“Time and Tide waits for no one” was a proverbial phrase first appearing about 1395 in Chaucer’s “Prologue to the Clerk’s Tale.”

Now 631 years later, the discoveries and inventions that have been made continue to change the trajectory of the human world but yet, still today, we do not have the capability to stop the passage of time or the movement of the ocean tides.

The thought of aging as a youngster has a very different meaning for the elderly. To hear a senior citizen say “I can’t wait for my next birthday” is most likely not said, but ask any elementary student and the answer comes with a smile.

This topic of aging and time is on my mind as my coworker, our Trumbull County Transit Administrator, is retiring, just as millions of people have already experienced before him. This does not mean that the program he administered — the Trumbull County Senior and Disabled Transportation — comes to a halt, but that the Trumbull County Commissioners had to plan and decide next steps in transportation for the sake of service continuity as time doesn’t stop and wait for next steps. The transit will continue to roll just as the clock continues to tick.

Planning fosters success. The Trumbull County Commissioners have the difficult job of planning for our entire county. Not every plan is successful, but to merely have a plan gives meaning to the day. Time is irreversible once it passes; it can’t be recovered. To procrastinate to the point of being too late is one evil use of time.

As a grand lesson in life for those just starting their working life: Plan for that retirement. Start retirement planning and saving early even with the smallest amounts. This is when time is on your side as the longer you save, the larger the end result.

The universal truth is that time applies to all people equally and ticks away regardless of your personal situation. It’s easy to understand how someone could feel overwhelmed and not want to deal with responsibilities of life, therefore allowing time to escape them. Effective time management for anyone, young or old, helps us to focus on prioritizing tasks, break larger jobs into smaller steps, and use routines to reduce the overwhelming mindset.

Start each day with a daily “need to do list” and “want to do list”. Try to keep that list realistic and prioritize that need to do list. When my husband retired, he told me I was not allowed to give him a “honey-do list.” He does do a fine enough job creating his own list and doesn’t need me to tell him what to do.

As a child, we are taught to do our chores first before playing so as an adult, hit that “need to do” list and then go play.

Using the 5-Minute-Touch-it-Rule can help organize your space better. If a task takes less than 5 minutes, do not procrastinate. Take care of the matter immediately to avoid that pileup of papers, mail, trash removal, dirty dishes in the sink and clothes clutter. Hang up your coat or clothes, put your shoes in their place, and wash that dirty coffee cup. Leaving your clutter to gather more clutter just causes a bigger job to do later and involves more time to complete the chore.Setting a routine of daily duties also helps with continuity of addressing these small matters, which reduces that decision fatigue of overwhelm when trying to prioritize what needs done first.

Most importantly, do not hesitate to ask for help whether the help is from friends and family or inquire if a service is available through many agencies throughout our area. The Trumbull County Senior Levy does provide homemaker or personal care/home-delivered meals/lawn mowing, although a wait list exists for all the services. This office encourages those who need the service without any other means of assistance to call the office and be placed on that wait list.

One issue of larger concern is a hoarding condition. This simply is not a matter of just organizing a space for the person suffering from this condition. This involves specialists in mental health. And time. This discussion occurs more frequently these days, but yet is not a program available to the extent of a formerly organized program. To plan that takes time. And I am running out of time. Time rolls on.

I once read this little sign that had a picture of a frog on it catching flies that read: “Time’s fun when you’re having flies.” — Kermit the Frog QuoteFancy+1

This playful twist on the well-known saying “time flies when you’re having fun” is a pun that swaps “fun” with “flies” (as in insects), creating a humorous double meaning.

Have fun, but with proper time management.

Diane Siskowic-Jurkovic is the Trumbull County Senior Levy Administrator.