The Concept of Time

What is the concept of time?

In math, time can be defined as an ongoing and continuous sequence of events that occur in succession, from the past through the present, and to the future. Time is used to quantify, measure, or compare the duration of events or the intervals between them, and even, sequence events.

How do we perceive time in our daily routines? Time is a truly scarce commodity. It is the one thing that we can never get back. Something that there is never enough of. We always say “If I just had more time. If there were just a few more hours in the day, more days in the week.” We’ve all heard “take TIME to smell the roses.” When? Deadlines, meetings, projects, family time, personal time, and the list can go on and on.

I am sure you have read about, shared about, or even attended a seminar about time management. Time productivity. Figuring out how to quantify your time.  

• Many business leaders are falling short of benchmarks or are left feeling burnt out because of poor time management. 
• 90% of working professionals believe that better time management would reduce stress at work and increase productivity.
• Research suggests that people aren’t choosing their priorities and subsequent tasks wisely.
• Leaders who have mastered time management whittle down and pinpoint their priorities, time block their schedules, and delegate tasks when possible.
• Overworking isn’t the answer. Leaders need refuel incentives and rest to maintain productivity.

While it’s essential for organizing important tasks, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and meeting goals, many leaders and entrepreneurs still struggle to protect their most important resource: time. Being busy has become the new normal. The grind, grit, and hustle are often used to describe a work life that’s so busy it must be successful and fulfilling. Yet, many business leaders and professionals are falling short of benchmarks or are left feeling burnt out because of poor time management. Time management is the practice of being productive by effectively managing how time is spent each day. Managing time seems simple enough, but research shows that most of the population struggles with it.

When it comes to time, you are either using it or wasting it.

Benjamin Franklin said that “by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail,” and that was in the 1700s.

While we can all sit here and discuss the great debate about prioritizing your time, trying time blocking as Elon Musk does, learning to delegate, learning to minimize interruptions (for which each quantifies 30 minutes of your time, text, email, calls, etc.) it is also learning to say “NO” and learning to be honest with yourself. Charles Dickens said, “The mere consciousness of an engagement will sometimes worry a whole day.” Adding to more stress results in less productivity of your time.

Having good time management also means scheduling time for resting and recharging.  The human brain isn’t made to constantly yield energy, which we feel in moments of mental fatigue. Burning up mental resources without replacing them leads to stress, burnout, and poor performance.

• Prioritize tasks that move the needle forward—try to eliminate or delegate to others.
• Time block your day, scheduling tasks that require more brain power when you have the most energy.
• Include refuel incentives and rest in your daily schedule, giving yourself the personal time that brings you joy and boosts motivation.
• Be honest with yourself and assess your progress daily. If you’re struggling, ask yourself why, and if you’re succeeding, take a moment to celebrate the wins.

Again…….one of the scarcest commodities we have is time. How we spend it, is the question.

The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program is a community resource that provides early-stage companies with the tools, training, and infrastructure to become financially stable, high growth/impact enterprises. Since 1999, this award-winning program has provided vital business development resources resulting in over 300 local startup companies reaching their potential faster and graduating into the community where they continue to grow and positively impact the local economy.

With eight facilities throughout the region, the UCF Business Incubation Program is an economic development partnership between the University of Central Florida, the Corridor, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Volusia Counties, and the cities of Kissimmee, Orlando, and Winter Springs. For the 2017/2018 fiscal years, the activities of these participating firms have helped to sustain more than 6,725 local jobs and have had a cumulative impact of over $725 million on regional GDP and over $1.3 billion on regional sales. During the same period, the program has returned more than $12.00 in state and local taxes for every $1.00 invested in the program. In addition, for every $1.00 of public investment, the firms also produced $118 of additional regional GDP and $226 of regional sales. For more information, visit  www.incubator.ucf.edu.