What makes us intentionally put off completing certain tasks, even when we know doing so can result in terribly negative consequences? Aside from not wanting to embark on a task for lack of motivation, I think it’s fair to say many of us procrastinate simply because we are unable to properly gauge time. In other words, time disappears quickly and none of us have as much of it at our disposal as we think. For ultimately, as Charles Dickens once quipped, “Procrastination is the thief of time.”
Fundamentally, the word procrastinate is seen as dubious in our culture. And while none of us want to be labeled this pejorative term, a significant segment of the population still falls into the category. In fact, as many as twenty percent of all adults procrastinate, according to Joseph Ferrari, DePaul University of Chicago professor.1 And the percentage of adolescents and young adults who “perpetually delay” school assignments, chores, etc. is even far higher. But how do we turn this trend around? We must all come to the realization that available time is our most valuable currency.
While you may agree or disagree with me about the significance of time’s value, there should be common agreement that some value does indeed exist. The real question is how do we maximize time’s value? Do we rigorously manage our schedules down to the second and squeeze out every waking moment available to us? Heaven forbid, as spontaneity and flexibility make living far more interesting. An appropriate place to start might be acknowledging time management; it is solely up to us! Whether we use time productively to prosper, or waste time on frivolous matters, or worse yet, use it for destructive purposes. The Bible in John 9:4 reminds us to work during the day, for the night comes when no one can work. Guidance here suggests we work diligently to maximize opportunities before all available time has been exhausted.
So, what ways might help maximize time?
- Focus on consistency. Working on a task each day may seem monotonous, but the consistency will ensure progress is being made. As the Honorable Benjamin Disraeli once asserted, “Through perseverance many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure.” And while a task may be uninspiring and tedious, persistence provides the best opportunity for ultimate success. There is nothing glamorous, magical, or mysterious about consistency. It’s simply about persevering in doing the work. Therefore, keep placing one foot in front of the other until the project is done.
- Prioritize tasks. Organize your schedule to prioritize critical, time sensitive activities first. This may result in some enjoyable tasks receiving less attention, but remember all tasks are not created equal. Therefore, be careful to allocate time in a manner that maximizes your time investment.
- Reassess progress periodically. Since time management can be challenging for us all, it may be necessary to periodically adjust progress metrics. If schedules are falling behind, don’t be afraid to reassess. Course correction is not failure but is necessary and prudent at times.
While these steps may not automatically turn you into an efficiency expert, they should promote improved ways to use your time currency wisely. But if you are still not sold on the importance of time management, consider this.
At the end of each year, the world participates in New Year’s rituals. We are glued to time marching ahead as it symbolizes the winding down of one year and the celebratory birth of another. We watch expectantly as seconds tick off before the dawn of a new day. And while timepieces allow us to monitor time marching forward second by second, mankind as much as we wish we could, cannot bend or arrest time to our will. Much like sand granules slipping through a clenched fist, so time escapes our insistent desires to turn back the clock. No matter how many plastic surgeries or miracle drugs or superfoods we consume, time continues its monotonous, and uncompromising assault against our physical bodies. And while we can set our watches forward and backward, the time does not actually adjust, we are either merely well-aligned, or out of sync with prevailing time standards.
I once heard an analogy comparing the remaining time of our lifespan to the stages of a day. Some of us are in the early morning category – considerable life remaining; others mid-morning (little life span lost); some midday (roughly half of life to unfold); and still others afternoon, twilight, evening, or midnight approaching. You get the picture. The dilemma is that no one definitively knows which stage is appropriate for their given situation. We think it’s never too late to manage our lives more effectively, until it literally is too late!
Perhaps this piece is just overly dramatic, and we will be given the necessary time to make amends for wasted, selfish pursuits. We will course correct and live out our days productively. Thankfully, the time of our demise is not yet nigh. There is indeed ample time remaining to enjoy wonderful new experiences and to …
1 American Psychological Association. The Psychology of Procrastination: Why People Put Off Important Tasks Until The Last Minute. 2010.