What is Time Management? It's How You Live Your Life.

You may hear or read overly dry explanations when asking the question 'what is time management,' such as this definition from Wikipedia:

'Time management refers to a range of skills, tools and techniques used to manage time when accomplishing specific tasks, projects and goals.'

Blah, blah, blah.....yes, I'll discuss all of these topics in order to make you a time management ninja, but I'd like to dig a little deeper here. What is time management to you? This requires taking the ninja approach and taking a look within yourself to see how you are living your life and managing your time.

Are you the driver of your life or are you a passenger sitting in the backseat watching the world go by?

What motivates you? What gets you excited? Are you taking steps to get there?

Let's take a look at this from a career standpoint. All too often we follow career paths that are not right for us. This could be due to a multitude of reasons such as peer pressure. All your friends are getting an MBA, Law Degree or high-paying jobs, so you feel compelled to do the same although it's not the right decision for you. Maybe your parents pushed you into the family business or a career direction that isn't right for you.

Think about this long and hard. If you are not utilizing your innate strengths, doing something that inspires you or are taking steps to get you to that point then you are not managing your time effectively. Don't be a passenger. Don't think that someone is going to provide you with a magic answer to what you should do with your life. The answer is within you. Don't let 10, 20, 30 years pass and then one day come to the realization that what you've been doing is not your true life purpose.

Steve Jobs said it best at his commencement speech to the 2005 graduating class at Stanford: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I'm about to do today?' Do you?

Are you living in the moment?

I take the train to get to work every day and I see the same thing every day. People literally running or speed walking to get to the train platform. As the train approaches, people start moving around to get themselves in the best position to be the first one on the train.

The train ride itself is relatively quiet until a few minutes before the train reaches the station. People start getting up and heading to the door so that they can be the first one off the train. God forbid they have to wait a minute to get off the train.

Now the fun part! People speed walk out of the train station and cross intersections when they shouldn't, just narrowly escaping the speeding car blaring its horn at them as they mindlessly cross the street with no regard to traffic signs.

The same routine continues after the day is done. As I leave my office, I try to manage my way into the speeding mass of people rushing towards the train station to get home as quickly as possible so that they can do it all over again tomorrow.

Is this a semi-rant? Yes. Has my story shed some light on the above question? I hope so.

These people are not living in the moment. They are constantly worried about what's happening next. I have to make my train, I have to be at work right now, I have to get to the next meeting, I have to catch the train to get home, I have to make dinner and eat as quickly as possible so I don't miss 'Jon and Kate Plus 8' (feel free to enter any horrible reality TV show here). And on and on it goes.

What is time management? Ummmm, this certainly isn't.

Stop.

Breathe.

Live fully in the present moment and take stock of your life.

This is an important first step in taking control of your life and better time management. This is what being a time management ninja is all about.

So what is time management then? This section explores just that question. Let's get started!

More Articles on Life and Time Management

My Definition of Time Management: Here's how I define time management, but I want you to focus on coming up with your own definition to help you achieve success and become a time management ninja.

Study Time Management: You need to study time management to become a true time management ninja.

5 Time Management Suggestions: Follow these five time management suggestions to get your life organized.

Time Management for Teens: Teenagers face a lot of pressure. Here's some advice on time management for teens.

Time Management Theory: My explanation of time management theory. It's simply another way to look at the importance of time management.

A Time Management Lesson: Don't Always Look for the Perfect Answer: The most powerful time management lesson I have learned is this - don't waste time trying to find the perfect answer.

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