Sixty Second Hour

I believe most of us tend to take time for granted and don’t put a lot of intentional focus on how to really use it well.  We understand exactly how much time we have, 60 seconds to every minute, 60 minutes to every hour, 24 hours to every day, and so on, and that when it is used, it is gone, never to be recaptured and used again.  But how often do we consider how we can use time to our advantage?

As I watched the clock automatically move forward, one click at a time, it struck me and I had to ask myself, “Do I use my time wisely?”  I could instantly cite examples that might prove I do not, such as if I used my time wisely, then I would not be up at 12:30am checking emails on my vacation. In continuing the exploration, I could cite examples of how I use my time on distractions that keep me from doing what I want to do, or need to do, or have to do.  (There’s that word “distraction” again. It’s a creeper that lies in wait with the intention of pulling us out of focus and away from what we want..)

While there is no owner’s manual which defines how to use time well, a basic approach would be to consciously put our time toward where we want our focus. In terms of my vacation, keeping rest and relaxation as the purpose of the experience and at the forefront of my mind would make me far less likely to make email such a priority that I needed to use my time doing it in the middle of the night. In contrast, in my business environment, pointing my focus to the things I desire to accomplish (whether short term or long term) helps me manage my time to that success and keep the distractions to a minimum.

To watch that clock advance ahead one hour in 61 seconds reminded me that I take time for granted.  What about you?