A Thought On Time, Correct Use of Time, Life and Productivity

I have always said that I am an impatient person in nature. This characteristic kind of forces me to make the most of time – to not use time incorrectly. Of course how I use time and therefore define “correct use” of time will likely differ from you. There is not one rule that fits us all. It is important to live this life as you wish and that doesn’t happen by following the typical paths of society or others. Do what works for you!

It is easy to appreciate the preciousness of time. Understanding it is our most valuable resource. I like being very conscious of time. And yet I wonder! I wonder how much pressure time places on me and how I live my life. Is it healthy? Do I allow time to own me? Is my consciousness of time and effectiveness with time actually the creator of much of my anxiety, stress and suffering?

If has been years since I owned a watch. My house has no clocks other than those on the appliances I own. Computer, rice cooker, phone. It has decreased since I moved to Japan, partly because I don’t know how to set the time on many of the appliances. I can’t remember ever owning a wall clock although I am sure I have. I have always wanted one of those grandfather clocks, they have some appeal to me but certainly not necessary.

Despite having no watch I am a very punctual person. I hate being late. As an area manager for a large retail chain I was always the first at our monthly meetings and other events. I remember once when I was late due to extremely congested traffic and my senior manager scolding me for it. Even though I left at the same time as I did every time, there was no excuse. It was something I should have been prepared for. Sometimes there just is no logic in the corporate world.

I was never late again, not because of my scolding but more so because I just don’t like arriving to events late. Its uncomfortable for me. I hate being in the spotlight and when you arrive late to such functions it seems like all eyes revert on you. Not my ideal scenario.

I use time for many aspects of my life. I set my “opportunity clock,” thank you Zig Ziglar, every morning at 4:30am. Often I wake before it. I use time to get out of bed without delay or procrastination using the 5 second technique. You can listen to me explaining this technique here. Essentially it is a 5 second count down to prompt action. Five, four, three, two, one – go! It works for me. Most mornings run as planned – smoothly and on time, even though I don’t sit staring at the time. Perhaps I am unconscious of the fact that I do.

Batching and scheduling is a thing of mine. It helps keep me productive. It allows me to make the most of my time. To stay on track time is a key player. In the time I have scheduled I do what I can and what isn’t complete gets left behind to be picked up another day or not at all. The amount I try to fit into a batched window is often very ambitious. Often unrealistic. Entrepreneurs can likely relate.

On a side note, Bill Gates once said that “people often over estimate what they can achieve in a year but underestimate what they can achieve in 10.” When we operate with such perspective it often causes us such overwhelm that we give up. When things to play out as we expect we lose hope. Have you ever gone to watch a movie with high expectations due to all the hype and rave reviews friends and others give you and then you walk out disappointed. Life is much the same.

For me not being able to complete all that I desired within a time window causes great stress. Well at least it used to. I have found ways to reduce this nowadays which I wish to share. I am not perfect but I am better.

One such practice that I believe is important is to look at what you do achieve in the set time. This could be an hour, a day, a week, a month or a year. Avoid being obsessive about what you didn’t achieve. Be aware, not obsessive. Being aware allows you to assess how and why you set your expectations too high or indeed what went wrong and where you could improve. Being obsessive on the other hand causes us to be too self-critical.

This is the same concept of a practice of gratitude. Being grateful for everything one has brings greater satisfaction to our lives. Focus on what you don’t have brings us suffering. It’s okay to have desires but when it consumes you it can often take you away from all the beauty that is with you right now in this moment. I believe this desire to chase and always want more is a flaw that society has breed.

I wonder if this obsession with time is healthy for me. Does it matter in the grand scheme of things? It is a fine balance between ambition and being present. I have discussed this in other articles that you may wish to read here. Being drowned out by the constant chase for everything that is not yet, a consequence of being ambitious, we stop appreciating and living with everything that already is. It is easy to miss out on the joy of life.

I understand that time allows us to be productive. Man has used the sun, moon and stars for millenniums to measure time. Using time wisely allows us to advance as a race. Being that we only have a limited time to enjoy this experience of life it is important to make best use of it. It also gives us some security. Our ancestors could tell what season would come next, what crops to plant, when night will fall, etcetera. For survival and security this makes sense.

With the advent of the industrialisation and corporatisation of the world productivity became more paramount. Time was used to measure our effectiveness. The more we could do within a certain window of time the greater the result and the quicker our advancement or success.

Perhaps productivity isn’t evil. Perhaps time does us well. It helps us continually improve the quality and standard of living. As we produce more we consume more. As I try to fit more into my schedule I stress more. As I put more on my plate my belly becomes too full, I am less healthy. I lose my way in how I truly want to live my life.

Entrepreneurs and other business people are likely very familiar with the term hustle. Hustle! This is a nasty state of being in my eyes. Being an entrepreneur to me is about having the freedom to live the life as you desire. It’s about being able to get time back to do more of the things you love. Those things we are passionate about. It’s about getting rid of the term work from my vocabulary. When I enjoy what I do with my time it doesn’t feel like work.

It might be that my definition of hustle is out of line. Perhaps to hustle means to make the best use of each moment we have. How do you want to look back on the life you lived? Pushing myself through each day as roughly as I can to produce more money, get more achieved, to consume more shit! None of it will matter when I say good bye. This doesn’t mean I don’t want to be ambitious and dream big. I just wish to enjoy the life I have and not get swept away in chaos.

I cannot say good bye to time. Many of us are unable to live in such a way were time is totally removed from our lives. It would be nice to wake up when your body naturally does. Fall asleep when the body is in need of rest. Meander through each day as one might please with purpose and passion yet without stress, anxiety or suffering. Truly enjoying each moment for as long as we wish. The reality is this is not possible.

I think back to what it must have been like when we lived in tribes. How did time impact our lives back then? As stated previously it was likely a good tool to have in regards to our survival. Productivity was also likely important. We had to catch or produce enough food to eat. I like to think life would have been about doing the work that was necessary in order to cover our needs and for the remainder we would have just enjoyed our time. Being in conversation with others, doing our art, seeking activities of pleasure.

Have we as a society forget what it is to truly live? Has time become not a means to improving our life but indeed a cause of the reduction in the quality of life? I have no right or wrong answer for the correct use of time but as I explore such questions and develop more awareness and meaning in my life I know how I wish time to be involved in my life.

I want to spend my time doing activities that bring me joy. I want to do work that has meaning. I want to spend time with people, in conversation, connection and love. I desire to explore, experience more and grow. I want to help others live life fully, with passion, with purpose, with happiness. I want to enjoy the time that I have.

To do this I use time to guide me but not pressure me into an unhealthy state of productivity of being. I use time to allow me to be punctual as it is important to me and the life I want to live. I am not going to let time bully me into rapid action and movement that takes away the beauty and joy of the moment. I am going to control how I use time not allow time to control me. What about you?

I will attempt to share further thoughts and practices that assist me to better use time. Not to suggest they are the best or only ways to manage time but in inspiration to assist others in bettering enjoying the time that they’ve got. Keep an eye out for that post by subscribing to my newsletter.

If you are interested in becoming more effective with your time I coach people with this. Sounds of interest? Schedule a time he so we can have a chat and see if my coaching fits your needs.