by Ihor Magun, MD, FACP
There is a famous quote that resonates and applies to all of us: "Everyone has the same number of hours per day. It's not that you don't have enough time, it's that you don't have a clear focus."
This is so true. Most of us spend entirely too much time doing things that may not be necessary, using up that valuable commodity.
Time is an interesting phenomenon. No matter how rich we are, we can't buy another minute, and no matter how smart we are, we can't make another second. Being busy has become a virtue in our society. To accomodate this reality and make life easier, we must alter our behavior by incorporating strategies no only to manage time better, but also to create and maintain our own "free time."
This journey begins with taking care of yourself. Self-care is essential and keeps both the mind and body healthy. In essence, taking care of yourself means paying attention to your own needs and feelings as well as engaging in activities that bring you joy and relaxation. This process includes recognizing the victories in your life and appreciating them. It also means trying new things. When we open ourselves up to new possibilities, we get a broader and clearer perspective of life. This will help you visualize the resiliency you want in your life. It will also help you challenge yourself and find good ways to meet the challenges you are facing. Instead of being overwhelmed, take time to find small things that you can do to make any situation better. Move toward a goal - a clear focus that will make you work efficiently and in a timely manner.
It is important to spend time with loved ones and friends and to be kind to others. Any amount of time you can dedicate to serving others is time well spent. Take the time to get to know someone - this will help you become close to them. Also take the time and make the effort to identify supportive people in your life to help you manage your time. This will help delegate or forgo activities that waste or impose on your precious time.
Be aware that it takes time to make mistakes and takes even more time to learn from them. Also remember that time is a healer, something that manifests itself as an anesthetic. Learn from the past and look forward to the future, but also recognize that the most important time is the present. Make every moment count.
We are now in the summer months and are less restricted by pandemic quarantine regulations. These interesting realities provide us with more time to socialize and interact with others. Take advantage of this. Begin by taking a good look at how your time is allocated. Then find ways to let time work for you. Take that vacation or simply take time off and relax.
Above all, remember that time is precious and that it's "time" you learned to use it more wisely. Doing so will make you happier and improve your quality of life.
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