All great leaders, whose influence on the world has transcended time, have spoken enough about the impact of time. Yet many of us still seem so perplexed with the challenges around it:
- There is not sufficient time!
- Wonder how to manage it, given there is so much to do?!
- Driven by deadlines, we feel so stressed
- We can try and deliver, within the timeline, but can’t assure high quality
Aren’t these questions and thoughts that we so frequently come across?
People do feel they are crunched on time. This is our reality. Now, given that all of us have only 24 hours in a day and enough activities to do to keep us on our toes, the question to ask ourselves is: “Is feeling crunched on time a pressure to do more or is it an inspiration?”
Like there are two sides to every coin, I firmly believe it is both, in this case too!
An optimistic view would be to look at it as inspiration; giving the very best to reach our utmost potential. Great things always begin from within. It is like shaking up our two-wheeler a bit to gear it up for an extra mile. A little bit of crunch helps us improve our productivity; keeps us focused in an effort to give our best within the time available; helps with quicker results.
At the same time, there should be enough awareness of the reserve fuel to ensure we know when to pause to refuel, to avoid a breakdown.
All said and done, is it really possible to manage time?
Time management – an oxymoron
It would be interesting to dwell on the word, time management. Isn’t it true that we don’t hold time, we just live in time? So, how then do we manage something that we cannot own or hold?
The key is being in control of our own selves and ensure that we don’t let time manage us. A slight shift in perspective helps us operate comfortably well within the daily 24 that we have. A change in outlook from lack to availability helps us plan better.
When we focus on the lack, lack grows; with focus on abundance, abundance grows!
1) When it comes to time management, the first step is to hold on to the aphorism, “I can”. Believing in the self eases out the pressure and enables us to give miracles a chance. This very confidence of achieving will take us through and sets comfortably into our routine.
2) Secondly, when we maintain some hygiene in everything we do, work naturally flows with the time on hand.
a) Shake off those lazy muscles. Procrastination is a clear no no.
b) List down your goals and plan your activities well in advance.
c) Set clear timelines in order of priority and strive to meet them.
d) Focus: be aware of distractions and eliminate them.
e) Know that you can’t do it all by yourself. It is all about interdependence. Delegation helps.
f) Define your boundaries. Say no to unrealistic demands.
3)Ensure that you set some time to re-energize yourself.
Most of all, acting with a ‘yes’ mind takes us ahead. Following these simple time management tips would help us stay relaxed, healthy and productive. It is not about the number of hours that you put in. Efficiency is all about the ‘quality’ of time spent on a task.
That reminds me of childhood. As children, the simplest of things excited us. Even if given something that we never liked to do, if we were promised something exciting in return, we would finish it in a jiffy. Sustaining that zeal of a child in everything that we do, be it professional or personal will renew us from within and help achieve all that we need to, within the given time.
Doesn’t that set a tone of self gratification?
Is your jar full?
A professor once walked into a classroom. The students seemed bored and had constant complaints of not having enough time to complete the projects on hand along with their regular classes and assignments.
He declared, “Let us do an interesting experiment today”. He placed a large empty jar on to the table and first filled it with large rocks and asked his students if the jar was full.
The students nodded in agreement.
He then added small pebbles and repeated his question. The students nodded again.
The professor then poured sand into the jar and asked again. Looking at each other, the students gently shook their head in agreement.
Isn’t it something to ponder upon? How could he have space to add more when the jar was full right after the first installment?
The professor went on to explain further: The rocks refer to the most important things that we need to focus on first. The pebbles depict the other things that matter which come next in priority. The sand refers to all those things that we deem trivial. When prioritized right, we would have the time and space to accommodate all of them in the jar.
The metaphor here is that if you start with putting sand into the jar, you will not have room for rocks or pebbles.
Excellence is a product of effective utilization of time
Truth be told, managing the laundry list of activities that you have on hand, is not difficult, especially when you introspect and set your priorities right. Also, yogic practices and meditation aid us organize ourselves better from within.
Meditation declutters our mind, increases awareness and sharpens our focus. It provides clarity, removing the phantom workload. Clarity in the mind helps manage time efficiently. Most of all, it increases our will power, reduces distractions and makes us more productive!
Excellence is not an accident. It is the result of hard work, effective prioritization and giving the best within the time available.
Written by Haripriya Vasudevan based on talks by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
