How to manage your time: “Don’t be busy, be productive.”!

“Time is money”.

Who doesn’t know this famous proverb?

And if I tell you that managing our time brings us, first of all, the serenity of the heart and what a magnificent treasure it is to have a calm heart, isn’t it?

1. Time is a precious gift that we must optimize through our deeds actions.

Time is an essential parameter that governs the cycle of life and allows the balance of nature.

As it is mentioned in the Quran, there are two aspects of time: cyclical which proves the power of habits, and linear which indicates the need for direction.

“and made your sleep for rest, and made the night as a cover, and made the day for livelihood” Surah 78 Verse 9-11.

“Know that Allah gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. We have made clear to you the signs; perhaps you will understand.” Surah 57 Verse 17.

“Indeed, in the alternation of the night and the day and what Allah has created in the heavens and the earth are signs for a people who fear Allah.” Surah 10 Verse 6.

“It is not for the sun to catch up with the moon, nor does the night outrun the day. Each is traveling in an orbit of their own.” Surah 36 Verse 40.

In the Holy Qu’ran, Our Lord (SWT), repeatedly, swears by the time, which shows its importance. So let’s not overlook it and realize its value by acting judiciously.

How can we neglect it while our final destination depends on our intentions and actions during our precious life?

“By Al-`Asr. Verily, man is in loss. Except those who believe and do righteous deeds, and recommend one another to the truth, and recommend one another to patience.” Surah Al Asr

2. Why is essential to manage our time?

Organizing our time allows us to be in action and focused on the essential and not to fill our days with meaningless trivialities or be overwhelmed by negative thoughts which would prevent us from moving forward.

Setting goals while avoiding procrastination decreases stress. By completing our actions, our self-esteem increases and we feel better with a serene heart.

3. 3 TIPS  to organize our time productively.

A. Go to bed early and get up early to obtain the morning blessings.

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said :

“O Allah, bless my nation in their early morning.”

Sunan al-Tirmidhī

B. Identify our priorities, plan reasonably and adjust.

The theory of the glass jar and the rocks, developed by Steven R.Covey in his book, “First Things First”, leads us to reflect on our priorities in our life. 

What do the rocks that we must put first in the jar as a priority represent?

Important tasks but not urgent have to be considered as a priority because they impact our life and our balance, such as taking care of our body, increasing our knowledge, keeping in touch with our relationships, and especially, taking care of our heart through the spirituality. In Islam, the 5 prayers daily are a blessing that helps us to organize our day and imposes us a break to meditate.

Urgent tasks need to be planed by respecting a deadline in order not to be overwhelmed and so stressed by them.

Don’t waste your time on no urgent and no important tasks, represented by the sand. There will always be room for them in the jar, so in our life!

Whatever the task, even a simple call or a meeting between colleagues or friends, it is crucial to set a deadline so as not to drag on forever.

Of course, don’t forget to keep updating your note, thus, we avoid forgetting or making mistakes and your mind will be free.

At the end of the day, we must review our day’s actions by reading your notes. Thus,  we will be able to identify time-consuming tasks in order to adjust and better organize the day after.

C. Respecting ourselves by respecting our priorities and our limits.

We have to define our priorities and know our limits, then, respect them. Respecting them allows us to be respected by others.

Don’t let others take your time by planing our important and urgent tasks in advance and let’s learn to say “No” keeping a smile and being polite, or, at least not to say “Yes” immediately before checking our availability.

It is essential to plan breaks between tasks and times of non-availability during the day and the week. That allows us not to be in the rush and to rest our body, clarify our mind, and appease our hearts.

“Allah does not burden a soul beyond that he can bear” S.2 V. 286

“And thus we have made you a just community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you.” S.2 V.143

Let’s keep in our mind this powerful hadith, five before five!

The Messenger (PBUH) advised to:

 “Take benefit of five before five: Your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you are preoccupied, and your life before your death” 

(Narrated by Ibn Abbas and reported by Al Hakim)