The Most Powerful Time Management Technique You Should Be Using Right Now
Photo By: Janet Ramsden
Time comes, and I don’t matter
Time numbs, and dreams lay shattered
I stand, and time just passes me by
While the clock on the wall entraps me
I fight for shreds of feeling
Inside time keeps stealing mine
About eight years ago, I learned an incredibly simple, yet powerful question that shaped my understanding of how to manage my time. Some consider this one question the key to unlocking how to best direct the use of your effort to complete any number of tasks, no matter what it is you want to accomplish.
This one question has been the foundation of every effort I’ve made towards managing myself and my time better – and every time I ask my self this basic question, I find more clarity and direction.
First of all, I want to share a little clarification on time management. I don’t believe you can actually manage time your time. What I do believe, is that you can manage yourself and how you make use of your time.
Time automatically spends itself, like it or not: the 86,400 seconds each of us are given in a day will be spent doing something, but you have control over what that something is.
So, what is this great magical question that will solve all your time management struggles?
What is the most powerful time management technique you should be using right now? Simply ask yourself: “Is what I am doing at this very moment, the very best use of my time?”
If the answer is yes; Congratulations! There’s nothing better you could possibly be doing. Stick with it until the answer to that questions changes.
If the answer is No; immediately stop what ever you’re doing and go find what the best use of your time is. Chances are you already know what you can do to make better use of your time. If you are not sure, than the best use of your time it to figure out what the best use of your time is.
In fact it’s been said: “the worst use of time so do very well that which need not be done at all”
Benjamin Tregoe
So if you’re still reading this post, you should probably stop, and go find something else that’s the best use of your time. That is, after you have left a comment below, and subscribed to this site.
This article made me think of various gamer points and their insignificance. Perhaps I won’t play that next game of Starcraft…
A healthy balance is always good – you do still need down time to rest & relax, though!
The biggest drawback I have found from excessive gaming, is the false sense of accomplishment.
Thanks for the comment, Matt!
I did learn a lot about leadership from playing WoW though. Raid leaders have to balance many different personalities toward a common goal; tell people “no,” and hold people to some pretty high and rigid standards.
That said, I haven’t played in 5 years.
Important lessons there.
Reminds me of this awesome Kevin Butler/Playstation commercial!
http://youtu.be/zqItftuhtHw
It’s funny Matt. Once I found my passion to help others online, I stopped playing video games. My wife loves it when I play them, but I’ve lost my passion for them.
Perhaps you need to find another hobby where you’re helping people instead of entertaining yourself?
PS, I miss Starcraft about once a month.
Great principle Jon! Keeping that question at the front of our mind will allow us to make the best use of our time.
Thanks Dan! It really is important to be mindful. In fact, the question is so simple, that it seems painfully obvious. The practice of asking it over and over, makes all the difference.
Jon, I like what you said about not being able to manage time, only ourselves. Fortunately, or unfortunately, that’s the truth. Where we spend our time, and what we put our effort into, is who we really are.
That said, I took today off to relax. It’s been a long week so far and I’m going to play a little Grand Theft Auto before my hangout with Alex Barker and the Dojo team!
Best wishes on the Hangout this evening!
It is important to recharge the batteries – and we all have our own way of doing it. As a retro game collector, I find myself spending more time buying & selling old games than actually playing them.
Having friends over is the best excuse to dust them off, to be sure!