HEALTHY LIVING
TIME MANAGEMENT AND
REDUCING STRESS
Marion E. Wildey
I
s there anyone on this planet who has thought to
themselves, “I have such an abundance of time left
over every day, I must find something else to occupy
my time?” The answer, most likely, is no, you don’t have
this thought, and you don’t know anyone who does.
However, if you did meet this person, you would definitely
inquire into their strategy of achievement, so you could
implement a change into your own life. Every one of us
could make better use of our time, accomplish a good
deal more in a twenty-four hour period, and because we
have been able to check off more items on our to-do list,
we can also begin to place more attention on achieving
personal goals, and increasing our peace. Ben Franklin
said, “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time,
for that is the stuff life is made of.”
There are aspects of life you would prefer not to have to give
your time and energy to, but they are necessary to support
to the moments you do cherish. Time management and
your ability to directionalize the accompanying stress in
your life are directly related. The more things you have
to do, the more anxious you feel, which in turn breeds
negative repercussions that correlate to reduced physical
and mental health. It is necessary then to channel the
anxious energy into productive energy where it acts as
a catalyst to tick things off your list of “to do” items. You
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WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE
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AUGUST 2018
would then not only make better use of your time, but
you would also decrease your excess stress level, thus
increasing your mind, body, spirit triumvirate, rewarding
you with balance. Desiring balance puts you on track
to the combined goal of getting the most out of time,
while maintaining a healthy level of stress. The key to
successful time management is to set goals of what needs
to be addressed, prioritize the order in which they need
to be achieved, and set new intentions to enrich your life.
As far as you’re concerned, there is a plethora of chores
and tasks that demand your attention on a daily basis, and
as is most likely the case, none of them are particularly
satisfying. Whether we like to do them or not, sustaining
your day-to-day living routine takes precedence because
they include anything related to keeping your body fed
and clothed. From making sure there is food in the house,
to pre-planning preparation, so that on the occasion that
you are on the short end of the stick to make a meal,
you have created a grab and go option. This forethought
will ultimately save you from poor choices that would
otherwise tax you in the budget and the desire to eat
for your health. Fast food is exactly that, fast, but in the
long run, not the best option for jam-packed days. It’s
better to cultivate steps to support your lifestyle without
a wrench being thrown into your goals. Provide as much