Raise The Rouf Health One guarantee we have in life is that time will always continue to move, whether we want it to or not. Within all of the exciting, sad, and uncomfortable life events, time moves the same. Some times may seem to last an eternity, while others fly by us in the blink of an eye, but, yet again, time is moving the same.
This week, I’d like to discuss two different ways we can approach time and how many people let the clock dictate their each and every step throughout the day. Further. an alternative perspective on time can allow us to maximize productivity and create a healthier and more purposeful daily life.
The First Approach: “Puppet to the Clock”
The first, and more common relationship we have with time is being controlled by it. We look at the clock and let it tell us when to wake up, leave for work, eat lunch, return to work, leave work, and so on. In doing this, we can fall into the trap of doing the bare minimum that the clock demands of us. For example:
- “I don’t have to leave for school or work until ‘this’ time, so I’ll just sleep and/or hang around until as close to then as possible.
Now, obviously clocks are important, and we need them to live a structured daily life; however. When we have these time markers in our day that tell us when to do things, we may miss out on opportunity in the time that fills these gaps. A slight shift in our view of time can help this!
The Second Approach: “Owning the Clock”
Another approach to time is seeing it, not so much as something that tells us when to do things, but rather as a countdown. Everyday, we have a certain amount of time, and when you “own the clock,” you are attacking each precious minute of the day and seeing just how much you can possibly get done. Such a thought process is exactly how you “Win the Day,” each day being it’s own countdown, a “race” if you will, to see just how productive you can be.
Closing
When it comes to these two relationships with time, it’s not necessarily one or the other, but rather the balance of the two in our lives. We need time to guide us on showing up to our daily responsibilities, but we also want to ensure we are in control of our time and not letting precious minutes go to waste!
So, don’t just show up when you have to. Rather than showing up because the clock says it’s time to do so, take control of that clock, own your time, and watch how much more you can get done in a day. Either way you view it, the clock is our “opponent.” In the first case, we’re letting it control out lives. In the second case, we’re challenging and racing the clock, being in control of each second.
