Do you know what every single person has in common? 168 hours a
week. Time. We all get 24 hours in a day, 60 minutes to the hour,
60 seconds for every minute
– no more, no less, no matter what.
Do you know what every single person has in common? 168 hours a week. Time. We all get 24 hours in a day, 60 minutes to the hour, 60 seconds for every minute – no more, no less, no matter what.
When you think about it, time is the most precious possession we have. We all choose how we’ll invest it, and as we spend our time, we spend our lives. If that’s the case, we ought to be asking this vital question, moment-to-moment: What is the greatest use of my time right now?
Wise use of time is made in the context of one’s individual life mission. What choices do you consistently make with time? Do you get results in proportion to energy expended? As Mahatma Gandhi said, “The future depends on what we do in the present.”
How can we make the most of time in order to pursue our unique goals? Time-management specialists talk about the 80/20 rule, whereby 20 percent of daily tasks contain 80 percent of importance. To concentrate on the 20 percent, keep assessing: Is this my top priority task? There’s a constant tension between the important and the urgent. Most people don’t take the time to prioritize; they merely react to whatever happens.
We also lose time to the annoying bandit of procrastination. We avoid unpleasant things, put off tasks because of obsessive perfectionism, or do nothing because we’re clueless about where to start. Here’s the good news from the specialists: You can break the cycle of procrastination and gain time every day. Try these principles to increase effectiveness:
Begin by keeping notes on how you’re spending time. Peg recurring time-wasters.
View time as a friend, not an enemy. Daily dread and agitation won’t improve performance.
Start the day quickly; don’t ponder and cogitate over difficulties. Identify deadlines right off the bat. Pay attention to when your high energy time is; schedule priority items for that time.
Make and use to do lists; planned time is saved time. The day you implement this simple practice, you’ll become 25 percent more effective. Devise a code for a task priority system. Schedule no more than six items. The idea is to concentrate on the important few instead of the trivial many. Activity doesn’t necessitate accomplishment.
Share tasks with family or co-workers. Do your part, but when feasible, delegate it or hire it out. Focus on results, not perfection.
Keep reading materials in your car so you can read while you’re waiting in line, getting your car worked on, delayed at the doctor’s office or kids’ carpool. Experts say we spend five to seven years of life waiting; make it productive.
Realize that use of time is a balancing act. Renewal through rest, reflection, and relaxation has its own indispensable place in the midst of attainment.
It’s only when you get control of time and sort out the “to do” list that you have time for truly important things: relationships, spirituality, health. Get inspired to polish and shine the time jewel to accomplish more than you ever thought possible. There’s no time like the present.
