We talk about time as if it were fixed, objective, and measurable. “24 hours a day,” “60 minutes an hour,” “tick-tock, tick-tock.” But the truth is this: we don’t experience time with our clocks — we experience it with our hearts.
This visual I came across reminded me of something powerful:
Time is slow when you wait.
Time is fast when you are late.
Time is deadly when you are sad.
Time is short when you are happy.
Time is endless when you are in pain.
Time is long when you feel bored.
Every time, time is determined by your feelings — not by clocks.
And the more I reflected, the more I realised how true this is, especially in the way we work, live, and serve others.
⏳ Why This Hit Me Hard (My Personal Reflection)
As someone who manages multiple roles — trainer, CEO, father, community builder — people often ask me, “Coach, how do you manage your time?”
For many years, I thought the answer was better scheduling, better apps, better planning.
But the older I get, the clearer it becomes:
💡 The real challenge is not managing time. It is managing emotion, intention, and presence.
Two hours of stressed, scattered energy feels like 10 hours.
But one hour of inspired, meaningful work feels like 10 minutes.
And in Islam, we’re reminded of this often.
Allah SWT says:
“By time. Indeed, mankind is in loss.”
(Surah Al-Asr)
Why?
Because time is not the enemy.
Lack of purpose is.
⏱️ When Time Moves Fast… or Slow
Here’s what I notice in my own life:
1. Time moves fast when I’m doing meaningful work.
When I’m training teachers, speaking to students, or helping parents understand AI — those moments fly.
Because my heart is full.
2. Time moves painfully slow when I’m not aligned.
Admin tasks with no clarity…
Meetings without purpose…
Work that doesn’t bring impact…
This is when minutes feel like hours.
3. Time expands when there is barakah.
Sometimes, Allah SWT puts so much blessing in a short window that you get more done in 2 hours than in 2 days.
This is something we can’t explain logically — but we feel it.
Barakah changes everything.
🧠 The Psychology of Time: We Don’t Feel Time; We Interpret It
This is the part many people forget:
➡️ Time is emotional, not mechanical.
➡️ We live time through meaning, not measurement.
Two people can live the same day — one feels overwhelmed, the other feels grateful and productive.
Same 24 hours.
Different internal experience.
And this is why managing your heart is far more important than managing your calendar.
🌙 As Muslims, We Have a Secret Advantage: Our Daily Rhythm
Our solat times naturally structure our day.
Not by force.
By grounding.
Every prayer is a reset — a reminder that:
✨ We are not in control.
✨ We do the effort; Allah decides the outcome.
✨ Time is a trust, not a trophy.
When I align my day around solat, family, health, and meaningful work… suddenly, time feels lighter.
Even when the workload hasn’t changed.
🔑 Six Practical Lessons About Time (From My Own Journey)
Here’s what I’ve learned — and continue to learn:
1. Meaning makes time feel shorter.
Work with purpose, and your day becomes energising.
2. Clarity speeds time up.
When you know exactly what to do, you move faster.
3. Overwhelm slows everything down.
Confusion makes even simple tasks feel heavy.
4. Barakah multiplies your time.
Dua, intention, and sincerity make your hours stretch.
5. Pain distorts time.
Stress, sadness, and emotional fatigue make the day feel endless.
6. Presence is the real productivity.
When you are truly “there,” time becomes your ally.
🌟 My Biggest Realisation About Time
Time is not about speed.
Time is not about quantity.
Time is not about the clock.
Time is about state — your emotional, spiritual, and psychological condition.
And when your state is right, your time becomes right.
📌 Final Reflection
Every day, Allah gives us a new page.
The question is not how much time we have, but how present, intentional, and grateful we are in the time we’re given.
Because in the end, time does not change us — we change time.
May Allah put barakah in all our hours, minutes, and moments.
Amin.
If You're Reading This…
Take a moment today to reset.
Ask yourself:
“What state am I bringing into my time?”
Because when your heart is aligned,
your time becomes powerful.
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