Time Management tip: Need more time: Get up 15 minutes early

Kishore C.S. (December 2001)

Do you feel that you need more time in your life and often wish you had more than 24 hours a day so that you can do all the things you have to do. 

Here is a simple method that will make you aware that you have more time than you need and you are not aware of the same.

We all spend 6-8 hours per day in sleep. We get up at a particular time in the morning say 7 AM. We immediately get started with our daily routine. We start getting busy. We start running. We rush for our morning dose of coffee, bath, get ready and get busy with our work. By getting busy from the moment we get up, we feel rushed.

I tried this simple tip. If you find during your day you can't get even 15 minutes of 'free time', get up at 6.45 AM instead of 7 AM. This is important. Though you get up at 6.45 don't start your day. Don't rush for your coffee or run to bathroom. Tell yourself that you got up early and you will not start your day till 7 AM. Sit quietly in a chair. Don't do anything. This is very important DON'T DO ANYTHING. This is 15 minutes completely for yourself.

I found that when I did this, I don't know what to do in the extra 15 minutes I have. I was tempted to get back to sleep because I have 'time' to get started. It is then that I realized I have all the time in my life. It is how we use the time that makes all the difference. By simply refusing to do anything during those 15 minutes I found that I HAVE TIME.

So next time you feel you don't have enough time, stop whatever you are doing. Just sit idle. Don't do anything. If you do this, within couple of minutes you will realize that you have lot of time and can get back to your hectic life period.

I am not suggesting that this will change your life. But this is one of those 'tips' you can use.

Don't get busy from the moment you get up. Make time for yourself. Having time for yourself is very important. I read the book 'One minute for Myself' which taught me this simple method.

By getting up a little early everyday, I am able to make time for myself. I start the day at a leisurely pace with some small things I want to do. I tell myself that I have lot of time and I should do all the things I want to do. I sometimes use the extra time to read a few pages from the book I want to read, plan my day and just do some thinking. By having time for myself early in the day, I was able to dedicate more time to my family, without feeling that I am under stress because of demands of my family members.

You can try it. I am sure you will find it useful.

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