YOU HAVE MORE TIME THAN YOU THINK OR DO YOU?

Do anyone of us have a more valuable entity than time? I call it an entity for want of a better term. What do you call time, anyway? This is a rhetorical question, I know. But it is still one worth asking nonetheless since we tend to take it for granted. This is especially the case when we are young, isn’t?

Ah, the joys of youth. But guess what? Before you know it, all that seemingly eternal time is gone. And you are left asking yourself “Where did the time go?”

I am not going to go into detail regarding time from a quantum physics perspective or all that mumbo-jumbo business. Simply because I neither have the capacity nor the inclination to do so. Frankly, this subject is too technical for my liking. Besides I do not wish to risk boring you into a stupor. But if you are interested, there are numerous tomes written about this topic. A basic search should quantify what I am saying here.

How we Waste Time

Let us not beat around the bush. Our time on this earth is very limited. Nay, it is extremely short. So, why do we waste it like this? Why are we not making the most of it?

I’ll tell you why.

Primarily it is because time is elusive and kind of sneaky as well. If you are not attentive, it will not hesitate to sneak out. It will leave you stranded and asking yourself a few questions. And if you cannot find answers to those questions, you end up bitter and remorseful.

No one, in their right mind, will intentionally waste her time. But we do waste it doing things we think we should be doing. Allow me to illustrate this point. I am going to relay a real world example. I hate made up stories.

Some time ago, I was in the employ of this organization which encouraged people to work extra time. They would also reward people handsomely for doing just that. But no one was forced to do so, if they did not want to. In a way, it was a win-win. Or so it would seem.

Because of this so-called incentive, people started working non-stop. They would work every day. And I mean EVERYDAY. Crazy, right? But if you value money more than anything else, this isn’t so bad or crazy after all.

This brings us back to my first sentence at the beginning of this article. I don’t mind reminding you: Do anyone of us have a more valuable entity than time?

So, how can anyone value money more than anything else, including our very limited time?

The above example is how we mindlessly waste time. Nevertheless, we can stop this senseless running around and use our time levelheadedly. How? I’m glad you asked.

The Method

You need some time to reflect on a few important matters. This time to reflect is popularly known as a “Me Time”. I guess this is because it is time reserved for you and you alone. Therefore, set aside a few minutes to really think things through. If this is not done well, the whole exercise falls by the wayside. You absolutely have to do this right.

After this period of deep reflection, you should be able to answer this question: “What is the important thing in my life” Now, this can get tricky. I know that a lot of people would say that their families are most important in their lives. But this could also be said by people who, from our earlier example, work every day to provide for their families. In the process, they are neglecting them as well.

That is no way to treat what you consider to be absolutely important, is it? So, be careful when you ponder this question. You might even surprise yourself with the kind of answers you come up with.

And once you get to those answers, pay attention to them. This should come from the very depths of your being. That is, if they are to be of any good to you. Don’t mind what the guy next door is doing or what your cousin will say. Never mind all of them and do what resonates with you.

Don’t misunderstand me and start being callous. You don’t want that. In fact, no one wants that. Putting yourself first does not mean shutting everybody out. No, it means fitting others around your priorities. This is contrary to what a lot of people are doing. They fit their priorities around other people. A recipe for a miserable and pitiful life.

What I want, I will assume you want the same, is to live a meaningful life and this can easily be measured by how you spend your time. Remember, we do not have a lot of it.

Make those seconds count and make the most of it…