How many times have you dealt with the concept that “Time is a resource”? Probably, many. But in the many times you have come across it, did you understand the weight carried by these four simple words in this statement? Most people do not. And that is why time management is still a considerable challenge for most of us; however, it needn’t be so. The key to learning practical time management skills lies in understanding the statement: Time is a resource.
What Is A Resource?
Let’s start from the basics. Before we can look at how time is a resource, we need to know what a resource is. A resource is anything that can be drawn upon for aid or to function effectively. The most commonly used synonym for the word resource is an asset. Think about your job, your home, or your degree, or any other asset in your life; now, that is how you should view time.
Time, when effectively drawn upon, can aid in taking care of your needs, it can be an assistant in solving problems, and it can also be a tool for accomplishing results as well as success. But you probably know this already, the challenge comes at time management. Why is it so challenging to grasp time management?
The Paradox of Time as a Resource
Time management is not something that you can achieve overnight. It’s not something you read about, then the next day you are an expert at the time management lifestyle; it is a skill that builds up with time and with practice until the level of high efficiency. Because even though time is a resource, it is a paradox.
Unlike other resources, you cannot manufacture it, buy it, sell it, change it, steal it, borrow it, rent it out, store it, multiply it or save it for use in the future. All you can do is use it. And that poses the first paradox of time as a resource:
Time Passes Anyway
Whether you use it or not, time will still pass, and you can’t get it back. Even when you do absolutely nothing progressive or productive with your time, you are still spending it. In short, you are wasting away a resource that cannot be created, stored, purchased, or multiplied. Now, does that seem wise? No. The intelligent thing to do is to spend your time better and wisely. The quality of your time as a resource is dependent on how well you use it.
Time Is Free
The fact that time is free is another paradox of time as a resource. How much value do you put on things that cost you nothing? Most of the time, not much benefit. Why? Because most times, you don’t have to work or sweat for free things. And that is the same case with time, and it’s free – you don’t have to buy it. You get 24 hours just by merely waking up every morning.
However, the idea that since time is free, it is not valuable is the misleading attitude that hinders effective time management. Imagine if you had to “buy” 24 hours every morning. Wouldn’t you plan for it and spend every minute of your time much better than you do right now?
Time Is Equitable
A day is finite and therefore boundaries, everyone has 24 hours in a day. Having the same 24 hours each day does not translate to everybody getting the same results from their 24 hours. Some people get more out of their 24 hours in a day compared to others, and it is all because of how well they manage and utilize their time.
Managing Time
It all comes down to how efficiently you execute the plans you make for your day. If you have 6 hours for sleeping, then get the best sleep in your 6 hours. If you have given yourself an hour to complete a task, then push yourself to do so within the time frame. Teach yourself to plan your hours of the day ahead of time and spend it as intended.
Time is one of the most democratic aspects of our lives. We have the power to make choices that will exploit the full potential of time as a resource and at the same time, choices that waste away the resource that time is. And now that you understand how valuable a resource time is, you can be more proactive and conscious about how you spend your time. Being proactive about your time is the key to effective time management.
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