Time Management and Stress-How To Reduce Suffering

Wouldn't it be great to accomplish more every day, especially if you could do it with less stress? Typically, when people think of time management and stress they think in terms of rushing about, deadlines, and hyper-focusing in order to get more done. This only adds to the stress and anxiety levels, which are probably already high.

It is human nature to avoid suffering, to procrastinate, pass the buck and so on. Obviously, not much gets done in that case! People will go to great lengths to put things off and avoid responsibility. We all know first hand what it is like to put things off and later regret it.

Everybody knows the terrible feeling of neglecting something important, and having to answer for it. This churning in the pit of the stomach is an awful price to pay for neglecting to take care of a responsibility.

Take for example paying a parking fine. Nobody likes to pay such a fine, so often it gets put off and forgotten. Soon, the $10 parking fine is $20, then $40! It multiplies until you pay it and finally you get around to it.

There is a simple way to avoid this suffering and stress, and anyone can make use of it, even children! At first glance it seems ridiculously simple and insignificant, but as you begin to practice this method, you soon discover how powerful and far reaching it really is.

The way to reduce stress and suffering is to suffer now rather than later. Any way you look at life, there is of suffering. This is inevitable, and not really a negative experience, in spite of the way it sounds. By suffering now you suffer much less later on. Time management becomes a way of life, rather than a technique.

The first time I heard this was when a colleague used to say that “you pay now or you pay later.” He usually said this in connection with making an extra effort to do our precision work correctly because if we didn't, we would have to re-work it later anyway.

One of my sons finally got the point one evening after dinner. We were clearing the table and he was tempted to try and just do it later. He then commented that it would be more work later on because the food would dry on and more effort would be required. Brilliant!

Very often, when you think about it, you are going to have to spend time doing the task anyway, why not get it done first, so you can have peace of mind and rest inside? Not only that, but you soon discover that there are many rewards for taking care of things promptly!

Imagine in marriage if each partner made the effort to do nice things for the other, now! Rather than putting off the kind words, the thoughtful gift, the hug, the look of love, just do it now! Talk about rewards, your partner will hopefully respond in kind and the whole relationship can grow and flourish.

Now, imagine not making the effort with your partner. You certainly will suffer much more than the suffering required to make a cup of tea and serve it with a loving gesture, when you are tired and could use one yourself! The suffering of serving is much less than the suffering of neglecting such and act of kindness.

This principle applies to everything, and can make you life easier and much less stressful. At the same time, you accomplish more and enjoy life more deeply. As you apply this in your daily life you will find inner rest and experience the satisfaction of being at the right place at the right time.

Mind Tools has developed a program to help you learn to relax, manage stress, and achieve your goals. Many, many people have been greatly helped by using this program. Find out more here...