As so often, it was a busy week and I found myself wondering where on earth I was going to find the time to add one more thing to my list. This reminded me of a piece I had read some time ago about the number of months in a year, days in a month, hours in a day, minutes in an hour and seconds in a minute. The final answer was a resounding thirty-one million, five hundred thousand seconds in a year!
Exactly what am I doing with all of those ticks on my clock? How many of them are critical, and do I make certain they are tended to? How many of them are squandered, never to be recaptured? How many of them do I simply waste? Where does my time go? Am I setting realistic goals, planning, prioritizing, defining boundaries and controlling demands on my time to meet them? Am I spending time on other less urgent concerns, wasting time on low-level items, squandering time by procrastinating and finding no time left as the sun sets for some of the most important things on my list?
I spent the weekend logging and reflecting. The results were amazing. By managing my time better, I can definitely get it done!
To help me visualize each day, I pictured the 24 hours as a large empty jar. In it, I placed many, many things. The most urgent I saw as big rocks, with other items of varying size, shape and texture representing things of less immediacy, such as small stones, pebbles, sand and water. How I filled that jar made all the difference. If I start with sand, pebbles and water, I may end up with no room left for the small stones and big rocks. In fact, the jar might even overflow all over the floor and make a mess! However, if I put those big rocks in first, carefully add the stones, sprinkle in the pebbles, sift the sand into the crevices and soak it all with the water, I actually end up with room left over just to enjoy the view!
I Care, Barb
By Peg Rodriguez November 17, 2019
Great to have this uplifting material to read.
I had a fall 2 days ago and have to stay off feet.
Keeping my mind positive and not going dark.
Thank you TOPS
By Holly August 24, 2019
Enjoyed your article very much. I would like to continue receiving your newsletters. Could you please send me an email? For some reason my email sent me an error message saying that I was unable to receive them. Thank you.
By topsclub August 26, 2019
Hi Holly,
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Hope this helps!
By CK August 19, 2019
Appreciate the “Words Of Wisdom” and need to practice this too! Going to share this also w/daughter & my cousin– Very timely advice***
By Jean Clow August 19, 2019
I canceled by mistake please make sure I receive this article every week. Thank you
By topsclub August 19, 2019
Hi Jean,
I resent you an email asking you to reconfirm that you want to receive emails. Hope that helps!
By Lucy Corlew August 19, 2019
So many times I’ve wasted my time thinking about what I needed to do instead of just doing it and getting it done.
By Delinda August 19, 2019
Thanks for the reminder.
By Barb Cady August 19, 2019
The first time a came across this analogy was many years ago in a story entitled “The Pickle Jar” by Steven Covey. It continues to be a favorite for setting priorities and effective time management.
By Diane August 19, 2019
It reminds of the same story written by a college professor.
https://www.sunnyskyz.com/feel-good-story/111/A-teacher-s-life-lessons-using-a-jar-and-some-golf-balls