So, what can I say about time? It’s an integral part of our lives and we spend it in many different ways, but are you getting the best from your time?
As men I think we get so many demands or our time; that it can leave us feeling tired, stressed out and maybe even a little depressed. Have you ever thought ‘everybody just wants a piece of me’ and yet, there is not enough of me to go around? Does it make you feel that you are simply not good enough ‘man enough’ for the job? Let me assure you that you are not alone.
A little ditty about time
Fun time, pub time, play time, me time.
…. Quiet time,
Special time, two time, big time, time flies,
…time is a great healer.
Break time, home time, overtime,
…Just in the nick of time.
Make time, take time, back in time.
… Time is of the essence.
Hard time, no time, waste of time, in good time.
…Only time will tell.
Ahead of your time, behind the times, a stitch in time.
…. A race against time
Time of your life, hell of a time, bide your time,
…Stand the test of time.
Time waits for no man.
Time is our most precious commodity!
Time, is something that each of us has in equal amounts. Each hour. Each day. Each week. Each month. Each year – we all start with the same amount of time. And, I believe… it is our most precious commodity.
Yet, once we have spent time on something. It’s gone. We can’t store time. We get our time today and who knows about tomorrow. We can’t get a refund on time. And, we can’t simply take time spent back and use it in a different way!
All too often we can waste or ‘kill’ time on meaningless activities, or procrastinate to avoid a difficult task or situation. Sometimes our time is not driven by us, but external demands, such as the children, the boss, phone calls, emails and other people’s priorities. It is also simply ‘stolen by traffic jams, queues, unexpected and unwanted interruptions throughout the day.
But, I believe that we can also be the worst culprits for filling or overfilling our time! How often have you said YES when you actually wanted to say NO? Sometimes… we might just feel like we are being pulled along by life…. and we don’t get to CHOOSE how we spend our time. Yet, we all need time for rest, to recharge and as busy men – sometimes just to do nothing!
As men we can spend a fair amount of time in thought. Maybe thinking about the past, too often with regret, or spend time worrying about the future and what might or might not be. However, often what we worry about doesn’t happen, but it has swallowed a heap of our time.
‘Human beings have this unique ability to focus on things that aren’t happening right now. That allows them to reflect on the past and learn from it; it allows them to anticipate and plan for the future; and it allows them to imagine things that might never occur.’
Matthew Killingsworth, a doctoral student in psychology and lead author of a study into the time.
Are you here and now or here and there?
At risk of sounding a little childish I believe that sometimes popular culture can represent a concept like this best, Master Oogway in ‘Kung Fu Panda’ says this ‘Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.’
Yet, how much time do we spend in the present? Is life so busy that you often hear yourself saying, but I just don’t have enough time! Now is the time to make time, take time for those you love or doing the things you love. you might not get another chance.
I have met many men who regret working too hard or spending time in other ways and have missed out on so many of life’s blessings.
I listened to a sermon once that I stumbled upon online called breathing room by somebody called Andy Stanley.
The key point of his sermon was that in all areas of our lives we need to just leave some room. He recognised that all too often people spend up to, and sometimes over their limits in all areas of our lives.
In fact, time wise we can cram our calendars with so many things. That when something unexpected, but important drops in, maybe a loved one or friend who need our time, love and attention – we are stretched to breaking point.
I think we would all benefit from having some spare time or ‘breathing room’ in our day. Are you saving time or making time for those people or things that really matter to you? If this blog has prompted thought you may want to try the exercise in the ‘important choices’ blog.