The word ‘Time’ has a different connotation for different people. Some are casual about it, and some are very serious. Some take it positively, and for some, it’s a burden. Some see it as an abundant resource, and for others, it is a very limited and scarce commodity. Some people take time for granted, and some use it wisely. Some have a poor estimation of timelines and hence end up complaining that they can’t manage it well. But there are smart & successful people who take it in their stride and make the most of their lives.
We read a lot and talk a lot about ‘Time Management’. We feel this is one of the key ingredients for success. I have no doubts about this assumption, but can we really manage time? I believe you can manage something only if you control it. Time is not in our control, and hence it can’t be managed. It can at best be ‘Utilized’ or ‘Wasted.’ The choice is ours, and it all depends on how we approach it and with what frame of mind.
In my personal opinion, to make the most of this amazing asset, these 3 tips can be of immense help:
1) Clarity of Goals: One can only be sensitive towards time and use it to one’s benefit if there is complete clarity on the ultimate goal or purpose of life. Knowing what we want to achieve will define what you will do with your time? If the big objective is clear, then time gets utilized in alignment with that goal, and the results are outstanding. Every moment spent has a sense of direction & movement, leading to some achievement. Life seems to be going the way we want it. Although we may not control all the outcomes, we get to be in control of the activity, and hence we make the most of the moments. Being in the driver’s seat when you know the destination is a great feeling. One can really be in control of one’s time if the purpose is clear.
2) Sense of Urgency: We are free to take as much time as we want under the sun, to complete any activity in our personal or professional life. Beyond a point, we are answerable to none, and no one is judging us as well. We make our yardsticks and evaluate results as per our convenience. But people who don’t comply with this doctrine are the ones who are either always in a hurry or are masters at procrastination. The first kind wants to complete a task fast and move to the next one. They know that more time taken to achieve the end result of a particular activity will delay the next one. Their aspirational list of accomplishments is so long that they are always in a hurry. They prefer not to deliberate much and get going with work at hand. I guess they believe the cost of a delayed outcome is more than the cost of a wrong outcome. The procrastinators suffer as much as the ones who are always in a hurry. They are happy to put things off because the mood isn’t right, because there is something else to do—the list can be as long as their irresponsibility. They generally have difficulty getting work done in time or getting the work done at all. So, a sense of urgency enables you to make the most of your time.
3) Quality over Quantity: Time is a finite resource. It can’t be saved or stored or reused. Once spent, it can’t come back. Hence, a great way to approach time is to get the focus right. When it comes to time, Quality supersedes Quantity. For example, how much time you spend with your family is not as important as what you do in that time? Do you create memories of a lifetime together on a Sunday, or you end up sleeping, feeling tired because of a hectic week gone by, and in slow spirits in anticipation of a grueling week ahead? If the latter is your state, trust me, you will always have complaints as to why one Sunday is not enough to be with the family and how ‘work life balance’ is always a challenge. Time will always be in limited supply, and it is passing by at godspeed. A clear focus on what exactly we want to achieve, what outcome we want, in a given moment or period of time, will always be of great help.
I believe that I am not a master of Time Management or Utilization, but I have benefitted by following these tips as I picked them up along my professional journey. And as I close, I won’t do justice to this topic if I don’t tell you that you won’t be able to make the most of your time if you are not “POSITIVE’ about it. To my mind, this one is the most critical vector. Successful professionals are very positive about time as a resource, and hence their sense of urgency and a sense of accomplishment is very high. You will get done more in an hour when you are positive about it& less when you are in a negative state. This is so important that it falls under the ‘Cardinal Rule’ category. Utilizing your time can be fun if you get these basics in place.
Wishing you all more power and more results in days to come. All the best for a great life ahead!!
Sandeep Mishra