As if Christmas Island didn’t already have an edge on one of the major holidays, it jumped into the future at 5 a.m. ET on Monday, becoming, along with Kiribati and Samoa, the first populated place to reach 2013.
Although as a race, us humans experience the hours, days, months and seasons differently, the way through which we perceive time defines our attitude and affects our motivation. You may not be motivated to fill out your income tax forms. But if you think you’ll get a refund, the task becomes a lot more appealing. It’s a common misperception that our time defines what we do. I challenge you to revisit this through the eyeglass of attitude toward time, rather than time as a constant. We just went through the holidays. Was it me alone that noticed how starting from Thanksgiving forward, individual’s time availability in action was lesser and shorter? Have you noticed that Fridays are the days that most people are least motivated? On the other hand, have you noticed that around the New Year, most everyone sets out their goals and plans for the upcoming year and all you hear is resolutions, resolutions, resolutions. What is the common denominator here? Perceptions and attitudes. Studies show that a realistic attitude about time affects a our motivation. Unmotivated individuals tend to relate only to the present. They ask, “Why are we learning this? When are we going to use it?” Motivated individuals know that present actions can affect their future. They are willing to work hard now for success later. Here are some ways you can help yourself develop a realistic attitude about time: • Give yourself an allowance. Whatever your hobby, treat or indulgence may be. It should be large enough to be extraordinary, but small enough to encourage future action. • Start a Joy Savings Program. Does your family like sports, Broadway show, a Nintendo game? Set aside one dime for every task done on your list every week. Each Dime stands for 10 minutes of joy.
Talk about a long-range goal of yours. Perhaps you want to strengthen your bonds at work, or with friends and relatives, finish that training program, sell that invention, or open up that small business. Whatever your goal, your attitude will guide your time allocation.
