Written by the fine folks at Learning Strategies http://www.learningstrategies.com/
“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.”
– William Penn
“Lack of time” is the number one reason people cite for their failure to exercise, says the National Academy of Sports Medicine. It’s also why so many people fail to launch their dreams and goals.
In effect, it’s an excuse that causes us to abandon our capacity and ability up front. After all, why engage in an activity if you believe ahead of time it cannot be done because you lack the time?
The most successful—and fulfilled—people are those who truly value their time. Notice I did not say “manage” their time. It’s an important distinction.
Getting the most from your time is not just about making lists and being organized. While that can certainly be helpful, making optimal use of your time requires you recognize the great worth time has for you.
There is an economic aspect to time—trading the monetary value of your work time for something tangible such as a new sweater, home, concert, or vacation—and there is a spiritual aspect. Like money, time is a medium through which your spiritual values come into the material world. How you choose to invest your time is an expression of who you are and your deepest values as reflected in your work, hobbies, community commitments, and how you tend your relationships.
Every action you take—or non-action—involves an evaluation of your time, whether you realize it or not. It might be a deliberate thought process, or it can happen in an instant when you finish dinner and say, “I’m too tired to pay bills, I’ll watch TV instead.”
What are the criteria by which you evaluate your time?
Perhaps you start each day with a half-hour meditation. Why? Because it’s of greater value to you than anything else you might do at that moment such as sleeping a little longer or watching the morning news. Your experience has told you dedicating those minutes at the front end of your day makes you calm, focused, and energized so you can think more clearly and accomplish more each day.
How you choose to value your time is key, whether you are listening to Paraliminals, practicing Spring Forest Qigong, training for a marathon, restoring antiques, volunteering at a homeless shelter, or learning a musical instrument.
Let’s say you enjoy playing the piano and regularly practice to get better. Who cares? You can put on a recording and listen to the best pianist in the world all day long, so it has little to do with hearing the music.
You have placed a value on being able to play the music yourself. Why? Because it brings you joy and satisfaction. You don’t practice for the sake of practice. You practice because every minute you do, you are engaged in doing something you love or something that satisfies. Time flies by, and as you channel your energy productively, your skills improve and you become a better pianist.
As you go about your day, stop and ask yourself, “What is the best trade for this time?”
Ask it often—whenever you’re about to start a task or project, when you switch gears after your evening meal, or when you get in your car as you leave work (do you listen to talk radio, engage a language learning program, or use your commuting time to brainstorm solutions to a difficult problem?).
When you intentionally choose how you spend your time, you’ll feel more in control of your life as you direct your energy in the ways that best serve you and the world.
Carrots Over Cancer 