Seneca on the best use of time

I love ancient #timemanagement techniques because they do not rely on technology. They revolve around human nature and the concentration of one’s efforts; and their advice can be put into practice right away. In his Letters to Lucilius, #seneca made recommendations on time #management, especially in the 47th and 101st Letters. His advice can be condensed in one word: consistency. I must however acknowledge that it is hard to implement. Seneca had perfectly understood that time management isn’t about little tricks that enable us to gain a few minutes here and there. In the long term, those little gains don’t amount to much because they are unsustainable without strong #motivation . From Seneca’s perspective, time management is about focus and self-discipline. It rests on the willingness to say no to less important activities, so that we can concentrate our efforts on a few areas. Seneca mentions that Cleanthes (330-230 BC) possessed this kind of focus and self-discipline. In spite of his limited financial resources, he devoted sustained efforts to learning philosophy. The fact that he had to earn a living doing menial jobs hadn’t discouraged him from pursuing knowledge. If we imitate Cleanthes, we’ll manage our time excellently and advance in the direction of our dreams. Consistency is the key element in this respect. Seneca emphasised the importance of acquiring the habit of pursuing the right goals. Seneca also refers to the drills performed by Roman soldiers in times of peace. Those exercises required daily effort, but helped Roman soldiers move fast and effectively in the face of danger. By investing their efforts in acquiring skills, Roman soldiers enhanced their fighting abilities. They cultivated their skills on a consistent basis, so that they would be able to move quickly during battles. Their time management was the result of doing the right thing every day. Good time management, Seneca explained, is the outcome of good habits. When we teach ourselves to do the right thing, our habits will automatically drive us in the right direction. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/seneca-on-the-best-use-of-time/