The clock is constantly ticking away as we remain a continual slave to the days, hours, minutes and seconds which lie before us counting down silently in the background. Time waits for no-one and every human being, animal and insect is functioning on a pre-set time span. Going back through the ages, mankind seems to have coped relatively well without set agendas to adhere to. This begs the question...why does time management really matter?

Hindsight shows that a little careful planning could have sped up new advances and made life a lot easier, a lot faster. Just skimming through the myriad of courses, books and seminars related to time management, it is easy to see why time is a precious commodity.

Make every second of every day count

Time is like gold dust and should be spent very wisely, some liken it to a child, completely irreplaceable, so it makes sense that we should want to enjoy our time on earth, doing the things that please us. No, this isn't going to turn into a huge rant on the importance of having a continual schedule to follow. Even though, it could make life a lot easier for many and probably make the world a much more organized and fluid place. However, the majority of us do not want to live our lives having ever second carefully choreographed. I would certainly feel as though I had created my own dictatorship and lost any of my natural desire to act on impulse or intuition.

Ways to succeed in today's hectic world

Even the most carefully planned schedule is difficult to adhere to as life has many twists and turns. The most detailed plans can be thrown into oblivion when acts of God, unforeseen circumstances or fate plays its hand. So how can you plan your time in a world where you have to expect the unexpected?

Time has no beginning and it has no end. It is finite. It cannot be controlled so how can you manage it? One dictionary defines time as "a non spatial continuum in which events occur in apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future." Just looking at that phrase, I can see certain words stand out. 'Continuum' and 'irreversible' emanate the fact that time is the present moment, it cannot be changed or stopped, it is constant. This is one force that man cannot reckon with so we have to humbly succumb to its presence.

Is Time Management a myth?

At the end of the day, no matter how much we deliberate, there will always only be twenty-four hours in any one single day. Therefore, we are each responsible for how we use this special time allocated to us. The only thing we can try to organize is ourselves, we cannot account for unexpected circumstances and constraints which may come our way. Unless we have psychic powers, it is impossible to make specific plans for the future without cutting ourselves some slack for disruptions along the way.

The only way to face the future is with determination and positivity. Instead of giving up when the first hurdle approaches, convert that negative energy into positive action and watch the stumbling blocks fall away as you strive to achieve the end result. Don't anticipate problems arising. This releases a surge of negativity. Make an informed decision to react calmly to situations if/when they arise. See problems as hurdles to overcome as you head steadfastly to the finishing line. Take a hold of your personal power and stop sitting on the sidelines, waiting for opportunities to come knocking on your door. Don't let time management be stifled by procrastination through acts of delayed action or spending too much time planning for unforeseen circumstances which may never materialize.

Yes, we are all here for just a short time so setting aside religious beliefs or personal views on the afterlife; our time here on earth is set. When life is put into this much perspective, it makes sense to rise from our chairs and take action. Start creating stepping stones to achieve your goals and take some time to stop and smell the roses along the way. Life is a wonderful gift, let's put our personal power first and face the future with optimism and joy. A happy, healthy outlook has the power to make even the biggest problems shrink into healthy challenges which stimulate the brain, invigorate the senses and add that little bit of spice. They also make good conversation pieces for your next dinner party and can act as pearls of wisdom when someone you know falls into similar difficulties.

This is the ebb and flow of life...the good and the bad. Without the bad we cannot appreciate the good and remember... time flies whether you are having fun or not!