“Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.” Harvey MacKay
*Please note that I use the British English spelling of Maximise as I am in the UK!
Time is a finite resource. Like all resources in this world we really need to accept that they are finite, seek to make the best use of them and not waste them.
I have long argued that time is your most precious resource. Time is what enables you to follow your dreams. Sure you might need money, luck or skills along the way but all of these factors rely ultimately on time.
What is time?
Time is a concept. Einstein once said that if he was to travel on the tram in his local town at the speed-of-light whilst looking at the town clock then time would stand still. This illustrated that time is only a concept. Have you ever noticed that sometimes time drags whilst other times it flys by? I honestly can’t remember the last time that time went slowly for me. I always have more that enough to do, and not enough time to do it.
Use your time wisely:
1. Work effectively.
I won’t repeat my own productivity tips here, but to maximise your time your really need to work effectively. If you can complete a job is less time, it gives you more of your time currency back.
2. Use your time in the right context.
You know your routine, your plans and your motivations. You should be able to understand how to use your time wisely. For example whilst waiting for a train or plane you can catch up on reading, but whilst driving it might be a good time to make calls or catch an audio-book. Also you might be more effective at writing in the morning, or going running in the afternoon. You know yourself better than anyone, use this to be the best manager of your own time you can be.
3. Don’t let other people steal your time.
If you take away only one thing from this post let it be this. Guard your time as if it was money.
4. Don’t steal time from yourself.
Do procrastinate, waste time or kid yourself that watching daytime TV is a productive use of your time.
5. Understand what value time has to yourself and other people.
The saying goes that time is money. Understand that time is just as valuable to other people as it is to yourself. Don’t waste people’s time, and they won’t waste yours.
6. Use your time wisely.
Eliminate the meaningless, focus on the rewarding. Make sure that your actions are the right ones to take you to where you want to be.
7. Learn how to estimate your time correctly.
Most people are very poor time estimators. Don’t be one of these people. You are less likely to let yourself down if you understand how much you can realistically do in a certain time period rather than overestimating the amount of tasks you can do and being constantly disappointed, or feeling unproductive.
8. Know your own biological clock.
Some times are better than other to work on certain tasks as your body rhythms change throughout the day. For example I find it easier to write in the morning but work out in the late afternoon. By knowing when you work best on what types of tasks you can be the most productive with your time at all times.
9. Time to relax.
Understand that you need time to relax. Schedule it in if you need to, but sometimes the best thing that you can do with your time is nothing…it’s your time – make conscious decisions to use it how you want to.
10. Time to think.
The more free time you are able to provide yourself with, the more time you will have to think. Thinking time is important, it allows you to process information correctly to make the most productive use of it in the future.
Time Saving Summary:
I’ll reiterate these two main points: Guard your time, remember it is your most pressure asset. You are the manager of your time. Manage it wisely and manage it to you own personal greatest benefit.
How do you maximise your time? And what tips to you have for managing time and guarding your time?
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Bits & Bobs:
- Really please with the debate sparked by my last post. Have you left a comment to add to the discussion?
- I’m planning a series of competitions on my blog starting very soon. Make sure you are subscribed for more updates.
Image Credit: by laffy4k on Flickr via Creative Commons
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Time for Three:
Reading around the web:
- http://www.lifemadegreat.com/Blog.aspx?BlogID=25
- http://zenhabits.net/2008/12/the-essential-time-saving-guide-for-busy-people/
- http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2008/12/08/keys-to-success-the-dip/
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Thanks for reading.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice list Chris. Glad I’m not the only car-audio book junkie :)
Mark
“Know your own biological clock.”
This is one concept I’m just starting to implement. There are sooo many things that effect my energy levels that I’ve found it challenging to figure out when I can be most productive. I have learned that when my energy is low, I just need to chill and work on low-demand tasks. Do you have any strategies for figuring this one out, Christ?
Maria | Never the Same River Twice’s last blog post..5 Ways That You Can Manage Change Just Like the Big 3 Automakers
Don’t steal time from yourself.
I always found this one to the biggest time killer. We all need to learn to look at our habits, and see if they are serving us or not. I know I used to spend a great deal of time watching TV. I would have shows every night, and would Tivo things that came on after I went to bed. There is nothing wrong with a little entertainment, but I was unhappy with the way things were in my life and I was throwing productive hours away on mindless television. Thanks for saying what we all need to hear Chris!
Jay’s last blog post..How to Live a Recession-Free Lifestyle
@Mark McManus – Beat’s wasting time sat in traffic doesn’t it! Cheers for stopping by.
@Maria – Did you mean to call me Christ? ;)
Here’s what I would go with. 1) Are you a morning or evening person, I’m hoping most people can answer this? 2) Try writing one of your excellent blog posts at 3 different times (first thing in the morning, first thing after lunch, last thing at night) see which one is ‘easiest for you to complete and at which point do you feel more creative? 3) When you feel you have the most energy? Do you thinking and physical tasks then and when you are tired do the boring repetitive ones that take no real thought.
Most people are better and doing something constructive in the morning while the mind is still fresh (even if you are really tired) as by the end of the day you are full of thoughts from the day. Most people’s energy dips after lunch too – so a good time for a nap!
@Jay – I agree. I prefer to stick to TV that brings ‘benefit’ e.g. documentary, or a comedy that will cheer me up rather than just watching things for the sake of it.
In regard to point number 3, I believe we must learn to say no in order to protect our time from others. Friends can call us for chat but if we have something important to do, we need to have the courage to say no to them. Sometime it is the lack of courage to say no that will cause us to have our time stolen from us.
Cheers
Vincent
Personal Development Blogger
Vincent’s last blog post..Day 24 Of My 30 Days Challenge + A Lesson From Mr Garlic
@Chris – nope that we definitely a typo! That’s what I get for commenting late a night :O
Maria | Never the Same River Twice’s last blog post..5 Ways That You Can Manage Change Just Like the Big 3 Automakers
@Vincent – You are right. I think friend understand when we have important things to do and need to concentrate. I think the problem is more around bosses in a work environment. Thanks for your comment!
Being frugal with your money is one thing, money is renewable and you can make more of it. Time we can never have more of, so we should definitely be “Frugal with Time”. Great post Chris! Thanks for your thoughts and the great links!
I agree with the audiobook too, and pretty much all your other points
Frugal NYC’s last blog post..Souvenir From The Big Apple
@Frugal NYC – Good point about money being renewable. The whole problem is that it costs time to make money (in most cases)…I’m working on that. Thanks for your comment.
I think number 6 (using time wisely) is the core. The problem is that most people don’t really know what they want EXACTLY… they just know that they want more of the good or less of the bad. In other words, they have not picked a destination. Thus, the concept focus becomes meaningless. Once a person is focused on a specific goal, focus comes much more easily and many seemingly important distractions fall away.
Time Saving Books’s last blog post..Making It All Work
I feel very sad for those who say i don’t have time to do this or that. Because according to me every one of us are having 24 hours. Its on each and every individual how you take things and how to manage time. Its very interesting aspect of life which every one should learn. You have explained each and every point very nicely…
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