Time

Time constraints are simultaneously one of the best and worst things that we can have placed upon us. On the one hand, having a time limit in which to do something forces us to think on our feet, to move quickly, and to adapt to what is happening in order to push out the work that we need to complete. On the other hand, having a limited amount of time means that we can't spend as much time as we otherwise would on editing and fine tuning. This means that the over all end product is of a lower quality that that of something that we could have otherwise had more time working on. However, a focus on perfection means that the work process to get there never ends, as there is always something to improve upon.

This is the struggle that we all face. While a time limit can be painful, it can also be necessary. We may not have the time required to work as well as we would like to, but with infinite time we would not get infinite work done. Instead, we would put infinite effort into a single piece of work that would never actually get done.

This sucks. There's no two ways around this. It just straight up sucks. But that's just how it has to be. God knows how much I hate working under a time limit. But I also know that I am a huge procrastinator. I will put off work until the last possible minute. And if there is no last minute, then I will continue to put it off forever, never starting and never finishing anything of value.

That's why sometimes we have to set our own time limits. We have to sit ourselves down, look ourselves straight in the eye, and tell ourselves that we are going to get this done by this time or so help me I will fire me. And it is hard to keep with that. We can convince ourselves that more time is required, that the time limit needs to be pushed back for various reasons. But short of a real life emergency, we simply can't afford to let ourselves get away with that. We have to set our limits and stick to them. Otherwise all will be for naught.

Looking at time, evaluating it, and utilizing it well is quite possibly one of the hardest things that we can ever do. We look at time so differently in so many situations. Some days it appears to fly by, and yet other days it slows to a crawl slower than a snail. But we must learn to understand it, adapt to it, and make it a tool that is ours to command.

Lord knows that this is something I struggle with. This isn't the first time I've made my writing close to the wire, and it certainly won't be the last time I do it either. But I am trying to learn. It's one of the many, many challenges that I face in making this blog. But I know I have to, and I am trying.

If you find that you have trouble understanding the importance of time, I invite you to take a similar challenge, and make yourself do something of a particular value to your life every day. Something that you want to do, but as yet have not made a daily habit. Try and find time in your every day life to do it. Do your best to never fail and miss a day. It will be harder than you think it will be. It will suck. But it will help.