How discipline transforms your time, boosts your productivity – Expert

Discipline and effective management of time are essential for achieving success in both personal and professional life.

Poor time management can disrupt daily routines, reduce productivity, and prevent individuals from reaching their full potential.

Indiscipline, in particular, has contributed to the culture of “African time,” where one schedule often overlaps another, leaving individuals unable to control their timing and depriving them of proper rest.

This mismanagement, experts say, creates a cycle of lost opportunities and limits efficiency in all areas of life.

Ola Barnabas, a business consultant, life coach, author of 18 books, and public speaker, told SolaceBase in an exclusive interview that his work focuses on helping people critically examine how they use their time.

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“I wanted to trigger reflection on how we have always used time and the results we’ve gotten. Most times, we don’t improve because we never interrogate what we have done or how we have done it,” he said.

He explained that reviewing daily routines allows individuals to identify gaps and areas where performance can be improved.

“When we begin to look at what we have done and how we have done it, we can see where we didn’t perform well and where we can improve,” he added.

Barnabas emphasized that life is structured around three main blocks: sleep, work, and leisure. “It’s not about how much time you have, but what you do within the time available for real work,” he said.

Proper allocation and tracking of these time blocks, he noted, are essential for improving productivity and achieving balance.

He also highlighted the Pomodoro technique, a time-management method that alternates 25 minutes of focused work with 5-minute breaks, followed by longer rest periods.

“If you follow this technique, you can account for every hour and significantly improve your efficiency,” he said.

On the topic of African time, Barnabas explained that it is a cultural practice rather than an inevitable behavior.

“Many treat African time as permanent and unchangeable, but that is not true. We can discipline ourselves to be punctual and responsible,” he said.

He stressed that punctuality should be observed in all aspects of life. “If a meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m., be there on time—or even before.

“If you cannot make it, discipline demands that you request an extension. It’s not acceptable to repeatedly arrive late and treat it as normal,” he added.

Barnabas concluded by emphasizing that developing discipline around time can lead to greater efficiency, accountability, and success in all areas of life.

“How we use our time determines the results we achieve. Discipline is the bridge between wasted hours and productive, meaningful work,” he said.