Time: The Great Dilemma

"Do you need anything?" a volunteer asked the coordinator.
"Yeah, 48-hour days," came the answer.

 

So common. We're always running after time. And time is a fast runner (when it so wants to be). Typical scenario: You've got a day off and plan to do all sorts of things you never get the time to do. "I'll clean up the flat, sort out my papers, do some filing, read a bit, then go for a walk, in the evening watch a movie..."

 

STOP.

"Look" at what you just said. Maybe writing them down won't be such a bad idea. Add in basic things such as cooking, eating, stopping for a cuppa tea and a few 10-minute spacers - just in case. Then draw up a table (a rough sketch will do) and see where you'll fit in all those activities. Do you have a day off or a week?? Then be sensible, choose 2, maybe three, things to do and do them well. Suddenly time is a luxury and you've got the time to do it all. Choice is all it takes. Well, that and the sense to take the power in your hands.

 

Too bad we get all worked up on what economists call the "opportunity cost" - best described by that feeling of missing out on something we're not doing. (e.g. taking a jog and thinking "I could be finishing off that book right now") Forget what's not here, choose wisely, and live the present - after all it's what you chose: if you claimed your right to do so.

 

Seems so easy. Why are such "easy" concepts so hard to apply?

 

-----

Photo: Robbert van der Steeg