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| Time Management then and now: Photo Courtesy- Internet |
Time is a constant parameter. It started ticking with the Big bang 13.8 billion years ago and is still ticking. Time is, in fact, a sequence of events. Without events, past, present and future wouldn't exist and so would be time. Time was always there and will be there even when we are gone. We need to manage ourselves more than time.
Birth of time Management:
The time management concept was on peak during the industrial revolution era. Major jobs were in the factory. How much you can produce in 1 hour should be multiplied by 8 to know your per day productivity. Factory time used to start in the morning at 9AM and finished at 6PM giving you a 9-hour window. Most of the work in a factory was routine work which didn't require much attention and energy. Time was money.
We are in a new era of knowledge and expertise. In this era, our value is more on what we can accomplish than how much we can produce per hour. Quality and efficiency of achievement are more dependants on focus and energy we can have. I am not saying that time is not important. Time is the basic and it is constant. Whatever we do, time will move at the same pace. Binding work in a 9-hour window starting at 9AM may not be so fruitful now as it used to be during the industrial era.
For example: you reach the office at 9AM. With a tough time on the road with traffic, your energy level is low, your mind is reluctant to start work. You switched on your laptop and checked all mails, till a message pops up for the coffee break. You had all kinds of social and political discussions. After cursing govt and boss, you are back on the seat, scrolled through social media and mails one more time before you start work. Within 1-2 hours, you got a call for a lunch break.
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| Time Focus and Energy: Productivity |
Most Productive Time (MPT)
After heavy lunch your energy level is low. It took you one hour to gain your energy and focus back. You are finishing your work at a good pace now but you could focus only after half-day is gone. Maybe this time say 3PM post-lunch is your peak time or Most Productive Time, let's call it MPT, when your focus is at the best and energy level is high. you can finish work at a good pace which was due since morning.
In between, meeting request pops up on your screen and you took a laptop and walked away breaking the focus you gained.
You might be getting MPT 3-4 times in a day or more. The work you do in MPT helps you accomplish your major part of daily tasks. You are est productive during these hours.
Productivity is money. What you can accomplish, how much work you can do in the least time is your value. That's why the old-time Management concept is not working so well.
That's why the "Time is Money" phrase is also obsolete.
How few Organizations has changed themselves with new Era :
Many big organizations and startups are accepting this change of new era hence 9AM to 6PM work hours is past for them. They have flexible time policy to appear in the office and also Work From Home is allowed so that employees can work during their MPT.
In the internet era, your physical presence is not required all the time. Conference calls, group chats, and video calls are new definitions of meetings and brainstorming.
How to Manage your productivity:
Task 1:
For the next one week, notice your MPT.
You might have MPT almost at the same time every day
For example morning 7-8AM 11-12PM 3-5PM 8-10Pm
Task2:
Once you have identified your MPT, plan your work which requires most of the focus and energy during the identified MPT window, for example, your office work, writing book, article, preparing for exam etc.
Don't let people disturb you or steal your MPT. Cut yourself from social media and emails during MPT which might cause you lose your focus. In fact, we can fix time say checking emails and messages once in 2-3 hours depending on the type of job.
Task3:
Plan your non-productive work during non MPT, for example, household maintenance work, spending time with family, living with your hobby, adeventure, relaxing etc.
You might be thinking that 24 hours is not enough to finish my important work, how can I do this only during MPT.
Studies show that if you are trying to work on something all day, your productivity goes down and decision-making ability drops drastically. This reduces your MPT. Hence you might feel like you worked all day and feel good and proud about yourself but actual MPT hours may be much lesser.
Other than that you will not be able to give time to family, your hobbies and your relationship. Focus also drops drastically if your relationship with family members is not healthy or you are cut off from your hobby.
Try this new concept and comment below your experience.
"Time is Money" is obsolete. now "Productivity is Money."
