Time is the regulator of the universe. It determines seasons, dispensations, lifespans of all creatures, actions and reactions. By the means of time we know dates, we number our days. Time is not capricious; it is precise and impartial, being fair to every mortal.
Yet, time can be cruel, it catches up on you, if you are not conscious of it. Unfortunately, when lost, time cannot be recovered. It does not replay itself. Yesterday, like the last minute, is gone forever. Time past is dead and buried, never to resurrect again. Everyone should take note of this cold fact.
Right from the foetal stage, your time begins to tick. So, learn to make the most of your time by prudent management of it. People say time is money, I believe, however, that time is life itself. I feel very sorry when I see youth idle away doing nothing, wasting precious time they should have used to better their lot. How do you maximise your time? We know that there are 24 hours in a day. There is time for everything. You have 12 hours of daylight (6am to 6pm) to do what can be done in the day. You have another 12 hours of night time (6pm to 6am) to do what can be done at night.
Our 24-hour day is divided into three, eight hours of work, eight hours of rest and or free time, eight hours of sleep.
It is not compulsory that you must sleep at night and work by daytime. That is why you can do some work by shifts. My schedule as a semi-retiree is different from folks that are still active. Unlike others, I sometimes start work shortly before midnight and work till the wee hours before going to bed at about 4pm and wake up five hours later. At 63, I don’t need more than six hours sleep in total. When I am short of night sleep I take a nap in the daytime for about 30 minutes before noon, and then another 30 minutes in the evening. My work revolves around praying, reading, meditation, research and writing. That is my routine as a motivational speaker, pastor and author.
So, folks, plan your time. If you do a 9am to 5pm job or operate in other shift systems, you would do well to maximise your time by doing productive things that will pay you a large dividend later in life. I planned the way I live now 25 years ago. You can plan your retirement 20 to 30 years before time.
Learn to balance work and leisure as all work and no play makes you a dull fellow. Don’t sleep away your destiny either. If you live to be 75 and you sleep eight hours daily, you would have slept 30 per cent of your life. That is not good for you. If things run well for you, perhaps you may spend 25 years between nursery school and graduation from university. You spend 40 years working before retirement at 65.
Make every minute count. Develop yourself to your full potential and achieve everything you can before age wears you out. Enjoy the fruits of your labour and take good care of yourself so that you don’t die prematurely due to careless or reckless life indulgencies like smoking, drinking, flirtations, etc.
Ration your time. It is the most precious gift of life God gave to you. Take a holiday at intervals with your family, enjoy life to the full. Savour the bounteous gifts of nature. Travel, visit historic sites, feed your eyes and soul with good, exotic tourist destinations. Eat balanced diet, save for the rainy day; invest your money wisely and plan for your glorious exit from this world. When it is time for you to depart, leave a good legacy and be fully prepared to meet your God with the confidence that you came, you saw and you conquered. Be sure you finish your race in the Kingdom of God, with the conviction that a crown is waiting for you in heaven. It would be said of you that you lived a life well-spent and you used your time to the best of your ability; you acted your part so well and you are worthy of emulation. Every day, as you leave home, write the activities of each day with allowance for contingencies. That does not mean you should live like a robot. No. Just try to live an organised life. You should not create time for frivolities or useless relationships, or affiliations that bear no fruits. Do away with unproductive pastimes. Make sure you maximise every opportunity that comes your way per time.
You should have time for your wife/husband, children, old ones, other relatives. Check your children’s books and monitor their academic activities. Pray together with your family, attend church and be active for God in your local assembly. These are things that should engage your time.
Time waits for no one. Don’t allow anyone sap your energy. There are things you cannot get until the time is right. So, you have to wait for your time on some occasions before you can get to your Promised Land. That is the much I can say for now.
Weekend spice: Nothing is so easy as to deceive one’s self – Domesthenes
OK, folks, thanks for reading, stay motivated.
Ladi Ayodeji is an author, rights activist, pastor and life coach. He can be reached on 09059243004 (SMS & Whatsapp only).