Another reason time-management tools can create imbalance for many people is because they are often focused almost exclusively on tasks and appointments.
It is as if we have become human “doings” as opposed to human “beings.”
More often than not, We pose the question of what to “do,” but seldom ask, What in the end, Will “be” as a result of all the doing.
Accomplishing things and checking them of our lists is a part of who we are, But it is not all that we are.
Admittedly, We sometimes define ourselves in terms of what we have achieved.
Think of your response when someone asks you, “What do you do?”
Do you think and answer in terms of primarily your profession, Your title, Or the organization you are associated with? Humor me for a moment and point to yourself.
Look at where you are pointing.
Are you pointing to your brain, Your wallet, Your stomach, Or your feet?
Chances are you weren't pointing at any of these, But more than likely, You pointed to your heart instead.
Interesting isn't it?
We may describe who we our by what we do professionally, But we identify who we are by pointing to the heart!
Let's go back to accomplishing tasks.
We love doing accomplishing, Because when we accomplish a task there are endorphins—chemicals are sent to our brains that make us feel good for having completing something.
We get an added emotional boost the more we can put check marks on a piece of paper next to our accomplished tasks.
The unexamined paradigm is, If I accomplish something that makes me feel good, Doesn't it make sense that accomplishing more would make me feel that much better? Not necessarily.
If you are not careful, You can find yourself in proverbial scenario of straightening out the deck chairs in the titanic as it is going down.
You can find yourself busy, But not heading in the direction of where you eventually want to be.
Have you ever examined your to-do-lists at the end of the day, And even though there is a sense of satisfaction from finishing a number of tasks, Sometimes deep down you feel as if you have not done anything of significance.
I was thinking with a very successful executive. His position required a great deal of international travel.
The promotion and all of the perks and benefits that went with those promotions were coming fast.
However, His job was taking quite a toll on his family, And he felt that he was becoming more distant with each member of his family.
To complicate matters, All the travel was also taking a toll on his physical well-being.
The constant travel overseas was adversely affecting his back and shoulders.
He confided in me that the job was exciting, But when he thought of the price he had paid in his relationships and his body, He felt it was no longer worth it.
I asked him if he had thought of an exit strategy from his dilemma, And with a puzzled look he said “I hadn't even considered that.”
Accomplishing tasks and having the satisfaction of doing more can feel great, But there is a point where doing more is just more and not necessarily better.
It's been said even virtue taken to an extreme can become a vice.
Continually extending our to-do list would qualify for this. There is always a trade-off.
With my executive friend, There was a point at which accomplishing more at work meant he had to pay a toll in his relationship with his family and a physical toll in his body. He needed a way out.
Here is something else to consider in our series of to-do lists.
For many people, The relationships that are built and strengthened in the workplace are done simply as the “Means” to the end.
In other words we build relationships so that other people can help us get things done.
The goal is to accomplish “Tasks, Projects, Or goals.”
At first glance there may be nothing wrong with this idea. It's simply a matter of delegating people to different roles and responsibilities.
This way of operating becomes a problem, However, When we get so used to it that we have the same mindset in all our roles.
We build relationships for the sole purpose of accomplishing tasks. This is sometimes referred to as “Using people.”
This may sound harsh, But not as harsh as the potential consequences of actually using people.
During a very important conversation with my son, Exasperated, He said, “Dad, don't talk to me like I'm one of your employees, I'm your son.”
If we are not careful, When circumstances call for having tasks and activities to build relationships, We may have it backwards, And only build relationships to accomplish tasks and goals.
People can become merely merely the means to an end. Consider that we sometimes refer to people as human resources.
Think about the phrase “Human resources” for a minute. People can become resources much like equipment, Buildings, tools, And desks.
Much like equipment, Buildings, And other capital expenditure, The value of individuals can be viewed as depreciating in value over time.
People can even be thought of as eventually becoming obsolete.
It's also interesting that in a company's financial statement items such inventory, Buildings, And equipment are referred to as assets, And people are in the section called expenses.
We are more than human doings and human resources. We are human beings.
KINDLY LIKE THIS ARTICLE IF YOU LIKED IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING!
📣 The next article that I will make for continuing to explained the CHAPTER ONE “Why most time-management tools don't work”
I will make it soon I promise 😊
So stay tuned all readers I hope you liked it 😇