TIME IS MONEY INDEED!!!

How I wish I came 30 minutes earlier!!! These were the words I murmured to myself as I watched the plane which I was supposed to have boarded fly higher towards the sky. At that moment, I had some bizarre thoughts of imagining I was a superman or wonder woman, I could have just flown high to bring back the plane and enter but we all know the adage “if wishes were horses, beggars will ride”. I watched my N53,000 go down the drain and at that tear-jerking moment, it hit me clearly that I did not put to practice the Time management lectures I received at the Lagos Business School brush up classes.

As frustrated as I was at that moment, the various definitions of time management were flashing through my head and the rage was intense.

Let me take you back to the Time management discussions that I wished I implemented. Time management is a technique used to increase the time available to do things. It is a behaviour deemed to facilitate productivity and alleviate stress by accessing the relative importance of activity. It is a perception of how to allocate time.

We were further enlightened on the Nature of time which are:

1. Time is indispensable- Every action requires time
2. Time is Perishable- You cannot save it
3. Time is consumable- You can only spend it
4. Time is sufficient- You have all the time you need; it depends on how you use it
5. Time flies but the good news is that you are the Pilot.

Time management is life management, it requires self-discipline, self-mastery, and self-control. There is the 80/20 rule in time management which says that only 20% of the things one does daily account for 80% of the value of one’s time.

The key rule is not to prioritize what is on your schedule; it is to schedule your priorities.

There is also an important aspect of the Psychology of time.

1. Self-Affirmation: if you believe you are efficient, organized and capable then you are, belief becomes reality.
2. Act the part: Act as if you are efficient and organized.
3. Start your day on a productive note: make your bed and have a to-do list.
4. Give yourself the opportunity to succeed – Don’t take more than you can handle per time, allow time for disruption.
5. Celebrate small victories
6. Create balance in your life
7. Create time for family and friends and rejuvenation.

These and many more nuggets were emphasized but at that moment of reflection at the airport, I realized that most of the learnings we have got and would still acquire at the Lagos Business School would go beyond listening, writing and passing exams but we would have to implement them in our daily lives to benefit maximally from them, if I had done that, I wouldn’t be thinking of how to reschedule a flight at an extra cost which of course could have been avoided.

I reminisced bitterly on the final words of the faculty on the summary of time management which was that “In Time Management it is more important to be effective and not merely efficient”. It is a pity I learnt the hard way paying to reschedule my flight was not funny but like the saying goes “Time is money” sad I had to find myself literally paying money for something time would have solved but WE MOVE!!! Lessons learnt.

Written by Chika Laju-okorodudu

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#Chyka dynamic