Technology promised to give us so much time back, but in fact it steals so much of our time. It interrupts us frequently throughout the day with its endorphin-driven pings tuned to make us feel good. Yet at the end of the day do you feel frustrated at where you’ve spent your time?
Life is so busy and as men we are often driven by so many things that it is easy to neglect the people and things that are most important to us. Putting technology aside and picking up pen and paper try the following exercise the outcome of which may surprise you.
Where do you spend your time?
This is a very quick exercise that won’t take more than 10 minutes, but can be very informative.
On a blank piece of A4 paper create three columns. Then spend a few minutes listing out all the things you spend time on generally across a week in the middle column. Don’t think too hard and don’t worry about being exact… it’s just to you focussed on your time.
Some examples might be sleeping, eating, working, shopping… travelling, reading, cooking… family time, or time with a loved one… washing the car, playing golf, hobbies and watching TV – the list goes on!
Okay, now… go down the list and in the right hand column fill in a % of roughly how much time you across say a week on each activity.
Finally, in the left hand column prioritise your activities in terms of their importance to you.
This exercise won’t solve a problem with having enough time, but at least it will identify what’s really important to you and what needs to change.
Time is often the most precious thing you can give a loved one!
I had a time in my life where I started a new job in Uxbridge. I was so focused on providing for my family that I wasn’t actually there for them. I used to leave early in the morning and come back late at night. I only saw my children on the weekend. No surprise that my relationship with my wife was strained and my children just wanted daddy to be home more. A change of role with an easier commute and prioritising time with my family made a massive difference.
Personally, what I have spent my time doing I have got better at and ultimately more satisfaction from over the years.
Where would you like to spend more time?
So, if you could steal back just 10% of your time or refocus 10% of your time on the things that are or should be important to you what difference would that make to your life, to your future.
There are many books, blogs and articles produced on a regular basis about time management that can help us to be more resourceful, effective, efficient or productive with our time. But, the key focus of this blog is centred on HOW we choose to spend our time.
You see, although we start each day with the same amount of time, one thing we should all know and recognise is that our days are numbered. Time is precious, children grow up and leave home, special moments and holidays can’t be relived, we may lose our health, people pass away.
Will you be remembered for the house you live in, the job you did, the car you drove or how big your bank balance is? Or do you want to be remembered for the time you spent with family, friends, loved ones, helping in the community and doing the things you love.
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