Value Your Time

Your time matters. Treat it well and you'll feel like you have more. Treat it badly and you'll wonder where it all went. Time is the great equalizer. No one has more hours in a day than anyone else does. What do you think of a person who cannot keep appointments, commitments or stick to a schedule? Do you trust them?

How do you think others view you if you're the one who can't respect time enough do those things?

If you see other people treat your time as unimportant by showing up for appointment and commitments late, being a "time management jerk" is probably not the most effective way to solve the problem. First, worry about you. Show people how much you value your time and theirs by keeping your commitments and appointments. When you are unable to, be open and honest about it and indicate your understanding of the value of the other person's time when you apologize for being late.

That's called integrity.

As you develop this practice, people who also value their time and yours will naturally follow your lead. Others won't. You've not found out who deserves your priority when it comes to commitments.

There is usually a link between how people value their time and how they value the opinions of others, their rights, property, contracts, and so on. Noticing who shows up on time and who doesn't can give you a lot of insight into how more "material" situations might be treated in the future.

Out of all the people in the world you can spend your time with, best to give priority to those who deserve it.

Here are some tips to help you be more punctual and show yourself and others how much you value time.

* Plan your day in advance: You don't need to schedule every moment of your day, but plan blocks of time for the major things you plan to do the next day. If you have a rough outline of your day, you will learn to see how to save time by changing the order of tasks and you'll feel more confident and in control as your day progresses.
* Confirm your intentions: When you have an appointment with someone, confirm in advance what time you will be meeting and use the opportunity to let them know you intend to be on time. It sends a clear signal about how you value time.
* Give yourself time: When you plan your day, don't pack your schedule "air tight." Give yourself some breathing room so you have the freedom to handle the little things that happen from day to day. By not booking yourself so tight you'll find it easier to keep the appointments you make.

Practice excellent time management by keeping your commitments. You will become more aware of how others value their time and yours as your skills in this essential aspect of time management grow. As your efforts accumulate, you will notice better results and less stress for your as well as for the people you find yourself spending your valuable time with.