How many times a day do you look at your phone to see how much time you have left, before you need to start the next thing on your list? How often do you rush from one thing to another because you’re running late? Do you tend to put things off for yourself because you agreed to “STOP really quick” to help a friend with something they needed done first? When was the last time you made yourself a priority?
How many times do you find yourself saying: “There just aren’t enough hours in the day!”?
Clocks are literally everywhere. They are on the wall, our wrists, and every device we use. They remind us how quickly time slips away. Time is your most precious currency. Unlike money that you can both spend and earn back, once your time is spent, it’s gone forever.
Where do you spend your precious time? Why are those things valuable and worth the attention you gave to them?
Answering those questions may seem easy at first. However, if you take time to look inside yourself, the answers can be harder to face and shocking. Your answers could also motivate you to shift your focus to spending time in ways that will help you co-create the exceptional life you are meant to live! Don’t be a bystander with your own life.
So, where DOES your time go?
First, consider the relationships you have with yourself, a significant other, family members, and trusted friends. What do those personal relationships look like?
Next, what about your work relationships? How do you interact with co-workers and your boss? Are you enjoying what you do, or do you complain anytime you must go to that ‘job’?
Now, ask yourself: “What am I getting out of these relationships?”
You may have been told, “it’s selfish to ask that question”. YIt’s important to ask that question because your answers will help you understand where you’re investing your currency of time. Are they good and healthy ways or were you throwing it away into a wishing well of hope – just waiting to see if something good will come out of the time you’re spending.
Personal relationships can be incredibly rewarding, as long as respect and trust are the foundation. Respect means you are not constantly being the “Giver” while barely being the “Receiver.” Respect IS spending time with your significant other doing things each of you enjoy, and not always doing what just one of you is interested in. Trust is making sure you give each other space to explore and do things alone. It is when a friend goes out of their way to stand beside you, in the same manner you would them.
Respect means knowing that someone will be there to help and give back to you in a way or manner that is meaningful.
Choosing to spend time with yourself and the people who appreciate you for who you are and not just what you can do for them reflects your self-respect. You can get stuck in the same place in life, if you are constantly helping others get ahead by putting them first but never receiving their support in return.
Workplace relationships offer different challenges. If you work in an unsupportive environment, have the courage to discuss it with someone who can help improve things. If things don’t get better, it’s ok to spend time finding a place where you’ll enjoy working. You’ll find yourself both happier and doing better work.
You need to be aware of how your work affects the other aspects of your life. Is it taking time away from the things you enjoy that make your life meaningful?
While your work and personal lives will never be fully in balance, it’s important that they don’t stay out of balance for too long. Work isn’t always about your job, either. If you are spending time supporting a charity, make sure your passion is what motivates you to commit fully.
Extended periods of being out of balance increase the chances of you suffering burnout and resentment. It not only affects your work, but also those around you, and most importantly yourself. At the end of the day the healthier you are both physically and mentally the more helpful you can be.
How can you strike that balance?
For me, I’m intentional in asking myself how much time I’m spending on me. Am I getting to know who I am, what I enjoy, what I am good at, and what I can grow into? Because, at the end of the day I want to feel like the time I spend is making a positive difference in my life. That way, I can have a positive influence on the lives of others by helping them become the best version of themselves they can be.
Going forward, think carefully about how you will spend your currency of time, especially when it comes to yourself. Will you be intentional in spending time in ways that make positive changes towards an exceptional life? Or will you toss time down a wishing well, just hoping for the best?
