Time is your life and every second of it will be used on something. It is the only non-renewable resource in the world. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. It moves at the same constant pace. And you don’t know how much of it you have.
The simple skill of time is an intense and uncompromising focus on how you use it. There is no unused time. You use every minute, every hour, of every day somehow to do something.
Time management techniques are easy to find. Pick a system that works for you. What I believe is more important than any strategy or technique, is how you understand and value time.
Self-awareness
When you think of time as your life the question becomes, “Do I want to use my life for this?” How often do you say or think the following phrases? I just need to find time. If it’s important, you’ll create the time. Make the time to do it. I don’t have time. I didn’t have time.
None of those things are possible.
Time isn’t lost, you don’t need to find it. Time isn’t hiding, you don’t need to look for it. You aren’t god, you can’t create it. You don’t have a recipe, you can’t make it. And you aren’t dead, so you have time. All you have is time.
Self-discipline
When thinking and talking about time, only accept the word “use”. You used, are using, will use time. State where you’re using your time and where you’re not. Why? How? Where? For what? That’s up to you.
“Use” is always true and eliminates the subtle, but crippling, excuses surrounding time like, “I didn’t have time” or “I just need to find the time”. Now you have to say, “I had time but I used it to do something else” or “The time is there but I’m choosing to use it other ways.” It’s a crazy powerful, reliable way to prevent rationalization and demand responsibility from yourself.
Self-confidence
People try to monopolize your time without a second thought. You don’t owe anyone your time. You owe it to yourself to (1) use your time the way you choose and (2) use time with or for others because you choose to, not because you’re obligated. What anyone else thinks about how you use your time is none of your business.
Do the work.
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