Manage Your Time

Manage Your Time

Every day is filled with distractions of all types. In order to be truly successful as a martial artist, you must learn to manage your time effectively. All aspects of your life will begin to run more smoothly if you are able to put things in their proper place from a priority standpoint. What are the things that are most important to you? What are the things that must be done first and foremost every day? An essential key to managing time is prioritizing your daily routine.

More than one book has been written about the habits of people who are effective. A notable trait in several of them is the premise of writing a short list each morning of things you want to accomplish. Assert to yourself that you will not begin the second thing until the first is done. Go on down the list in this fashion until each task is accomplished.

Naturally, you will have to balance between your personal life and things like your career, school, martial arts training, etc. Each of these things deserves their proper time in your life, but it is up to you to decide how much time is allotted to them. There will be some things in your life that may be more important but will require less time. Conversely, there will be other things that may be less important, but will require more time to do them properly.

As a beginning student, your priority might be simply learning to stand and balance properly. As you continue to grow in your training, your priorities in doing more advanced forms well will grow. Studying the martial arts on any level requires developing certain disciplines in your life. You will be able to utilize that discipline in managing your time. Instead of allowing yourself to dwell on activities that are neither beneficial nor productive, you will be able to bring your energy into focus so that the things that need to be done will be done well.