“So much to do, so little time …”
This oft-repeated mantra is as much of a worry as it is a cliché. By this, I mean we always set new objectives at the beginning of each year to realign our focus with our future goals, and within a month or two, we find ourselves swamped with tasks and seemingly unrealistic expectations, either from external factors or within ourselves. As a result, complacency sets in and our yearly routine ends up remaining relatively static, without much of a delta compared to the past.
I hereby pose the question: Why do we succumb to this?
If I use myself as an example, I’m a husband to the most wonderful wife (and no I didn’t need her permission to say so!), and at any given time, outside of my working day as a revenue analyst, I’m organising, coordinating and attending online and in-class study circles (with global reach), in addition to planning community events, liaising with local scholars and community representatives, and in between, I might find some time for a bit of web development, reading various scholarly works, not to mention jotting down the other (subjectively visionary) ideas that are brewing in my head.
Frankly speaking, I feel I have a pretty full plate, and I do find myself wanting to extract more productivity out of the time with which Allah has blessed me. I expect you probably feel this way too, at some point or another.
Here’s the thing though: wanting to do more does not necessarily imply that we’re not content with what we’re currently doing, or what we’ve achieved thus far. Ideally, it is the realisation of the effort required to follow through with beneficial action for the advancement of human ideals. Stated simply, it’s basically acknowledging that while we’ve kicked a few goals and scored some wins, there is still more work to be done, and we feel we have the skill set and the drive to follow through with the remainder … as long as we’re given more time.
But is it really a requirement of more time? Looking at it from another angle, we could occasionally acknowledge our achievements, assess whether we’re still on track to meet our targets, make any necessary adjustments, decide whether our workload is manageable and realistic, and then keep on going. Sure, we may not be advancing in leaps and bounds, but most activities are incremental in nature, if we just let things take their course.
So I resolve to say that such is the way of life, in general. You begin with an idea, put pen to paper to flesh out the mechanics, speak to a few learned folk, devise a plan of action, and then do the actual work (don’t forget the feedback loop). You then realise the task has many legs, some of which lead to bigger and more complex problems, with dependencies on other tasks you may or may not have envisaged. If you let your vulnerable side get the better of you, you’d feel snowed under with the gravity of it all and before you know it, 12 months have gone by and you’re left wondering “where’d all the time go?”. However, if you become the master of the time given to you, you’d simply view it all as a large challenge made up of smaller ones, and provided you have the resources, your only constraint would be time, so you would take a moment for each task to reflect on the time and dedication it requires, and then start chipping away at them, one by one.
In other words: win time over.
Bring time onto your side. Embrace time as a tool. And then you will find yourself appreciating time, rather than yearning for more of it.
Looking at my married life, settling in to a new role at work, improvements and additions to our study circles and community projects, I think it’s fair to say I’ve made gradual steady progress on all fronts (and this is to the credit of those around me more so than myself). And I’m happy that everything has come this far, even if it’s just baby steps. This is another key point: be content with the effort you’re required to make, in the time you’ve been given, even when results seem to be only a few small quick wins. The way forward is not to complain; rather it is a path that requires you to give each activity its due share of commitment. Here’s a brief action plan:
- Begin by seeking guidance from Allah the Ultimate Guide, and then consult those around you who may have more knowledge or experience on the matter at hand
- Devise ways to efficiently manage your time, without compromising on what’s most important to you
- Deconstruct complex tasks into simpler ones and tackle them in a manner that meets the intended goal. This might require an integrated approach to tackling more than one task at at time, or attempting them sequentially
- Where appropriate, delegate tasks to those best suited to the job
- Take occasional breaks from work or study to clear you mind and refresh your concentration
There is a higher purpose, a greater goal, and if you remain cognisant of this, then Insha Allah (God-willing) it will lead to the evolution of your worldly pursuits and material progress, not forgetting the spiritual advancement that comes with being appreciative of what Allah The Sublime has ordained for you, including that seemingly elusive, yet profoundly instrumental, gift of time.
So the next time you find yourself sighing with frustration and about to utter the words “So much to do, so little time”, remember: on this planet, there is always work to be done, and little time for boredom, let alone complaints. Become the master of your time, fill it with acts of benefit to the world around you, and you’ll find yourself complaining less.
I’ll wrap up with a beautiful quote by the legendary Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. that pretty much summarises the above:
Mk:.