Time is My Friend - More Thoughts on Time Management

In an April Journey to Center posting, I wrote about the quirkiness of time, and included the following aphorism:

TIME IS MY FRIEND

TIME IS MY ALLY

I HAVE ALL THE TIME I NEED FOR EVERYTHING I WANT TO DO.

Since then, I've had oher occasions to revisit just how complicated it can be to balance time requests these days and more practice with staying centered in chaos.

One of my students wrote that she is "just too busy to attend to personal needs vs. work, work, work" and is looking for a way to take care of herself while meeting the requirements of her workplace. In my own life, it usually isn't about eliminating things I don't want to do. I want to do it all, because it's all fun, great stuff. But–it seems–I cannot.

Here are a couple of thoughts that have helped me and my students in our quest for managing all the great things there are to do in life.

• First, don't judge yourself about where you're spending your time. Wherever you are, be there 100 percent. If you're working, try to notice why you said yes to the work and enjoy that part of it. Be present to the moment.

• Second, use your calendar or daytimer as a tool to give you what you want. Mark it with work and personal time, and attend to it. For example, I'm re-writing my first CD, Managing Conflict in the Workplace: An Aiki Approach, and it's very easy for me to let that creative time slip into something else, like answering email or returning phone calls. I'm getting better at blocking out the time in advance and sticking with what I said I was going to do with it.

• Take a moment now to breathe in . . . and breathe out . . . This is a ki moment. Expand your energy. Center and regain perspective. Check in with yourself. You can do this anytime.

The Aiki Gals would love to hear how you manage to center, stay present, and appreciate each moment. Write us!

Good Ki,
Judy Ringer

PS: Learn more about Ki Moments on my new CD, Simple Gifts.