In one of the football matches in African cup of nations, the host country was leading 4-0 into the game. They were obviously going to win. But then the match took a nail-biting turn. The failing team started to fight back and made a miraculous comeback; they scored four goals in the last 11 minutes and the game was a draw.





The host nation took 79 minutes to make four goals but the other team did this in just 11 minutes. Some people work better under pressure. But this is only one of the tricks of being efficient and productive. The trick lies in mastering time. Below are some of the fundamental aspects one must understand while trying to master time.






The early bird: 4.30 am, according to our ancients, is Brahmamahurtam. It’s the most tranquil time of day and is suitable for meditation, spiritual practices, and also learning. Waking up at 4.30 am may not be practical for most people living and working in cities, but there is no doubt that waking up early is one of the habits of the more successful people. Waking up early gives you time to plan your day in a calmer state and has a huge impact on your productivity. It’s always peaceful in the morning and that’s a bonus; it gives you a headstart. The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.






Deadlines: A guitar sounds good when it’s tuned right and the strings are stretched. If the strings are loose, it sounds out of tune naturally. Similarly, to tune ourselves right, we have to stretch ourselves a bit. Food too gets cooked best under pressure. Some amount of pressure is required to bring out the best in us. If we fail to plan, it means we have planned to fail. Make a time-table or a proper schedule of your upcoming tasks, challenge yourself with a strict timeline. This will improve your performance.



In Mahabharat, when Bhishma Pitamah lay dying on his bed of arrows, Lord Krishna and the Pandavas sought his advice on how to live successfully. This is what the wise Bhishma said: `Keeping this body fit is your first duty. See that you don’t do anything that harms your body.



Secondly , value your time. Live life like this is the final moment and you have to live it well...’ On the other hand, we should keep in mind that excessive pressure can be harmful. Just as a guitar string should not be too loose, it shouldn’t be too tight either because a too tight string snaps.



So keep in mind; ensure that the pressure you create for yourself doesn’t turn into tension.






A mindful break: A break is just as important as a deadline. But the break you take should be a mindful one. Its easy to get sucked into your Whatsapp messages which then lead you into photos and videos and a lot of useless information you don’t need; the result is this strains your eyes and it tires you to some extent affecting your productivity. Instead, try getting off your seat, stretching your legs; this is essential if you have been sitting for a long time. Go to your window, look at something in the distance to relax your eyes which have been looking at a screen all this while. Close your eyes for a few minutes and try to still your mind, do some asanas to feel refreshed, bend forward, backwards, stretch your limbs. This mindful break is like hitting the Reset button and then you can start again with renewed energy.





The world is moving at a faster pace and one has to keep pace with this faster world. The need of the hour is not just to work hard, but to work smart. The three aforementioned tips should help you to work smart.






Authored by: Dr Hansaji Yogendra, The Yoga Institute