Where does your time go?

How often do you lose track of time only to realize that an hour, a day, or in some cases another week has slipped away?

While we all have the same amount of time, have you noticed how some people seem to be more productive or have more time than others?

Why do you think that is?

Before I go on, let me clarify that productivity can be measured in many ways and is not a competition.

Now back to our conversation about time.

While I can’t tell you there’s one sure shot recipe that works for everyone, I can tell you from conversations and observations of people that seem to have more time is that they’ve learned to and committed to prioritizing their time.

They have committed to using their version of the Big Rocks technique.

For your convenience and in the interest of not reinventing the wheel, here’s a story that illustrates the technique.

One day, a time management expert was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget.

As this man stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers, he said, “Okay, time for a quiz.” Then, he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar and set it on a table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.

When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?”

Everyone in the class said, “Yes.”

Then he said, “Really?” He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar, causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks.

Then, he asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?” By this time, the class was onto him. “Probably not,” one of them answered.

“Good!” he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?”

“No!” the class shouted. Once again, he said, “Good!” Then, he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then, he looked up at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?”

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more things into it!”

“No,” the speaker replied, “that’s not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.”

What are the ‘big rocks’ in your life?

A project that YOU want to accomplish?

Time with your loved ones? Your faith, your education, your finances? A cause? Teaching or mentoring others?

Remember to put the BIG ROCKS in first or you’ll never get them in at all.

So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the ‘big rocks’ in my life or business? Then put those in your jar first.

Hopefully, you enjoyed this short story, and reading it will prompt you to search for the big rocks in your life, and you’ll no longer feel as though your time has slipped away.

P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed it, please share it with one person you love.