Time is not going anywhere

Rutendo Gwatidzo-Changing Perspectives

The month of march has come to an end which means that the first quarter of the year is gone. Allow me to pause a question to you right now.

What have you achieved so far? Did you manage to meet your first quarter targets? If you were to rate your achievement out of one hundred, would you be pleased by the results so far?

Do you operate in the urgency of now and always feel like time is going? Interestingly, many of us often speak of time as a relentless river, carrying us along its current. “Time flies,” we often say, or “Time waits for no one.” But, is time truly the active agent, the force that sweeps us away? Or are we, the ones moving, while time remains a constant stage upon which our lives unfold?

Sobering Truth

The truth is that time is not going anywhere. You are. This shift in perspective is crucial in that It dismantles the passive role we often play which is the sense of being victims to time’s relentless march.

Instead, it places us in the driver’s seat, reminding us that we are the ones who determine how we spend our precious moments. Time is neutral. It’s the actions we take within time that hold value or not.

No one can probably like a blank canvas because it’s rarely attractive but, when the artist plays around with his different colour paints on it, it then transforms it into a masterpiece.

Similarly, time is the canvas of our lives. It is our choices, actions and experiences that paint the picture of our existence in life. It is therefore crucial to be deliberate on how you spend your time.

One of the challenges in many organisations is that of having employees who are very busy for nothing. Some of them spend the day working so hard only to achieve nothing.

Some have desks full of to do lists which yield nothing. Now that a quarter is gone, some employs accomplished nothing while others accomplished little and others accomplished much. The differences in the accomplishments sometimes is based on how we spend the time assuming that everything else is equal. With same resources, environment and circumstances, how come others make it and others fail? Be challenged to be very deliberate about how you spend your time. Spend it on things that are important.

I was inspired this past week by my sister in Christ ,Purity Maradza from Old Mutual who scooped seven awards in one day from the organization. Congratulations to her.

She works as a financial advisor. The interesting part is that, many, failed to make it with the same job, conditions and circumstances but, someone is thriving. Upon engaging with Purity, she mentioned that she is very intentional about how she spends her time at work. She further went on to mention how it is easy to get carried away in the first three hours of the day, thinking that you have so much time but, before you realise it, you will be rushing your work as the day would be gone.

Tips on how to manage time

Understand and accept that you are the one moving through time, not the other way around.

Stop postponing: Do not wait for “someday, another time” to pursue your passions, just begin now. What if “someday, another time” never comes?

Prioritize meaningful actions: Focus on activities that align with your values and bring you fulfilment. Do not allow trivial distractions to consume your precious moments. Live in the Present and stop dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.

Embrace change and growth: Time is a journey of continuous evolution. Do not resist change; embrace it as an opportunity for growth and transformation. Life does not go the way you want it always, one day it’s probably how you want it but the next day, learn to allow for what others want also. Know that your circumstances do not determine your destiny but, your response to your circumstances does.

Have Changing Perspectives: Don’t be rigid. Do not live a life of saying that is what I’m used to. The world does not evolve around you alone; at the pace you wish. You must learn to adjust and adapt. Have a schedule and to do list for each day, creating time for what is important. When you realize that time isn’t slipping away, but rather that you are the one moving through it, you gain a renewed appreciation for the present moment. You will probably understand that every second is a precious opportunity to create a life of purpose and meaning. Instead of saying, “I don’t have time,” ask yourself questions like, “How am I choosing to spend my time?” The answer might surprise you.

Yes, how you spend your time is your choice, you are the architect of your own time. Build wisely.

You are the one moving, make sure you move towards what truly matters.

Rutendo Gwatidzo is the Managing Consultant at The HUB HR Consultancy – as a Culture and Change Management Specialist. She is a multi-award winning leader, Consultant, Speaker and Coach. She is also an Author of Born to Fight and Breakingthe Silence books. Contact detail – 0714575805/ [email protected]/ Rutendo Gwatidzo_Official fb public page