lifestyle and culture

11 incredible women talk to Emirates Woman on how they optimise time and what wisdom time has brought to their lives.
Tania Santos Silva (Founder of Lala Diamonds)

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your younger self?
This is a very therapeutic question. There’s so much I would like to tell the young Tania. First thing would be: you’re loved – they’re doing the best they can with what they have and know. Be more selfish and less available – definitely learn to say “No.” Finish law school instead of swapping to journalism – don’t be lazy! Do a master’s in communications after. Don’t waste so much time seeking validation or perhaps, love more, live more, be more careless and regret nothing. After all, your path led you here, Tania,you’re being featured in Emirates Woman, you’re doing great.
Time is your greatest currency – how do you use your time wisely?
This is a tricky one. Lately, I’ve been super focused on my time, family and people. I don’t waste any more time with what doesn’t suit me, nor do I adapt my time to others. The last three months have been life-changing; honestly, right now, as I answer this, I’m all about healing and journaling and using my time wisely and prioritizing. If I’m not in the mood, I won’t stay longer or go. My time is priceless. I prioritise what I have to do each week in terms of meetings – in-person or online, personal appointments and errands, laptop work, or workshop work. Of course, I always find time to see my friends, go to the gym, do leisure and work travels and so on. I also include my goals for the week, which is always there because if I don’t reach them, they pass to the following week’s schedule. I always anticipate some roadblocks on the way. The trick here is to spend your time wisely with intent. We all have different definitions of time, so the best way to have a more common meaning is to spend quality time doing what you love and with the people you love. Don’t forget your tasks – goals and responsibilities.
Sara Rahbari (Founder Of Chic Le Frique
If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Well, going back in time is certainly not an option. That might not necessarily be a bad thing because if we could, we might never be able to experience all the ups and downs and ride all those learning curves that life throws at us. So, my advice to my younger self would be not to worry and stress as much as I did. Keep living life and taking in all the experiences on this journey to evolve into a better human being.
Time is your greatest currency – how do you use your time wisely?
I actually think time cannot be looked at as currency. Time is definitely way more precious. It is the one thing that you cannot make more of. Therefore, it is extremely important for me to organize my time during the day to find the right balance between my family, myself and my work. Although I have to admit it. That is easier said than done.
Lama Jouni (Founder Of Fashion Label Lama Jouni)

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your younger self?
I believe we tend to overthink and worry about the future too much but in the end, everything will happen to our own benefit.
Time is your greatest currency – how do you use your time wisely?
I try to use time with balance. Meaning I like my days to be versatile and not only focused on work.
Lindsay Doran (Founder Of Activewear Brand L’Couture)

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your younger self?
I like to live my life with no regrets, but I would tell my younger self to trust the journey, to always believe in myself and know that things always work out the way they are supposed to. Time is your greatest currency – how do you use your time wisely? Being an entrepreneur and busy mum of three, life is always hectic. Training is a huge part of my life and a non-negotiable in my daily schedule, so my days are usually planned out meticulously to ensure I fit this in around time with my kids and time at the office. I have to really plan everything out so I can ensure I have time to fit everything in. There are never enough hours in the day but sticking to a plan really is the only way it all happens.
Rawdha Thani (Founder Of Fashion Label Illi)

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to be less critical of herself and not be as tough on herself. I feel like sometimes I was hard on myself when I was doing the best I could in many aspects, but I always felt like I needed to do more. One more thing, I wish I did not give myself deadlines for things before reaching a certain age, there is no timeline to doing things and there is no age limit to when to accomplish things.
Time is your greatest currency – how do you use your time wisely?
I am guilty of planning my week ahead and logging everything into my calendar, so I hold myself accountable and because I’m very forgetful. I find this really helps me organize my time. I’m also very good at taking time off for myself when needed, especially lately which gets me very motivated and fuels me with energy.
Caroline Receveur (Entrepreneur)

