The TRUTH About Time

Do you have any idea how many minutes we have in a day? I didn’t! There are 1440 minutes in a day.? That seems like a lot until you begin to break it down. In any given day how many of these minutes are invested in sleeping, preparing meals, eating, commuting, taking a shower and other hygiene related tasks. ?Now add in working or otherwise raising financial support for you and your family. Time is precious; it’s the one resource that, in any given day, we all have the same measure. So why do we feel that we never have enough and that some accomplish so much more with their time than us?

The TRUTH is that we can’t control time. It’s a finite resource, and once it passes, it’s gone. But what we can control is what activities we are involved in as time passes. And while it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking as time slips away from us, there are strategies we can use to regain control and focus on the activities that truly matter.

Jordan Grumet M.D., in an article in Psychology Today, suggests three steps that are worth considering when considering what matters and how to use our time best. By having specific strategies, we can take back some control and make the most of the minutes we do have.

First, he suggests adding more of what we enjoy most in our lives. For example, instead of passively spending your free time on things that don’t serve you—like endlessly scrolling through?social media?or binge-watching TV—use that time to engage in activities that are meaningful and fulfilling. Read, write, learn new skills, choose to spend your time on hobbies, passions, and activities that energize you. Take control by investing in the things that bring you joy!

Second, identify those things that drain you, waste your time, or bring on stress. Not everything that we attempt to do is mandatory and much of it is reactionary. The other day as I was driving to something I encountered a FedEX truck that had parked in the middle of the road to make a delivery, even though there was at least a 6 foot paved berm to the right that he could have parked on. When I had the chance to pass the truck, the driver was just coming back from his delivery. I slowed to “exchange a few words” and then continued. It took only a couple of minutes for the exchange, but the anger I felt in the situation lasted much longer and robbed me of much valuable thought and time the remainder of the afternoon.

What did I gain from that exchange? Did it make any difference? It didn’t change anything. I couldn’t control the situation. Don’t allow a few minutes to drain your time.

Finally, consider substituting what you don’t enjoy with something better, something that you do enjoy. This involves replacing activities or commitments that aren’t fulfilling with ones that are more aligned with your goals and values. Sometimes, we can’t simply eliminate certain tasks from our lives; a demanding job or a family obligation that you can’t escape. You may not have the option to completely remove these responsibilities. But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless to improve how you experience them. This may not be easy, but the very exercise can be a creative process that can change your outlook alone.

The TRUTH about wasting time is that we do have control over time, but we can choose how we use the time we have. We can be more purpose-driven. We can eliminate certain things or change them so that they bring more joy and purpose. We can replace unfulfilling tasks with ones that are more aligned with our values and goals. Time is precious, and how you choose to spend the 1440 minutes you have available every day can shape the life you lead. Start taking control today and fill your life with activities that bring you happiness, growth, and fulfillment.