TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Some of us are task-focused and consult as many time management methods as possible to maximize, optimize and organize our time. Then there are those of us who are much more relaxed in our approach to time. We go with the flow and have a less restrictive, more impulsive and spontaneous approach to managing our day.
Time is a precious and priceless commodity. Each of us have an equal share of minutes spread across the day. Once a moment is lost, it can never be recovered. It will forever remain a part of history. It’s a good thing time can’t be manipulated by our wishes to stop, rewind or fast forward. I imagine that at any given time, millions would command time to stand still to prolong a joyous experience. Millions of others would like to rewind the hands of time to do something differently or interject something they missed. Yet others still would command time to fast forward to relieve an unpleasant or traumatic event.
There are techniques to help us manage time better, prioritize how we spend our time and optimize time spent with our loved ones. At the end of each day, 1,440 precious minutes have passed. In order to make the most of our time, we need to establish rhythm, priorities and balance.
Rhythm helps us stick to the plan, to avoid distractions that end up wasting time. We need to prioritize what is important and recognize what areas of our lives need the most time investment. This is a moving target, as life continues to happen. We need to be balanced in all activities, avoiding the possibility of letting anything take us away from higher priorities.
I’ve had multiple opportunities to talk with people in the final stages of their lives. Looking through the lens of limited time, most at this point are focused and truly understand that time is precious. Many have realized their priorities were out of order and that balance was elusive. They also acknowledged that their lives were not perfect and sometimes they fell short of the plans they made. All had some “glad I dids and wish I hads.” We are all allotted a limited amount of time. It is important to spend it wisely, establish a rhythm, set priorities and strike a balance. At the end of your days, ensure that you have more “glad I dids” than “wish I hads.”