The very idea of creating this blog post occurred to me one fine evening when an entire week I spent in answering multiple questions on Quora, revolving around how to manage the most fleeting asset we all are blessed with yet most of us struggle to manage it effectively which is — Time!
Then coincidentally three of my prospective clients, I came across during a coach call had very similar issues, each struggling to maintain a disciplined approach, thinking of numerous ways, using productivity apps, striving hard to stay productive and make the best use of time.
“Time” actually is best managed by regulating it the way, it’s intrinsic nature is — which is “ It changes by the moment ” and is never stagnant .
And there is no such thing called “pause” within Time, which on a constant basis keep moving and changing over the different periods.
All the changes we experience in our daily existence are also on account of this phenomenon of constant change sans a pause mode in it
The best examples we can cite here is that of seasons which transform every day and we don’t even realize how quickly and swiftly we move from a hot scorching balmy days to windy monsoon filled with pregnant clouds and then slowly move into to the dry spell of winter.
Another example of experiencing the momentum of time could be our own age and the transformation of our very being from a crawling infant to a restless teenager, then into youth and finally into a somber old age.
In sync with the principle of time, which is fleeting by the hour, I thought the best way to address and resolve this issue lies in creating a process around it which can also be used as a tool by everyone and anyone who is struggling to manage time effectively.
Here it Goes………………..
Follow the simple 7 steps to managing time effectively, these steps are like creating a timetable to capture our fleeting asset, given to each one of us in a uniformed manner but used distinctively — each to its own!
Step 1: Divide your day into 3 important Time phases
Morning, Afternoon and Evening.
Step 2: And then in each phase include activities, that you do on a daily basis.
Write all the activities regardless of how small, urgent, big or important you consider it, ensure you capture all of it in your activity list.
Step 3: Next to each activity, capture the duration (amount of time ) spent on each activity.
Step 4: Record the daily schedule as you go about spending your day
Step 5: Go on recording the activities done on a single day for a complete one week, or maybe two weeks (Monday to Friday)
Step 6: Towards the end of a week or two weeks of recording your activities, view your activity and duration sheet which will give you the following:
(a) A holistic view of which activity takes your maximum time
(b) Activities which are often repeated
(c) Activities that take your minimum time
(d) Divide your activities into categories (The most important and the least important )
(e) Activities that have the highest time duration spent but are least important
Step 7: Finally Identify from all your activities the MIT (Most Important Task) with the duration you spend on it and then the HTW (Hidden Time wasters) point (e) of Step 6 basically will provide you data and will help you identify your HTW (Hidden time wasters)
Conclusion: Once you identify the MIT and the HTW, from the data of the past one or two weeks, you are now equipped with enough information and insights as to how you have been spending your time and on what, including whether the time spent was, either productive or ineffective.
Keeping a watch over time may look like a very trivial activity as if we are school kids running a timetable, but in reality, a simple exercise of this kind, can open doors to the most important asset and its usage in your life, and those who manage their time well, need no other supports to succeed in Life.
Try this simple exercise and I’m sure you will be surprised by your results.
As a(Life Coach) problem solver, I have coached many of my Clients on this simple yet effective tool, If you want to learn more about it or want to enroll in such a program
just click here
For details click here
I also look forward to hearing your thoughts on this fleeting asset called time, do write back to me at mehnazamjad@guideadvice.org
Until next time ………………….
Mehnaz Amjad |Life Coach |Problem Solver
