***Warning, this article may evoke some strong emotions***
Time - the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues; a non-spatial continuum that is measured in terms of events which succeed one another from past through present to future (Meriam-Webster Definitions)
Time always comes up whether I am talking to course participants, managers, friends or the voice inside my head – When have I got time do that? OMG that’s got to be done by Friday! How long is that going to take? Frankly, I’m too busy to spend time planning, prioritising and everything else those time management gurus tell me I should be doing!
I feel quite sorry for “time” – it gets the blame for allsorts!
Our society is managed by time, it’s the common denominator – we all understand it, work to a 24 hour clock – granted the seasons, the sun and the rotation of our planet make some alterations to this depending on where you are in the world.
So, if time is one of the very staples of our existence why do we not nurture it, treat it with respect and enjoy the fact that we actually have some, as much as we could?
How much time do you have left before -
· your next meeting
· your break (or is it that you don’t have time to take a break :0)
· you leave work
· you go to bed
· you get up tomorrow
· the next big project lands on your desk
· your holiday
· your kids leave home
· you lose your parents
· Christmas
· You retire
· Your time on earth is up
Wow, that’s a bit dramatic! No matter how trivial, important or life changing something is – time plays a part in it somewhere and, most of us would say we just don’t seem to have enough of it.
What do you think would happen if I were able to change time so you could now have 28 hours in a day, 9 days in a week, 14 months in a year and the human race now lives on average to 150 years?
My bet is that we would still find stuff to fill up this additional time, still be full of busyness and probably still be complaining that there was just not enough time.
“Where are you going with this Michelle?” I hear you cry
Well, you won’t be astounded to know that I think all the productivity and time management tools and techniques we have learnt do have some value in helping us to make the most of the time resource that is available to us as individuals. However, what is more important for me, and for many people like you, is to think about the bigger picture
When it’s your time to finally check out of this planet will you be looking back saying – I wish I’d spent more time in the office? I could have attended more meetings? I did ok with the kids though I could have given them more time and attention? I wish I’d……
I am not an idealist, this is not nirvana, s**t happens and for most of us, the other constant, apart from time in life, is responsibility – for ourselves, our families, our society
What does this mean….
Take the thought of time out of the equation and think about
1. What is your definition of happiness?
2. On a scale of 1 – 10 – how happy do you feel right now?
3. What do you want to be able to say and feel when you look back on your life as you check out of it?
4. How does that change your perspective?
5. What might you do next?
If this article has struck a chord with you and you would like to learn more about living the best life you can take a look at my "Refocus, Re-energise - S.H.I.F.T" programme. This could be your new beginning!