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Time management is one of the most widely used term in today's fast paced life. Effectively utilizing time ensures success in life and career, and is considered an asset in itself, the one who invests time wisely reaps the benefit of the same.
It might not be always possible to effectively utilize time at our conveniences while we are at work, because of the work pressures faced at the work place. And when we are having some leisure time from the daily work activities, we usually spend the time according to our conveniences, like tea breaks etc.
But when we are not at work and not occupied with other routine tasks, we can use the available free time to make the best use of it. We use the free time to relax ourselves by taking some rest or engaging in the common activities which provide light entertainment and at the same time are a standard for the same in our society like movies, novels, virtual games, internet etc. These sources are easily accessible and within our reach. We have the common notion in our mind that these activities are relaxing, sometimes beneficial and there are no or very minimal side effects of them. But we need to understand the topic carefully and examine the undesirable effects of them more diligently.
Let us consider these common examples, in which people get engaged to utilize their free time, as movies, novels, virtual games and internet.
Why do we watch movies? The list of common answers can include: movies are a light entertainment, because my favorite actor/actress is in the movie, I watch movies for a time pass, I don't like movies but I watch them because of my friends' request. But at the same time the fact can not be ignored that a person watching movies gets emotionally involved with the incidents and situations taking place in the movie or develops some kind of likeness or dis-likeness with the characters of the movie. The movie which fails to capture the emotions or attention of the viewer appears boring and loses audience, so a person watching movie can not claim to be emotionally unaffected. Our thought process gets influenced by the sequences or situations presented in the movie. Directly or indirectly we have a particular image icon before us in our mind to follow, to discuss, according to our likeness of the role played by a person in the movie - how they live, think, act etc i.e. unknowingly, movie artists become our guides, our mentors. Anything endorsed by the movie artists is readily accepted by the people, despite the fact that the products being promoted are harmful to our health and environment to some or more extent, and might not be having any valuable factor at all.
Although, all these might not appear a concern, but these may have an unseen effect on every area of our life or in the long run, movies may shape our way of life, actions and emotions. A more possible risk of watching movies is to accept anything inappropriate presented in the movies and make it a part of our own life just because it got acknowledged by a fan following. Another risk would be hardening of the heart, since it is a natural human tendency that what appears shocking at first becomes a common thing on continued exposure.
In an attempt to be new and different, movies usually present something which is against the values in one way or the other. Even if the debates regarding the movie are settled down within a year, such movies have already made an impact on the society. Movie watching is a time consuming activity and some movies may leave a bad impression on the mind and memory for a long time. Movies can also act as a medium to create social awareness on particular issues, but rarely are such movies made and even more rarely they do get acknowledged. Even those movies are not entirely meant for a social cause, since the whole purpose of the movies is to attract the audience and earn profits (like money, name, fame, recognition, praise etc.), and not to perform any kind of social service. We might ask ourselves that whether is it a mandate to watch movies or have we developed dependency on movies? A person needs to use good discretion regarding the outcomes of it.
TV serials or dramas can similarly be placed in the same category with more or less similar outcomes.
Let us see novels now. Novel reading requires efforts and mental energy as opposed to watching TV or movies, like selecting a novel that gets our attention or suits our taste of reading, getting time out
from the busy schedule of the day to read the novel, finding a convenient and quite place suitable for reading etc.
Reading novels seem completely safe and is sometimes considered as a symbol of intellect and sophistication, but one should carefully examine that reading novels greatly influences our thought process and can have much lasting impressions on our memories and actions compared to watching TV or movies. Since novels are a writer's own viewpoints regarding things or elements, and the person reading them, on agreeing with the novelist, aligns his or her viewpoints accordingly. This in turn can lead a person into a world of thought process, far from reality, separating or disconnecting the person from the rest of the society. Reading novels can adversely affect the natural thinking process, viewpoints and actions of the reader, thus affecting the understanding of the reader regarding the surroundings. Although, this fact can not be fully ignored also that not all novels are misleading, but to reiterate, a person should carefully assess the outcomes of it and analyse as to whether is it required to read novels at all?
Comic books and magazines can similarly be placed in the same category with more or less similar outcomes.
Both the above sources can arouse false eagerness or keenness, and can mislead the people to error.
Games are an integral part of childhood and play an important part in an overall development of any person. Those children who play routinely, develop better problem solving skills along with sound physical and mental health. With decrease in the number of available areas that could be used as playgrounds, outdoor games are being replaced by indoor games like chess etc.
Although these games have their own advantages, physical exercise still remains a concern. And in very recent times, a new dimension of indoor games have been introduced called the virtual games or video games. Virtual games require much more concentration and involvement than that of the above two activities. The software simulations are used by defense forces like army, navy, air force to train their soldiers on softwares that emulate the real time machines or war scenarios, before the soldiers can be actually put to the same and are specially beneficial to them. But similar type of simulations being played by the children (or even by grown-up) as 'games' under the label of entertainment, can lead to serious consequences.
Since children or people can actually get mentally 'trained' to activities like shooting, and thus hardening their hearts by involving themselves in the hyper-real, hypothetical world or situations which the virtual games provide.
One may argue that these are just a light fun and even if learned, no one is actually going to use these skills in real life, but at the same it can be argued as well that is it required for the non-military persons, especially children, to learn activities like shooting just for the sake of having light fun? No, would be the definite answer. These games also damage the natural thinking process by affecting the imagination severely, apart from hindrance to the sound physical development. Thus, the virtual games should be completely avoided and the children should be encouraged to play outdoor, non-competitive games while ensuring their safety in the same.
