Time Is a Limited Commodity

We have probably all experienced time flying when we’ve had fun, or time seeming to drag on for hours when we’re struggling through something difficult. I’ve closed my eyes, felt my head drop onto a pillow, and felt like barely a second has passed before it’s time to wake up again. On the other hand, I’ve sat down to work hard and felt that I’ve been studying for hours… only to check the clock and find that barely half an hour has passed.

Time can feel very relative, is what I’m trying to say. However, it’s very limited. We only have 24 hours each day, and the world is so rich with so much to experience and learn that it doesn’t feel like a lot of time. We all have dreams and goals to accomplish, and things we want to get done or enjoy each day. So, to be as happy as the student pictured here, it’s important to make time a friend and ally in our efforts.

Though most people have problems with time management, myself included, sharing our own best practices is a great way to be more productive as a society. All for one and one for all, am I right? With that, here are some of my best practices for time management, as of right now, a high school summer.

Make To-Do Lists. I used to be very careful, writing down assignments to do in middle school, but as high school began, I stopped using a planner during the day at school. Trying to remember everything, especially when club meetings and activities are compounded into the mix means that one feels like one is flying around by the seat of one’s pants all the time. Making a list helps ensure that nothing falls between the cracks and gets forgotten, so that each thing happens at the right time.

Organize your spaces. An organized space, leaving more time to work and play, and less time devoted to finding or neatening things, is definitely conducive to time management. I find that I am most productive when I am in a neat and organized space devoid of distractions, and I have the most fun when a space is neat and not stressfully messy.

Recently, I’ve tried going to the public library once or twice for a change of pace and space to do work. This way, I can try sitting at different desks, in different environments, at spots without any of the stationary or artwork that I have at my desk. This novelty and emptiness makes for a neat little echo chamber where I can lock in and feel productive, especially for writing work and specific assignments. I also enjoy sitting at a table outside. For me, the atmosphere and noise don’t affect me as much as how organized the space is. My own desk is the current bane of my work existence, being incredibly messy and hard to keep neat. Oh well. At least there’s progress to be made on that front.

Music? I used to listen to a lot more music than I do now. I love music and think it definitely allows me to focus more by tuning out other noises sometimes. However, music for me is also a HUGE distraction, particularly if I enjoy the songs I’m listening to. I’m great at tuning out noise, but if I like the song I’m hearing, then I want to start singing along, and end up typing the song lyrics instead of the essay I need to complete (like I did right no-Take me home, country roads, to the place, I belong……)

I compromise now by listening to playlists of only instrumental music most of the time while working. I compile the playlist of music ahead of time and listen to the same one every time. This also has the benefit of the so-called Pavlov bell effect of certain songs. Certain playlists – like The Mandalorian soundtrack – trigger a homework instinct in me. I listened to the same albums while writing my college essays, which I actually enjoyed, retrospectively.

I recognize that the points mentioned above are mostly productivity pointers, but I believe that maximizing productivity allows me to make the most of my time.

What are your pointers for using time? We would love to hear from you- share your thoughts and advice on how you respect your own time best. 🤩