Time Management Versus Time Ownership

You will find plenty of 'advice' on the market about how to manage time more efficiently. This usually comes under the general heading of 'Time Management'.

I would wager that you will not find much of this 'advice' putting the emphasis on 'Time Ownership'.

The idea that you should actually be in ownership of your time is not as popular with the 'powers that be' as the idea that you should be 'trained' to manage your time more efficiently on their behalf.

What is crucial is not what you do with your time or the relative proportions of it which you devote to various activities. No - the crucial point is WHO DECIDES.

If you decide to devote 90% of your time to helping those less fortunate than yourself, that is laudable. Provided you made the decision to so do. If, on the other hand, you are devoting 90% of your time to helping the 'poor' because some religious fanatic told you that this is the only way to save your soul - there is no merit in it. You did not make the decision, it is a form of moral blackmail.

If you decide to devote 90% of your time to the business which employs your services, that is great. Provided you made the decision to do so. If, on the other hand, you are at the 'beck and call' of your boss out of fear of losing your job - you are nothing but a slave.

It is not what you do or how much time you devote to things which really matters. It is how much control you have over deciding what you do with your life, for whom and for how long.

Of course, absolute freedom is elusive. We all have to make certain compromises when allocating time to things. However, most people exaggerate the degree of necessity involved and make out that they 'have to' do things. 'It is alright for you', they will say. 'I have to work long hours'. 'I have a house to pay for, children to feed, a car to run, a 'lifestyle' to maintain'.

Fine. Who chose that particular type of house and the area which it is in? Who chose to have children? Who chose to run that type of car or to even have a car at all? Who dictated the 'lifestyle' which you lead?

There is always a trade-off whatever decisions you make in life. That is why it is vitally important to make your own life decisions. Managing time is managing the trade-offs. Owning time is about making sure that YOU DECIDE what to devote your time to in the first place.

People confuse the two issues. They are encouraged to think that what matters is to manage their existing priorities more 'efficiently'. The truly vital thing is to review those priorities. Who decided what or whom you are devoting your life to? Was it you or was it someone else?

I decided long ago that my priorities were strictly in the following order:-
God, Family, Friends, the wider Society, the pursuit of Enlightenment and finally ... Earning a Living. As you can see, the 'boss' comes a very gallant last!

Does this mean that I do not care about my work or the company I work for? Not at all. It is just that employment, for me, is a means to other ends. It can never be an end in itself.

The above is personal to me. For you - it may be very different. You may put your Work, Employment or Vocation first in the list. 'God' may not even be listed! It is up to you.

The important thing is - MAKE SURE THAT YOU DECIDE