“The only reason for time is so that everything does not happen at once.” - Albert Einstein
Time is a mystery that baffled even Albert Einstein. But conventional wisdom suggests that one cannot go back in time or ‘recover’ lost time. It might one day be possible to engage in time travel, but until then we can live only in the present and travel only towards the future. Benjamin Button-style reverse ageing is still a dream, even in the realms of fiction.
What I am trying to say here is that every passing second belongs to the past. You cannot get it back, no matter what. But we can make every second count – into the future. This is called time management, but not many people actually practise it in everyday life. This is why you hear so many complaints that “I have no time for this” when someone is asked to perform a task.
Time management
But time is just one of the things that we have to spend to perform any given task. Most tasks also require effort, money and energy – this could be fuel for a vehicle or muscle power if walking. The former is in short supply these days (even if the QR Code solution has mostly reduced the long queues), so it goes without saying that one cannot afford to waste it on unnecessary journeys. Not all tasks can be accomplished by walking alone and at some point you will need a vehicle. One should also note that there is a power cut every day, during which time certain tasks will not be possible, depending on the area where you live in or travel to. This is where time management comes into play, along with fuel management.
A manual diary is so passé, even if most executives still carry one to impress their subordinates and clients. I have never really seen anyone mark their appointments on one, much less record the day’s travails in one. But do not fret – there is a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) right in your pocket or handbag – it is called the Smartphone. It has a clock, alarm and calendar built-in, plus you can download a journal app if you really want to record the details of your day in the office or home for posterity.
Difficulties
Anyway, with fuel in short supply it is difficult to plan on a day-to-day basis and the next best thing is planning for an entire week ahead. When I was asked to write this article, I had not actually thought of this concept. But I thought of experimenting and noted down several tasks for the entire week, starting from Monday, as I relaxed the entire day on Sunday.
Thus for Wednesday, I had noted down several tasks on my smartphone. The first was to exchange a rechargeable lamp under warranty from a reputed electronics dealership, then I had to deposit some money to my brother’s account for a Pinkama followed by a visit to the laundry and finally I had to get an appointment for an eye doctor for Saturday morning at a private hospital (which was immediately entered on Saturday’s phone calendar). I accomplished all these tasks according to my schedule and once I came to the office, I had two more tasks – to get my Media Accreditation Card and of course, to write this column. Everything went to plan, more or less. The only unplanned event was having a cup of tea on the way, but what is life without a spontaneous bit of fun?
I plan to continue this and it should be fairly easy once I get familiar with it. I already had several events lined up for Friday, the next day I was due to go to the office. I suggest that you think of the tasks ahead on Sunday (probably with a cuppa in hand) and group them according to the location(s). Remember, with the fuel situation as it is, one cannot afford to do one task today and another tomorrow.
Be patient
So think of cramming the maximum number of tasks or assignments per day and also think of the most logical or shortest route(s) you can take if you are using your own transport. If using public transport, plan your routes accordingly. If you are not an expert on bus routes, ask someone who is. Or rent a vehicle with a driver for the day – amazingly, it might be a better choice given that you do not have to worry about fuel, parking and yes, driving.
But whatever the method of your conveyance, avoid going back and forth for different tasks. For example, on Wednesday I proceeded to my tasks one by one from Nugegoda, Nawala, Thunmulla, Town Hall and finally to Colombo. Allow ample time for some tasks – there could be only one person at the laundry and he sometimes has to deal with about five customers at once. Do not try to hurry him or her – there could be an argument, you will get angry and ruin your entire day. Also, it is better to phone ahead to ask for opening times – it makes no sense to turn up at a shop at 9 a.m. if they only open at 10 a.m. And you can even set up an alarm or a reminder for each individual task. You can even generate a map of your route and share it with someone else so that they know where you could be at any given time.
But once your day is planned well ahead, you do not have to hurry at all – everything will fall into place, all in good time. Just remember to write down your tasks on a slip of paper too on the previous day, in case your phone battery runs out of juice midway through your tasks. A bit old-fashioned, but it could come in handy.
Rest and relax!
Also, allow plenty of time for rest and relaxation. A little television never harmed anyone, (I have become a fan of foreign movies on Cinema World) but beware of the Internet rabbit hole, especially Facebook which in my opinion is a waste of time. There are many productive sites on the Net that one can browse and learn from. A session of light music at the end of the day will cap a day well spent.
Also, it pays to plan your sleep – aim for a minimum of six hours if you cannot get seven or eight hours. Yes, there are smartphone apps which help you to do this. At the end of the day, remember that life throws up unexpected twists and turns that sometimes make your plans go haywire – allow time for them in your diary and in your life.
“Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it.” - Philip Stanhope