The Triplex Series: Mastering Time

Mastering Time

We all have the same amount of time that is 24 hours a day, but the value we extract from it is not equal. The way we utilize our time would decide the value time will grant us. While you cannot buy time with money, you can make money by managing time well.

If you study the habits of most successful people, you will discover one common quality — all of them have managed their time well and have infused discipline into their regime. The techniques of time management prevent procrastination and sets you on a path of self-discipline which is a vital ingredient for success. When you chart a plan to manage not just the day but the week, month and year, you attune yourself to a schedule that would lead to optimum utilization of time and reduction of stress.

While most emphasize on the benefits of time management, I prefer to highlight the repercussions of poor time management and lack of self-discipline:

• Time spent recklessly results in waste of time, which can never be gained back or reversed.
• By not organizing your tasks for the day or week, you lose control on yourself and your life.
• You lose track of your tasks and goals and your efficiency decreases.
• Last minute rush to complete tasks can result in deficient performance, while also increasing your stress and anxiety levels.
• When you do regularly miss deadlines, your colleagues, customers and boss lose their trust on you and your reputation suffers.

People generally space time for activities they enjoy, but for important chores they do not enjoy, they tend to procrastinate. In short, they lack self-discipline. Discipline is the art of planning and doing things consistently, even the ones you do not like doing. A lack of self-discipline has the following implications:

• A lack of discipline makes people give in to immediate pleasures and on what is easy rather than what is necessary for success.
• Just as self-discipline is the key to success, the lack of self-discipline is the major cause of failure and frustration in life.
• Without self-discipline, all other success mantras, techniques and advice are useless.

Following a disciplined way of life with time management tactics sets your focus on your goals in life. The better you manage your time, the more time you align your energy to accomplish more and indulge in your hobbies to recuperate yourself. Constant practice of time management and sticking to schedules gradually become a habit and becomes a part of your personality. When you accomplish more consistently without any efforts, then you have mastered the skill of time management.

I have co-authored a workbook ‘Mastering Time’ with my dear friend Muneer Samnani. The book presents a toolset of time-tested techniques that can be practiced and perfected to increase your productivity by three-folds.

This formula has been working for us and believe it will work for others as well.

We help you master your time by following 5 tools.

• Waiting List

A task list that you keep replenishing of tasks to be done.

• 1–3–5 — Daily Task List

The actionable tasks for the day, arranged in the priority of importance.

• Checklist

A supervision tool with a master checklist of periodic tasks.

• Calendaring

Calendarization is scheduling the tasks as events on your calendar.

• WWW

The What, Who and When of things that need your attention.

I would be detailing each of these tools in my forthcoming articles with an actionable worksheet to plan your weekly and monthly schedules. Stay tuned for the updates.