Shortness of time

We all know that time is limited, yet we are guilty of wasting it.

Value of time

When we see someone throwing away money, we think that person is crazy. Yet people waste something even more valuable daily: time. You can earn back money that is wasted. Once you waste time, there’s not turning the clock back.

Yet why do people waste time? It’s because they haven’t truly grasped the value of how limited time is in their lives. Life is short as it is. How much shorter does it get if you waste an hour or two each day?

Tracking time

Time is relative. When you are enjoying yourself, time passes quickly. When you’re not, it moves at an agonisingly slow pace. It is inevitable that we lose track of time and waste several hours or a whole day before we realise it.

One way to help yourself keep track of time is to segment your day and block out the time each task should take. Set an alarm for the expected end time. If the alarm sounds before you finish the task, re-evaluate and set a new end time. This helps you to track how much time you are spending on the tasks, and how much more you need to invest on it.

Personally, I use the Pomodoro Technique to keep track of my time. It is a very simple time management method where you divide your time into 25 minute segments. Set a timer for 25 minutes. This could be done with your phone, watch or even a dedicated Pomodoro app. When the timer rings, take a five-minute break. At every fourth break, take a 30-minute break.

So for three 25-minute intervals, you get to rest for 5 minutes, and at the fourth you get a 30-minute break. Use the break to rest your eyes by not looking at a screen. Stand up and walk around.

This helps me to keep track of how much time I spend on each task. Once you force yourself to be aware of the time you use, you start learning to avoid wasting the time you have.

Buying time

If time is more valuable than money, doesn’t it make sense then to buy time? How do you buy time? Simple. Pay money so that you get to use your time on what you want to.

Many people invest their time to earn money. It is just how society works. Go to a job from nine to five, five or six days a week and get paid for the time you spend on the job.

Would it make sense if someone told you to earn money by spending $100 to get $50 in return? This is just an example and it doesn’t even go anywhere near in quantifying the true value of time in our lives.

So how do we buy time? Learn to place a value on your time. If one hour of your time is worth $100, then paying someone $80 to complete some tedious work so you can spend that hour on something more worthwhile and meaning would make more sense.

Many successful people know how to value their time and spend their time wisely. Everyone has 24 hours in a day. How we spend them and get the most out of them is up to us.

If an hour of your time is worth $100 and you get, say $120 in return when you spend the time on something, then it is worth your while.

Regret

Many of us wish for more time. It is a very familiar thought. All of you would have had this thought before: if only I had an hour more each day. We want more time each day, yet we don’t value time. We would have more time if we used it wisely and didn’t waste it.

You would have that one hour you want if you didn’t spend an hour on social media daily. Instead of reading articles that feed on your emotions to make you share them to help them gain more advertising revenue.

Spend time on things that matter. Do what you won’t regret doing now.