Take Your Time: Finding Balance in a Hurried World

This is an outstanding book for improving the quality of one's life and learning time management. Absolutely outstanding practical tips on how to make most efficient use of one's time. I would recommend it to anyone who feels oppressed by the pressure of time and wants to cultivate good work and personal relationships. [...]

I wish I had read this book 10 years ago. I came upon this author's name when looking at a list of suggested reading in Laurel's Kitchen, and I am so glad! Since I started reading this book I have been implementing the processes and learning how to slow down my thoughts, focus on one thing at a time, and (surprise!) reduce my stress level. Using these techniques has been more helpful than I could have imagined at reducing my stress at work/home & keeping me focused. In order for this book to have a positive impact on you (as it did for me) you must be willing to have an open mind and give the techniques a chance. That is, you must implement the techniques for the book to make an impact on your life. For example, one of my favorite new habits is getting up a little earlier every day so that I have time to sit down & eat breakfast my husband, and still have time to NOT feel rushed in getting to work in the morning. I would not have started doing that if it weren't for reading this book. On a more editorial note, Eknath is a captivating story-teller, and the book was a joy to read. I felt I wanted to read it slowly as every word seems to be carefully chosen, and I didn't want to miss anything good. Anyway, if you are open to finding ways to slow down your mind & become more comfortable within yourself, please read this book!

I have not read this author in the past. I found the book to be an easy read. His suggestions were very simple and easy to understand. The best part was his ability to explain how to work those suggestions into anyone's lifestyle.

Take Your Time: How To Find Patience, Peace & Meaning is the second edition of a classic self-help text by spiritual teacher Eknath Easwaran (1910-1999), originally published in 1994. Written for readers of all religious and spiritual traditions, as well as those of no religious affiliation, Take Your Time is not about any form of dogma, but rather a blend of insights drawn from Eastern and Western spirituality, to apply to the problems of modern life. Chapters mull the importance of focusing on one thing at a time, balancing work, play, relationships, duties, and spirituality, setting aside time for meaningful relationships, and discovering our own real nature within - "We are not imperfect physical creatures. Our essence is spiritual, and our greatest need is simply to discover our real nature." Easwaran's eight fold path of Meditation, Mantram, Slowing Down, One-Pointed Attention, Training the Senses, Putting Others First, Spiritual Companionship, and Reading the Mystics (the writings of great spiritual figures and the scriptures of all religions) is an uplifting and enlightening guide to higher spiritual awareness and the pursuit of contentment in daily life.

This was the first book of Easwaran's that I read. I was expecting a normal time-management handbook - how to prioritise my busy life, how to step back from daily pressures and really organise my To Do list properly. But the opening words were "This is a book about slowing down..." How would that help? I needed to know how to get things done faster, not slow down! Gradually, gently, through story after story, Easwaran shows that hurry and pressure are best handled by getting control of your own mind. The book is easy to read yet full of wisdom, and behind the the conversational style there are conclusions which impact you with real strength. This is a handbook on time-management but more than that it's a handbook on getting balance in your life, dealing with your relationships, and re-energising yourself.