can't make a mistake.
I hesitate to advise any particular methodology in practicing because I think it is very personal. Clearly a framework of long notes, scales then pieces makes sense but if you find that is insufferably boring then you just end up putting the instrument down after ten minutes or not practising at all.
More importantly each player has to examine their personal motivation and ask the crucial questions, 'Why am I playing the sax, what do I want to get out of it and what commitment am I prepared to give to get there?' Clearly the motivation to master the instrument requires major life decisions which lead to the 10,000 hours being achieved. Nonetheless, many players do make that journey and reap the rewards at the other end.
For others, the mastery route is not for them but a desire to play really well remains. Whatever level of practising you achieve I strongly recommend that you motivate yourself through CHOICE. Don't feel you must, or ought, or should be practising; nothing will hinder you more effectively. Instead you have to choose to play and by using this word you will tap into your fundamental motivation to be a good player every time you play.
Don't let the lack of practice in the past stop you from practising now; whatever good resolutions you have failed to keep, today is now and you start from here.