There are a gazillion books, articles, and movies on managing time, many of them great ones. Ironically, it’d take a lot of time to read them all, and longer still to learn from them!
I’m not a management guru, and this is not an article on time management. I’m not here to explain how you can optimize your time or your life. I’m only interested in how taking your time, being relaxed, and being in no hurry impacts your bliss, joy, peace, and serenity.
There is no way to be in a continuous state of bliss and joy while also being in a continuous state of hurry, and anxiety. Being in a hurry, or being anxious means being attached to a goal, being attached to an outcome. So the question to ask yourself is:
- Am I attached to an outcome? How important is that outcome?
- Is my happiness or self-worth attached to this outcome? What is the result of this attachment?
- Do I have to complete that task today / in an hour / in a week? What’s the worst that will happen if I don’t? Is there a tremendous benefit if I do?
- Can I live with uncertainty? Can I . . . enjoy uncertainty?
- Can I accept my limitations? Can I recognise that I’m human, not superhuman? Does the world end if I fail?
- If I know I’m not going to be alive tomorrow, will I still rush? Is this the hill I’m willing to die on?
- Can I let go of the obsession?
During meditation, or during a quiet or contemplative period, review your worry, and your attitude towards time. It would be nice to be able to do that while you’re in the middle of something that’s causing you to hurry, but that is usually difficult. Your mind won’t let you. You will not be able to see clearly, due to anxiety and nervousness.
So what’s the way to maintain the state of calm serenity?
- Be aware that RIGHT NOW is all there is: You only exist here and now. There is no tomorrow. There is no yesterday. These are mental constructs meant to help us, but that end up keeping us tied in chains if we’re not careful. Continuous awareness of the present moment is primary. Everything else needs to be subordinate to it. Continuous awareness will keep you grounded and rooted, allowing you to focus on the current task or situation at hand.
- Calm down, take a deep breath, and get centred before each task: The state of mind with which you approach a task, and begin it, wields a lot of influence over how you feel when you work on it. Take a minute or two before each task and collect yourself, get calm and centered, breathe deeply, and be aware of the present moment. Your state of being when you work on a task will determine the outcome of that task.
- Important v/s unimportant: Start by work on tasks that really matter, and that are aligned with your goals. Important, long term, cognitively demanding tasks require a lot of mental energy, and need to tackled when your energy levels are the highest. While this is very much in the realm of time management philosophy, it is also very much in line with protecting your peace and joy.
- Do one thing at a time: Every task that you decide to work on, every situation that you get into, is worthy of your complete attention. Give it that exclusive attention. Resolve to work only on one thing at a time, while being totally present to it. Avoid the temptation to multi-task. Switch off your phone, laptop, and other devices. Turn off all notifications while working on your task. Have a way for folks to contact you in an emergency, but that’s all. Nothing more.
- Be aware of yourself continuously. Be at one with your work: There is a way to keep yourself continuously anchored and grounded, while working on a task – that is by being aware of yourself continuously while simultaneously working on your task.This may sound paradoxical, but in every situation, remain aware of your body, and of your perspective, while working.While earlier you were so engaged in a task that you “forgot yourself”, losing awareness of your body and mind, you now enter that space while being continuously aware that YOU ARE, that you exist, your body and mind are completely present and attending to the task at hand. Being in this state requires effort and practice initially, but not only is it totally possible, it is a really great way to work.You’ll find that you’re in flow. You’ll be aware of insights arising and you’ll be able to calmly incorporate them into your work. Your work will have value and will be valuable.
- Be at peace with your lack of peace: There are times where situations beyond your control will force you into hurry, anxiety, and associated negative states. When that happens, accept it wholeheartedly. “I was in a crazy rush”. “I forgot to remain present”. Beating yourself up about not being focused, centered, and relaxed, is simply adding fuel to the fire. ?
Work can be a vehicle to peace, joy, and serenity. Turn your workday into your practice of meditation, awareness, and presence. This way, your work will become the end in itself, not just a means to an end.
