Abraham Maslow
Hierarchy of needs

In 1943 Abraham Maslow wrote an article that set out a system of living. This system is known as Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs”.  Today it can be used to develop time management in your life.

Overview

The hierarchy of needs assumes that you are motivated by your needs.  These are things that you want, to enable you to enjoy life.

If you fail to meet these needs then you might become depressed, sick, or even angry.

There are different levels of needs, basics such as food and shelter to more complex needs such as a sense of belonging and accomplishment.

The Abraham Maslow theory says that our needs can be divided into five different levels.  They are laid out in a sort of pyramid. The needs at the bottom are the most basic needs.  These form the foundation and they need to be met first.  Once they are met we can focus on the next level and so on.

Physiological Needs

The bottom of the pyramid is Physiological needs.  These form the foundation of the needs pyramid. These are the basics that every individual must have to survive. Before any higher level needs can be addressed, the basics must be sufficiently met.

These particular needs include food, water, air, sleep, and shelter. Without these basic needs you could you not survive.  In addition you wouldn't be able to motivate yourself.  You'd struggle to survive.

To be able to focus your time and abilities on other needs these basic life essentials need to be taken care of first.

Safety Needs

The next level in the Abraham Maslow pyramid is Safety needs.  These are more complex than physiological needs.  However they are still some of the most basic needs that exist. These are the things that help you feel more secure in your life.  They help to give you a push towards achieving higher level needs and goals.

Needs in this category include job security, living in a safe home, having good health, obtaining financial savings, and so on. If these needs are not met, all of your time is spent trying to obtain them. While you are striving to achieve this lower level need, the higher-level ones are being ignored.  This can lead to emotional and physical problems.

If you, for instance, do not have a stable job your free time is spent searching for a better position. You become totally focused on this basic need until a better situation is achieved. Meeting safety needs is essential to living a happy life.

Social Needs

After your physiological and safety needs you focus on social needs. Social needs are what keep you connected to the outside world. Filling these needs helps with personal happiness.

It is the interaction with others that is important to avoiding depression and loneliness. To meet the complex needs, firm relationships must be established.

Social needs include; love, friendships, family happiness and belonging to groups and societies.

The time you spend with others helps you to fulfill your social needs. When one or more of these has not been met, it can keep you from moving forward.

Esteem Needs

Towards the top of the Abraham Maslow pyramid are the esteem needs. These can be hard to achieve.  But they are worth aiming for.  Successful and fulfilled people have learned to obtain them and you can too.

The qualities found at this level are the ones that help you to be sure of yourself.  They can help you to become better at what you do.

At this level you are free to begin bettering yourself and your situation.  You won't take away lower level needs by improving at this level of need.

Esteem needs include recognition, reputation, self-respect, and achievement; things that help to boost your self esteem. They help the way you feel about yourself and they must be met before you can move on to the highest level of needs.

Self-actualization

Self-Actualization is at the top of the needs pyramid. Most individuals will live their whole lives without completely meeting these complex needs.  These are the needs that you will strive to achieve most of your life.

To become self-actualized, you must live up to your full potential. Since you are always growing both emotionally and mentally this is very hard.  There is always something new to learn and so often this most complex need is never fully met.

Those people who do learn to achieve self-actualization live satisfied and fulfilled lives.  They obtain levels of complete happiness.

Hierarchy and time management

The hierarchy of needs is only one of many time management theories.  You can read more about theories in this complementary text to Abraham Maslow.   It is worth looking at other theories and time management activities.  They will help you learn how to achieve a happy and balanced life.

By following the Abraham Maslow needs pyramid, you can achieve the things you need to get done. It lays out a path for you, so that you know what to focus your time on.  As you succeed at each level you can move upwards until all your needs are successfully met.

Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory can set the guidelines for your time management schedule. Follow the theory and outline what needs you have met and which ones still need to be met.  Set yourself accurate goals and work towards achieving them. Now instead of wasting your time on needs or goals that can’t be met, you can effectively use your time to meet your needs in a productive order.