Either you run the day or the day runs you: Take control, lead the day. This is in short what the quote is telling us to do. However, we all know how hard sometimes things are. We just have to follow the motions and get through the day.
Although we may never be able to follow this quote to the letter, I like the principle of this quote. The main point for me is that when the day runs us, we get busy and lose track of things. This is exactly how the most important things in our life take a backseat. Because we are so busy responding to the demands of the day, we don’t have time to do what’s important for us.
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Either you run the day or the day runs you
This is a good example of the day running us – responding to the demands of the day, being constantly busy – hopping from one thing to another without getting the satisfaction of achieving something. If you resonate with any of these, you’re already sucked into the trap of the day running you.
Each of our days is a gift, the same 24 hours that go astray if we don’t make use of them. I appreciate that we’ll have to do a few things that the day demands from us. There’s no escape from this.In reference to the quote – either you run the day or the day runs you, it is all about control and taking charge.
I am sure that there will be no perfect plan. But at least when you are in charge, there is a chance that some more things get done mindfully. We can easily be lost in the flow of the day and forget the most important or the strategic things that bring us most value. This quote aims to remind us what’s most important and focus on that.
You run the day
If the day runs us at the cost of our priorities, which are important to us, it indicates that we are focusing on the wrong things. If you don’t know what’s important to you, how will you run the day? The first step to running your day is by identifying the most important things for you. The best way to do this is through the Eisenhower time management matrix which gives a pictorial representation of busy vs important demands on your time.
Once we identify these things, the next step is to create time for doing them. Don’t let the unconscious motion of a day take over what’s yours. This time like any other time is a precious one. If you don’t make full use of it, this will serve someone else’s need. Reorient your priorities and figure out a space to run your day by doing things that matter to you.
The day runs you
Now this is the less useful scenario where the demands of the day take over you. And whether we agree or not, there are numerous occasions where this happens and we lose track of the day. I recall the number of times where we reflect – where has the time gone. Time is elusive that way – it makes us think there’s a lot to do the things that we want to. This is the time where the urgent things take over our life over the important things.
I know I go on talking about this – but this is because it is so important. We tend to think that some of the important things can wait. But that’s a lie that we tell ourselves to procrastinate. If we want to take control and seize the day, we have to tackle this habit of procrastination. Time is in the now and the present moment. Unless we take charge, it will make us to the things that demand our attention. They are not always the most important ones.
Either you run the day or the day runs you
Jim Rohn
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It is very important to plan and prioritise works on a day. If we do this, we may have a satisfaction at the end of the day that we have accomplished something.
Very true Abhijit, it does get overwhelming at times to sort these priorities, especially when there are so many of them. I personally find a To DO list very compelling. Recently I have come across a software called Trello which enables you to manage these TO DO lists better and prioritise them based on needs. It is a freeware which I have found quite sensible to help with the thought process. Sort of goes back to the idea of Eisenhower matrix for time management.
As always a pleasure to converse with you.