Efficiency, Time and Return are my most favorite topics. I see the life, as we live it, as finite. I believe that people understand the words of the concept, but not the reality of it. The longer I live, the more concerned I have become, that squandering of time is all around me and this squandering is my greatest frustration.

Here is the problem, as I find myself here a lot. I preach to many, many others, that time must respected, as it is finite, I watch the same actions, that squander “said time” get repeated and repeated, with very little forward motion. Then “said persons” tell me they have no time. Or they need a schedule.

This applies to the 30-40 people I come in contact with every week. I understand the words Acceptance, understanding and forgiveness. So I accept what I cannot change … but I do like to preach, THAT is the glory of time and mistakes. I am good at mistakes. I am good at preaching. I am good at living well, it is not always great. It is always good.

But I learned early …. practiced early.

The best time management skill ever: the simple concept of NO. Not the selfish no, but the other no, the one that says, I cannot do it well right now, so I do not want to waste my time or your time, so no.

Just say no, do not add stuff to do, that will not be done even partially .. Do not add more hours of work, you do not enjoy, do not add maintenance or management or costs or spend… if you add it has a cost. The cost is time and then a few other things. (this is not the Nancy Regan no either)

The best decision tool – be wise, not smart. Go to the end and see what that looks like.

Combined management and decision tool. – Be Deliberate.

There are lots of tricks, try to be deliberate when you add, only add as something is completed. Add only the good stuff and not the bad. The only time to really add may be in times of emergency, and not the kind of emergency that one creates for oneself ….. That, I believe is defined as insanity.

The second best time management skill is doing work you so pleasantly enjoy, that it can barely be considered work.

Do not ruin fun things, either by converting them to have work like structure or honing something you will not ever be good at. I’m ok with me and you, not being fastest, smartest, most prolific at almost everything, as long as we are having a good time, not hurting anyone and making people smile.

I like nature, it understands time. (here we go). It has seasons that start and end, and there is nothing you can do about it. And its good for you. It is like day and night. Nothing beats seizing the day or winding down as the sun sets. And sleeping, what is there to say, its great.

From early on in our young lives, we had forest and field, (provided through public spaces, you can thank the government for that) until my walk the other day through Chips woods and down to the fields, I am always at home, when I am roaming in the woods. (or a car, through the mountains or at the beach)

Here is when I love to squander time, work, plan and play with the natural world.

Know yourself well and how that impacts others and act accordingly.