Are You Spending or Investing Your Time?

The Declaration of Independence says, and I agree, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal…”

Before you start labeling my assertion as preposterous, let me stop you in your tracks ? each of us has the same 24 hours to work with each day. What we do with those hours is what makes the difference.

I understand we were not all born with the same privileges. However, one can argue that our time allotment levels the playing field. Therefore, we must pay attention to how we use our time ? the time over which we have 100% control.

So, are you spending or investing your time?

If you are spending more of your time than you are investing it, you will enjoy little to no return from your spending. But if you invest more of it than you spend, your increase the odds of receiving astronomical returns.

For example, you spend time when you watch mindless television and you invest it when you read, exercise, or meditate. You also spend time when you blame and complain — when you gossip and go the extra mile to find fault with the work of others. But you invest time when you take responsibility for your actions and learn from your experiences.

Why not think of time the same way you do money?

I know, there is no guarantee of a positive return on your investments, but investing gives you better odds of receiving a positive return than spending. Why not give yourself a chance of securing a return?

So, as we inch closer to the end of 2024, I want to encourage you to monitor what you do with your discretionary time. How you use that time will determine the quality of your life. Invest it, do not spend it!