Uncertain Time- A hack to overcome anxiousness

Last week I was asked to give a talk on ‘Time Management. Ironically, I admitted that I had prepared the presentation at the last minute and the audience seemed to relate to this procrastination crisis. After all, everyone procrastinates something. Soon after the talk, the tools and tips on overcoming procrastination were neatly presented in a PowerPoint, of which, I was sure that, many people wouldn’t even bother to implement a single practical step. I’ve been travailing for a long time but somehow I have administered time to meet the deadlines of the assigned works even if it meant to be mindless frantic labor. But then this Covid crisis bothered me.

The Uncertain Questions

What’s the point in doing anything if this pandemic persists to prolong. What’s the point of time management? The purpose? Questions bombarded me. This is undoubtedly an exercise in futility, I thought. What if all my plans end up in vain by the pandemic? Uncertainty bogged me. I’m sure it bogs you too.

But then a stoic idea popped in my head. I have read somewhere about Marcus Aurelius’ talk about birds and purpose. So I set out to find the quote and here it is:

“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: ‘I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?’

— But it’s nicer in here …

So you were born to feel ‘nice’? Instead of doing things and experiencing them? Don’t you see the plants, the birds, the ants and spiders and bees going about their individual tasks, putting the world in order, as best they can? And you’re not willing to do your job as a human being? Why aren’t you running to do what your nature demands?

— Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

This was like a good awakening slap. Shouldn’t I be, in some way, trying to put the world in order? To show up every day amidst the ever-present uncertainty is the most important thing. This is yet another way to beat procrastination. So, just in case you feel overwhelmed and not sure about things, just remember to focus on the day. Do your best. Make memories. Time is short, but that does not mean we should give up, lie in our bed, and snort, ‘this isn’t nice.’ As human beings that is not our job.

You can buy Meditations here.