Create Time [4/10 Time Management]

Yes, you read it correctly. Let's do some magic.

While you are working on managing the available time, also take a deep breath and evaluate the definition of your "available time". And available for what?

Try to take a mental stock of things which you do, which neither give you enjoyment, long term benefit or bring you mental peace!

This is going to be a short and personal post.

When I am thinking of time management, I am trying to remove a few things from my life, especially in following categories

• People: Too many people want your time. But do you get back more than you give? And what you get back, is it worth it? I personally don't like audiences where people are constantly cribbing about small issues in life, or talk about politics or news. Also news, (and people in news), does it really matter? I love one of the concept from Nassim Taleb's books. Don't waste your time on news that's no longer going to matter in 50 years! And also, if the news is important enough, it will make it's way to you. You don't need to be glued to TV or youtube channels or spend 1 hour reading the news paper end-to-end.
• Things: I hate shopping for clothes, so I try to avoid it all together. For you it may be an enjoyable activity, so you do you! This is just an example. I don't like to go and explore for new cars, computers, cameras etc. till the time I am actually in the market. Some people enjoy taking a test ride for every new car that comes in. I don't
• Distractions: Not all, but the ones which really suck your time and don't really give much benefit. This includes productivity tools. At one point of time, I used to actively explore productivity tools of all kinds. I stopped. Reason is simple, they were proving to be efficient ways of wasting time. Another thing is stock market. I realized I neither have the passion or talent for it and it becomes stressful. So I switched to low-cost / direct ETFs and much simpler and diversified investment strategy which is low maintenance.

I don't intend to be prescriptive in this post.

Think for yourself what you would be okay to cut from your day / life and it won't matter in the "END"? I am not saying kill all fun from life, on the contrary, kill things that don't give you joy AND also are not helping you accomplish some higher goal.

• Study is boring, but you need to do it to progress in life. So find a way to study something interesting.
• Exercise is boring, but you need to be fit to enjoy the life, so find a way to make it interesting
• Building relations is hard, but you need them to have a life. So focus on those that really matter in the long run.
• Work is boring. But you need it to provide financial security for you and your family. So find a way to do what you enjoy and enjoy what you do!

What say you? You have any other ideas to create "time"? Do share!