Extraordinary Time-Management Techniques
A Book Review of The 26-Hour Day by Vince Panella
Jun 20, 2009 Cynthia Jones-Shoeman
The elusive thing that is time—most people say they need more of it, and even more say they wish there were additional hours in a day. Panella's book, The 26-Hour Day: How to Gain at Least 2 Hours a Day with Time Control, offers a virtually longer day. The author states that if readers change their behavior, they will control time in such a way that they will have two to four hours more in their day to use than before.
Panella calls his method "Success-Centered Time Management." He states that most "traditional" time control strategies focus on organizing one's time, but he insists that, if readers don't change their behaviors, they will simply return to their old ways in short order. He maintains that focusing on one's behavior is the key to truly controlling one's time.
Modules First Step to Time Management
Panella's book is not divided into chapters but modules. The author says that the modules are meant to be read, absorbed, thought about, and worked on; a reader should spend three or four weeks on each module until it has become a part of her life. Only then should she move on to the next module.
Panella tells readers to complete the modules in order. He says that readers can read a module and complete it and then move on to the following module, but some may want to read through the book first and then begin completing modules. He says that both methods are acceptable.
A Roadmap Helps Readers Control Time
Panella says that his method offers readers a "roadmap." Specifically, he states, "Repetition leads to consistency; consistency leads to discipline; and discipline leads to success." Each module focuses on using this roadmap.
Panella likens himself to a coach, because, he says, "[a] coach focuses on action," rather than simply giving facts. He begins with offering knowledge but quickly moves on to tell readers how to conquer their previous habits. Each module contains several worksheets so that readers can immediately begin taking charge of their lives.
Three Areas to Focus On Help Readers with Time Management
Panella insists that, by acting on three particular "categories," one can create more hours in his day. He says these three areas are decreasing "Distractions and Time Wasters," "Improv[ing] . . . Action Systems," and "Increas[ing] . . . Performance." Readers familiar with time management strategies will notice some of these suggestions; again, however, Panella's focus is on changing one's behavior long term.
Some individual modules focus on at least one of these categories, but some of them instead change one's outlook to prepare oneself for what comes next. For example, the first module deals with what Panella calls "clarity." In this module, Panella asks his readers to evaluate their lives as they are now and then envision where they want their lives to be in the near future. Readers look at all areas of their lives to gain a clear sense of where they are at this moment in time—financially, spiritually, at work and in relationships, etc. But readers don't stop there after envisioning what they want to change. Then they must brainstorm possible ways to get from here to there.
Successful Time Management Results Big Changes with Minimal Effort
Panella says that some behaviors will be hard to change, but he also promises that one need not spend hours a day to put his method to work. He contends that if one spends three to four weeks on each module (there are thirteen altogether), it will take about a year to complete, but daily time spent will be "minimal." Readers can benefit from his method even by "only invest[ing] a few minutes a day, five days a week."
The 26-Hour Day is truly different from most books of its kind (he even urges his readers to get more, rather than less, sleep to save time!). Instead of giving readers ideas on how to simply organize their time and space, Panella urges readers to look inward and change their behaviors for time control that sticks.
Resources:
Panella, Vince. The 26-Hour Day: How to Gain at Least 2 Hours a Day with Time Control. Career Press. ISBN 978-1564145802
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