Time Management In The Desert
by Janie Lin
Time has always been an interesting thing for me to play with. I find it interesting to connect with others to discover what their thoughts on time
management looks like, feels like, and is to them.
I have discovered there are many points of views on time management and time in general. Most of the views and beliefs on time come from
our parents and how they dealt with it….or didn’t deal with it.
How many times growing up did your parents tell you “Hurry up! We’re going to be late!” or “Stop wasting time!” or “Always be on time.” or
“That’s not a productive activity.” It seems to all be revolving around rushing (belief that there is a lack of time), or the idea of laziness (the
belief that one always has to be “doing” something constructive, productive or meaningful to others).
Isn’t that interesting? So my question is…..how much of that did you carry through to your adult life and use those principles in your business,
your job…...or even with your children….and you are finding your mother or your father’s words coming out of your mouth? Aaaaaahhhhh!!
Do you actually get more done when you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off or do you just LOOK like you are getting a lot
accomplished?
There are many cultures across the globe that begin their day early in the morning, have a period during the afternoon for rest and rebooting, go
back to their activities and then the evening is a leisure time for eating and conversation with friends and family. I have noticed a similar pattern
with this here in the desert of Phoenix.
Local residents that have been here for many years begin their day….usually when the sun comes up. It’s cooler in the morning, so if you like
to take walks, go for jogs or just enjoy nature and the outdoors, morning is the best time for those activities….generally during the summer
months, due to a massive amount of concrete and asphalt absorbing the heat of the sun all day, the city doesn’t “cool off” at night! Later in the
afternoons when it’s nice and toasty is a good time for indoor activities and a bit of rest.
I did some research on some successful people who are well known, like Wayne Dyer and Einstein. Wayne Dyer always got up early in the
morning, like 3:00 am. He claimed that is when he got his best work done. Then of course, he would retire early at the end of the day. Einstein
took many “power naps” during the day to clear his mind so that new awarenesses could come in without conflict from outside sources. He slept
with a notebook and a pen so that when he woke up he could write when his mind was the clearest.
Everyone has their own rhythm and flow for managing time when they listen to their hearts and leave out all the beliefs and programming that
have been so ever present for so many years. The key to this is being strong in your truth and follow your heart.
For myself personally, when I am not following my heart and not in alignment with my truth, when I am trying to do what others think I should
to be productive, it seems that there is “never enough time in the day to get everything done”. When I am managing my time from that space
I look and feel like the chicken running around with it’s head cut off. I may get a few things actually accomplished...but usually it leads