• excerpt from Why time management is a waste of time

A teacher of mine once demonstrated time management with this simple experiment. She took a large glass and filled it with rocks. She then asked our economics class “Is it full?” “Yes” we replied. She then took sand and carefully poured it into the glass, it slowly filled the gaps between the rocks and she then asked “NOW is it full?” After a moment of silence we gained our confidence and replied, “Yes!”

Only to add insult to injury she then took out a glass of water and poured it into the glass until water began to pour over the edges. We knew what was coming next ”Is it full?” she asked. No one wanted on answer, who knew what she had up her sleeve next? Already knowing we’d be hesitant to look foolish for a third time she moved on to her final question “What did you learn?”

Personally, all I had learned was that our teacher liked to make us look foolish, but I was about to discover the secret to true time management.

Our economics teacher then said “I hope what you LEARNED is that I would NOT have any room for the big rocks if I put them in last.” Think about it. There is no room for the “big rocks” if you put them in last. These large rocks are symbolic of priorities and unless we put those FIRST each day we will find ourselves quickly overtaken by the small and insignificant things that quickly fill our day.

As you go about the rest of your day today don’t worry about managing the hour, instead manage yourself by spending most of your time on your priorities. Don’t worry what your doing hour by hour, as long you can end each day with most of your time spent on your priorities then your winning the game. Everything else will fall into place.