How do you spend your time? I don't mean the time you have to spend eating, getting showered and dressed, working, and sleeping...well, maybe we'll touch on sleeping. How do you spend the moments around the "have to" things in your life? Let's take a day to think about evaluating your time.
When you get up in the morning, what kind of person are you? There's no right or wrong answer here, and I've seen many people who change their answer during different seasons of their life. Let's give this some thought, though. First, do you wake up earlier than you need to so you have time to do a few things or do you wake up at the last possible minute you can and still be on time for work or school? If you're the last minute life, skip this next part. If not, let's look at how to spend that time. If you have, for example, two hours before you need to leave in the morning, and you know you only need one hour to get ready and eat, what can you do with that other hour? What have you identified as your values? What things would add more value to your life? What would bring more joy into your life? Here's a few suggestions I've heard from people when asked how they are filling it:
Praying - reading a self-help book - practicing an instrument - working out/yoga - quiet meditation time - planning their day - pack a healthier lunch so they don't buy an unhealthy one later - start dinner in a crock pot or make plans for dinner - call a friend - check messages - spend it in conversation with their partner - walk to work/school instead of driving or taking public transportation - do a 15 to 30 minute challenge (workout/minimalism/writing/etc) - use that time to check out social media so that they can turn off notifications like FB, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat, etc. - read a book you've been meaning to read - make plans to get together with friends or set up a date night - enjoy nature by having your morning coffee on the patio/porch/deck - the list is almost endless, do what will help you start the day feeling more organized, relaxed, or joy-filled.
What do you do when you get a few extra minutes throughout the day unexpectedly - like standing in line, waiting for your appointment, in-between classes or meetings, waiting to pick the kids up, during your kids' practices/classes? You could pull out your cell phone and mindlessly glance through social media, knowing deep down that nothing in there will probably change your world, and if it was that important, someone would've called you. The other option is to (depending on the length of the break), take a few deep breaths, pull out a book you're reading, see how your to-do-list is coming along for the day, check important messages, take a few quiet moments in mediation or quiet time, again, you get to decide what to do to ADD VALUE to your day. Don't waste it.
During lunch, you could eat alone, at your desk, work through lunch, or meet friends, family, and/or coworkers for lunch. If you're with someone else at lunch, be fully there in the moment with them. Forget the small talk, get to know your community around you (see yesterday's post). Talk to the person across the table. Ask them how they're really doing. Find some common ground. If you're eating alone, it's the perfect time to again either clear your head with some quiet time, read a good book, answer important messages, or take a nice walk. Use your time wisely so you can go back to work feeling up and refreshed, not more tired and drained like you're suddenly behind on your work again.
Evenings (or adjust for a non-traditional schedule) may be the most important time to evaluate. How do you spend your time after work or school? Most Americans sit on the sofa and watch TV for hours, multitasking by also staring down at their cell phones. Others sit in front of their computers watching YouTube videos with total randomness not caring where they go or what they watch as long as their being entertained by something else. Still a few others use that time to be intentional so they can live a more simple life, focusing on things that bring value to their life. What can add value after a long day? How about socializing with actual people instead of just messaging and tweeting? How about learning a new skill by taking a class (online, in person, through a dvd, watching instructional videos), learning a new instrument, heading out to a museum that's free or reduced in price in the evening, cook dinner from scratch instead of a box or the freezer, again, the list is endless.
We all get the same 24 hours a day, 1440 minutes a day, 86,400 seconds every day. How we use them is what makes all the difference. If you learn to identify and prevent time wasters, and begin using time wisely to learn or relax or enhance your relationships, you'll find yourself happier and living more simply in the not so distant future. Evaluate your time today.
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