As soon as the word “time“ is mentioned, most people would think that they are already aware of what it means and they can also, more or less, guess what I am going to say ahead as well. Most likely, the crux of the matter would be “Use your time efficiently and be productive in your life;” the same old message everyone has already heard a million times by now. Unfortunately, while it is a pretty solid message to convey, and I think more people need to hear it again and again for it to actually be effective, this post is not about that. By the end of this post, I want to make you question your own control of time and how much value do you actively assign it every day. As I have mentioned it before in earlier posts as well, humans are a species that need constant reminders to remember doing something. It doesn’t matter whether these reminders are external(by someone or something else) or internal(by constantly telling yourself to be aware of doing something soon), we benefit greatly from them. So, even if you do think you already know everything about time, you should use this post to remind yourself about your use of it in your life today.
Remind Yourself That your time is limited
The most fundamental reality about time is that it is always flowing and no one can stop nor reverse it. We all know it, and we all accepted it long before we even matured. I am not going to write it here and pretend that this is a very innovative insight, and so, I want you to focus on the word “remind” instead. As important as this concept is, and it is certainly an absolute truth, your focus should not be to just know of it, but rather to make sure that you are always aware of it. People do not like to think about this as it also means thinking about the inevitable end of your very existence. And so, while you and I both know that death is inevitable and that we have a finite amount of time, and when thought independently, we are surprisingly okay with it as well, we are somehow immediately put off by the idea of associating this reality with any of our day-to-day action. The main reason being that people think that remembering this will make them sullen and ruin their whole day, however, its result should be quite the opposite for you instead. If it is a reality for you, then it is a reality for everyone else as well. You should think of it as a source to cherish your time and to celebrate spending it every day in what you believe to be the most important rather than trying to forget about it. Actively think about your limited time and try to enjoy every moment that you are able to experience. If something is true for everyone, then it really is just your imagination to think of it as a source of depression for yourself.
Take Full Responsibility of Your Time
Your time is your own to use and it is not inherently bound to anyone else. You can spend it in whichever way, shape, or form you want to and no one can stop you. People who do not really value their time, put too much dependence of how their time is used upon others. Instead of saying that you wasted your time on your own accord, they try to find a scapegoat to transfer blame and feel good about themselves. Even though they become very good as ascribing their poor use of time to others around them, they forget the simple reality that it is still their own time being spent, and it will not be reimbursed to them just by relegating blame to somewhere else. Remember that at any given moment, you are doing only what you deem to be most important in that instant. Even if you are doing something for someone else’s sake, you are the one doing it. No one is making you do something by force. So, instead of trying to make yourself feel good about your improper use of time by making excuses and assigning it to someone else, take full responsibility of it as a consequence of your own actions.
do not waste anyone's time, and dont let them waste yours
If you let people do it, they will almost always waste your time. Whether it be done by someone you barely know or a loved one, and whether it is done intentionally or unintentionally, it is bound to happen. Sometimes people just prioritize their own problem over your time, and other times they just do not realize the significance of your use of time. As I said above, it is easier to point fingers at someone else, and blame them for wasting out time, but it is harder to admit that you might be doing that to someone else as well. There is a famous quote that “you should treat others the way you want to be treated,” which fits perfectly to this situation as well. You should first be aware that you are not wasting anyone else’s time by your actions or your requests, and then you should also be in-charge of your own time so people do not take advantage of this valuable resource Your time is arguably your most important treasure, and people are most likely to give you the least in return for it. Be aware that it is your time and at the end of the day, you are the one wasting it for the sake of others. Others might not reciprocate the same to you, so always be concerned about how you use someone else’s time and how you allow them to use yours.
Think About What You Are Doing Right Now, Not about what you will be doing later
If you just want to drift through life and allow time to just pass by you, then you should always think about what you could have been doing instead or what you will be doing in the future, rather than what you are actually doing. Not only would this ensure that you never actually experience what your spending your time on, it will also ensure that you live an unhappy life. A common example is people thinking about their home when they are at work and then worrying about their work when they are at home. This makes them feel as if they never have enough time in their life to manage both things, but in reality, they are just squandering their time away instead of experiencing it. It absolutely does not matter whether you are being productive or unproductive, you should be living in that particular moment and not think bad about doing so. If you ask me, trying to spend all of your time on productive things is just as bad as spending all of your time on unproductive things, because they will both lead to dissatisfaction at the end of your journey. Try to dabble in both and find a balance that works for you i.e. unique to you, your goal in life, and your current circumstances.
Now that you know how valuable your time is, never be ashamed to admit that you want full control of it, even if it means making hard decisions. Never feel bad about having to say no to some people, rather than trying to appease everyone. A good rule of thumb would be to ask yourself if they would have done the same for you, if the roles were reversed. Nevertheless, I am sure that you will make the best use of your time and I thank you for spending some of it in reading this post. Hopefully, it at least helped to remind you of your precious treasure i.e. time. Good luck!
