Time Management is a myth. You can’t manage time any more than
you can manage the rising and setting sun or the pull of the
ocean’s tides. Attempting to manage time is like attempting to
manage the weather. Time marches on, with utter disregard for
the comings and goings of mere humans. Time can not be managed,
period.
You can only manage what you can control. While it’s true that
time cannot be managed, it is possible to manage yourself within
the confines of time. With discipline and diligence, any person
can effectively manage him/herself within time’s boundaries.
Where Does It All Go?
The simplest way to begin to manage yourself within time is to
evaluate how your time is currently spent. Keep a journal for
one to two weeks, and mark down each activity (or lack thereof)
to discover where your time goes. Group like activities into
categories, and evaluate whether too much time is spent in a
certain area. Consider which activities are productive and lead
you closer to your goals, or further away from your goals.
By evaluating how time is spent, you will be able to see what
activities can be trimmed or streamlined in order to create the
illusion of more time. It’s impossible to create more time—each
of us has only 60 seconds in each minute, 60 minutes in each
hour and 24 hours in each day. By improving the way in which you
spend your time, you are able to feel as though you have more
time during the day. This simple shift in thinking can create a
remarkably empowering experience.
To decrease your frustration about time (or lack thereof), watch
your language while referring to time and time-related matters.
Avoid phrases like “I need more time,” “I don’t have enough
time,” and “I’m running out of time.” When you use phrases like
these, you are fooling yourself into thinking it’s Time’s fault
instead of taking responsibility for how you choose to spend
your time. Time is a fixed measurement and it’s not Time’s fault
if you don’t manage it correctly. Remember, YOU are in control
of how you spend your time.
How Much Time Have You Got?
Each of us is born with a finite amount of time on this earth.
Unfortunately, no one alive can know the exact amount of time
allotted for him or her. Would you live your life differently if
you knew you were going to die 27 days from now? If you answered
yes, you’ve got some room for improvement in the way you
currently manage yourself within time. Get busy doing what
really matters to you and remember that you are in control of
how you choose to spend each minute of each day.
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