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell her to dare and go for what she believes in, without worrying about what other people think as long as it makes sense to her. I would tell her to always be grateful, even for the mistakes and bad encounters, because that’s the only way to learn. And most importantly, I would tell her to always trust her intuition and follow her heart.
Time is your greatest currency – how do you use your time wisely?
I try to organize my time around the things and people who make me feel good, so I can nourish myself with good energies and give it back.
Amanda Rushforth (Sustainable Content Creator)
If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your younger self?
I would honestly say to myself that there’s a much bigger picture to look at and that we have a lifetime to achieve our goals, enjoy being in the moment. I would also tell myself to put down my phone, worry less, travel more and ask more questions. I loved school and sports and often wish I could go back to reliving that team spirit.
Time is your greatest currency – how do you use your time wisely?
I have a very clear list of priorities and my family is at the top, so I make sure that my time is always time well spent. I also make sure I carve out time for myself as our health is our greatest asset.
Sonia Leretz (Co-Founder And Managing Partner, Revalue Consulting)

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your younger self?
I lookback and think that when we are young, there is no escape but to live with what life throws at us because we have very little control at the time. Life back then resembles a flipper game, where we are the flipper ball. It’s part of the process to play the game, and my advice would be to take distance from reality, and grasp time to better anticipate, play the game, with the cards aligned with my aspirations.
Time is your greatest currency – how do you use your time wisely?
I perceive time as a resource, as a process to be nurtured. I will not perceive time as a constraint, or something that will make me accelerate. In the contrary, I will give time to time: to better invest myself in what I do and with whom I share my time with, with the objective to always absorb the present.
Nadine Kanso (Founder of Jewellery Brand bil Arabi)

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your younger self?
My advice to my younger self would be to be bolder and less shy. One should not try to change things. As I am a true believer in what is meant to be, will be. When we are young, we frequently have a fearless attitude and a willingness to take risks, which can help us achieve our goals and objectives. That is particularly why my advice to my younger self would be to be more courageous. However, as we age, we can become more hesitant and risk-averse, which can cause us to miss out on chances. I believe it is critical to nurture afearless and open mindset. That includes being willing to take calculated risks, try new things, and pursue our passions even if they appear intimidating at first. Of course, being bold does not imply being irresponsible or ignoring the dangers and drawbacks of a decision. However, it does include being willing to move outside of our comfort zones and take actions toward our goals, even if we are unsure of the outcome. Taking a chance and being brave when it counts, in my experience, leads to some of the most gratifying opportunities and experiences in life. So, my advice to everyone, young or old, is to keep an open mind, to be interested and to never be scared to take a bet on yourself and your ambitions.
Time is your greatest currency – how do you use your time wisely?
Time is life. Our whole lives are measured against time, which makes it that much more precious. Time is, in my opinion, one of the most valuable commodities we have in life. We can’t earn more time or get it back after it’s gone, unlike money. That is why it is critical to be careful of how we use our time and to ensure that we are utilizing it in ways that are consistent with our beliefs and aspirations. Time, in my opinion, is not a currency, rather it is a currency of sorts, and it’s up to each of us to decide how we want to spend it. That means being intentional about setting priorities, making time for the people and activities that matter most to us, and avoiding distractions or timewasters that don’t add value to our lives. Ultimately, I believe that time is a precious gift, that we should enjoy and make the most of. That might mean being more mindful of how we use our time, setting clearer priorities, or making changes to our daily routines and habits to better align with our goals and values. But whatever we do, it’s important to remember that time is a finite resource, and we should use it wisely.
Sumayyah Al Suwaidi (Talented Artist)

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Believe in yourself and your capabilities, be true to yourself and throw the word fear out of the window.
Time is your greatest currency – how do you use your time wisely?
I divide my time between my loved ones and work. I do my best to balance to the point that I don’t feel like I am working anymore. It is just so integrated into my life that even when I am working it feels like a normal casual day.
Nayla Albaloushi (First Emirati Woman To Scale Mount Everest)
If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your younger self?
I don’t have any advice for my younger self. I have lived every stage in my life and enjoyed every single part of it. I wouldn’t change or do anything differently.
Time is your greatest currency – How do you use your time wisely?
I start my morning early to do Fajer prayer then choose an activity depending on the weather, and after that I go to work. During the evening time, I enjoy unwinding at home and that’s how my day ends.
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