Let us move on to the internet now. Internet has become more common and ever widely used since it's discovery. Today, almost every area of life, whether it be work or home, is touched by the internet. As with any other technology, internet also has it's own disadvantages. Spending much time on the internet exhausts the mental energy and beclouds the brain, or keeps oneself busy in an aimless or ineffective way. Internet finds it's craze among the youth, and they utilize internet for varied purposes like for study, learning, communicating etc. Connecting with the friends or family members over the internet is not an incorrect thing to do and there can be no remarks or comments against it.
But the youth is usually charged with enthusiasm and they assume to have a level of understanding which is perfect in their own eyes. Their actions are usually dictated by their emotions or feelings, which can be misguided by the uncontrolled or directionless use of the internet, which in turn can lead to internet rage, since there is no authority or guidelines on what a person can write (or technically, 'speak') on the internet. Normally, the youth share their ambitions, experiences, believes, likes, dislikes, achievements, failures etc. over the internet and in which case some persons might feel inferior to the others in terms of qualifications or status. Also, providing personal informations on the internet can give any unwanted agencies an insight into the personal life of the internet user. Like any other product, which when utilized beyond it's expected limits will lead to harmful effects, so is the internet, it may leave the user with long lasting, bitter experiences. Internet is not a bad invention, but the very use of it should be considered wisely.
Both the above two activities require a close contact with the monitor or screen, which can prove harmful to the eyes. Apart from it, sitting for hours in front of the screen can result in degrading effects on the body (like headache, back pain, problems arising due to wrong body postures etc.).
Although, all the above discussed activities seem to provide a temporary wave of comfort, none of them actually helps in refreshing the mind, but on the contrary puts a stress on the brain and occupy the thought process along with consuming the vital energy and time. Therefore, a person involving in the above tasks gets exhausted and needs a rest or sleep to recover and refresh. Thus, as a result our overall work productivity and work-life balance is affected. Moreover, excessive utilization of any of the above sources can bring about an addiction of the same.
In addition, all of the above sources can be used by the negative powers to mould, manipulate or control the thought process, viewpoints or actions of the people on mass scale to deceive them or to achieve immoral goals.
Detaching from all of the above activities completely would appear to be a super human task (and might not be required also, considering the degree of benefits a particular source can offer), but avoiding them as far as possible would be a good start. Furthermore, our decision of considering anything good or bad is influenced by various factors like our thoughts, viewpoints, likes or dislikes, our reputation in the society or friends etc. Thus at some points in time we might find ourselves in confusion as to what should be considered and what not, but the holy scriptures help us by providing the pathways to follow and guide us in times of our confusions, since these are from the almighty himself.
Any of the above mentioned activities or anything likewise can be put to the following test as mentioned in the scriptures:
Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. {Philippians 4:8}
Since our thought process defines who and what we are, thereby creating our specific viewpoints:
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. {Proverbs 23:7}
Taking some rest from the routine activities, relaxing, sleeping, a light morning or evening walk, if possible some physical exercises are all the possible ways through which a person can relax himself or herself. These are encouraged also and will help in creating a well balanced life, but then life would solely be consisting of work and leisure time activities, having little or no aspect of godliness.
Nothing in this world is achievable without effort or price, and if anything does is available, then as natural human tendency, the man has no gratitude for it and takes it for granted, e.g. the sunlight, the air we breathe in, which are a gift from the almighty and sustain life.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. {James 1:17}
What if there were no sunlight available to the earth? (say, because of any scientific event unknown to man till now) All vegetation would die and as a result the life would also extinct from the earth. People might claim that this can never happen because of so or so scientific reasons, but one can realize that the possibility of the same can not be fully ignored also.
Nevertheless, our heavenly father is a storehouse of compassion, full of grace and mercy, as the scriptures declare and forgive us our foolishness.
The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. {Psalms 145:8}
Similarly, the holy scriptures are within the reach of every individual and at the same time, studying them require honest efforts, prayer and diligence But because of getting engaged in the above mentioned activities, studying the holy scriptures appear a tedious task, the mind is not able to understand, accept or appreciate the word of Yahuwah and the promises of eternal life, offered as an opportunity by the almighty to all who would believe in his word, loose value in our sight.
So what should we do to ensure that our free time gets utilized effectively and we refresh ourselves, without requiring any inaccessible resources or strenuous efforts, and at the same time have the aspects of godliness also? This appears to be an almost impossible goal to achieve and if anyone does knows the solution, the same can create a business of it. Nevertheless, again we turn to the scriptures and receive the answers. Studying the holy scriptures and practicing meditation would be the most suitable one.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide. {Genesis 24:63}
Take some time out from the daily busy life and spend it with the scriptures alone, meditating on them. If possible, go to a nearby garden, field or naturally planted areas, isolated from the noise and crowd at least once a week, leaving every tension and cares of the life, meditating on the scriptures and trying to connect with our creator.
Not only is this activity practicable, without requiring any inaccessible resources, investments or strenous efforts and not specifically meant for the saint like persons only, but at the same time refreshes, regenerates and restores the mind, body and soul.
Even, our saviour Yahushua, spent time praying alone when he was on earth, while he was not preaching the gospel or healing the diseases.
The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. {Matthew 13:1}
And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. {Matthew 14:23}
And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. {Matthew 15:29}
Life and situations will continue to tense as we approach the great day. But hiding from the truth, turning to false hopes and involving in activities which are not fruitful, instead of preparing for the great day, will work to our harm only.
There can be no end to the arguments and excuses one may put forth to escape, especially those relating to time (like having no time).
Time itself is a gift from the almighty and should not be considered to be passed. It is you who would be making the choice of how to effectively utilize time.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. {Ecclesiastes 3:1, 2}
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