SPEND TIME, ADD VALUE
[Time Management, Event Control – The Value Paradigm]
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Time is a series or succession of events.
Controlling life means controlling time.
Controlling time means controlling events.
Thus “Time Management” is “Event Control”.
Time Management is inextricably linked with event control and boils down to selecting, planning and managing your events or activities.
For every event or activity you do, youspend timeandadd value– yes, ask yourself, are you adding enough value to your life when you spend a time, a vital resource which once you spend is gone forever and you can never replenish.
Thisvalue-additioncan be in various domains – material, intellectual, familial, health, spiritual – and spending more time on a certain activity may get you value-addition benefits in the domain of your interest, your cardinal values.
Do you value happiness?
If so, how much time are you spending on activities that make you happy?
It is in your hands to exercise control on your activities, actions and events.
If you can control the events in your life you can manage your time and achieve inner peace and happiness.
Some events are in your control and some are not.
You must learn to distinguish between what you can control and what you cannot control and focus on those events you can control and gradually increase your span of control.
As long as you live your life in such a way that your happiness is dependent upon things you cannot control, you will be a puppet in the hands of external circumstances and entities.
Remember happiness happens “inside-out”, not “outside-in”- happiness comes from within you, not to you - it is a product of the mind, of attitude, of thought.
So the best way is tospend maximum time on "high value activities"–the highest value uses of time comprise things which advance your overall purpose in life and things you have always wanted to do.
Introspect, analyze and find out your own high value and low value uses of time.
We have all the time in the world.
Reflect on what really matters to you.
Stop doing anything that you do not value or doesn’t make you happy.In case it is not possible to totally stop, reduce the time your spend on such low value activities to a bare minimum and gradually try to phase them out of your life.
Be eccentric in your use of time.
Slow down.
Purge your diary.
Allow an hour each day for exercise that you enjoy; for instance, most people who don’t think they are athletic still enjoy a good walk in the country alone or with a friend.
Dump your cell phone.
As long as it won’t get you fired, stop going to meetings or events that bore you.
Reclaim all your trivial uses of time so you have more time for yourself, people you care about and things you value the most.
Spend Time, Add Value.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2009
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
