by Judy
"Time is a created thing.
To say 'I don't have time,' is like
saying, 'I don't want to."
-Lao Tzu-
In a recent chat with my husband, I mentioned that I never seemed to have time anymore to do what I want to do each day. Sure, I made the time to do the things I needed to do, but I didn't feel like I was ever doing what I loved to do. And then it hit me.....here I was just sitting on the sofa in our family room, chatting with my husband as we both half watched the evening news. I realized that there was probably some time in my day, maybe a lot of time in my day, that I was wasting instead of doing what I love.
Now, before I go any further I want to say that I completely believe in down time. Time where you can just sit and do absolutely nothing if you so desire - or chat with your husband and half watch the news. But I realized that there were so many things in my days that sucked the living daylights out of my time. And I realized that there are large chunks of my days where I am the one in control of my time. I knew that I could do better. I knew that I could find some time to do the things I loved instead of just griping about having no time at all.
This is what I did:
1. I made a short list of what I really wished I could fit into each day, or at the very least, several times a week that I just wasn't finding the time for. My list = Photography, yoga, reading, and finding time again for my personal blog.
2. Then I opened a blank page in my journal and sketched out a week...seven squares labeled Monday through Friday. (saner people may just get a calendar and do this step that way). For me, taking the time to sketch it out seemed to make it more important.
3. Next I wrote a list of the things I do in my "free time" that are time wasters. My list = Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, the internet in general, and TV watching when I really have no interest in what is on.
4. Then I scheduled my "want to do's" in my weekly calendar. I scheduled my "have to do's" around my "want to do's." Now my "want to do's" had their own specific day and time to be done - very important for someone like me who loves lists and schedules. And what an eye-opener! I realized I did have plenty of time separate from the things I have to do each day. Believe me - plenty of time! And I still left free time to sit and do absolutely nothing too!
Do you ever feel like you don't have time for the fun things in your life? Try what I did. I think that you will be amazed at just how much time is spent doing things that you're not enjoying, and that are wasting a lot of your precious time. It worked for me! We are all given the same amount of time each day. 24 hours. 1440 minutes. 86,400 seconds. How will you find time to do what you love?
"The bad news is, time flies.
The good news is, you're the pilot."
4 comments:
I understand what you mean about time..I have to give things I love to do an equal opportunity in my plans along with the mundane things I NEED to do..If I plan things out a little ahead of time, I feel more like doing them :-)
Oh, Judy, you are really speaking to me this morning! I complain (usually just to myself) all the time about not having the time to do what I really want to do because there are so many "have to do" things to be done. But when I make it a point to actually schedule into my days some of the things I want to do, I actually do have time to do them! And it is just as important to find time for the "want to do" things. It completely changes my outlook. But if you figure out how to pick up a few more hours in your day, please share. I could use them!
Such sage advice, Judy! Although I'm retired, I still find it a struggle to find (make) time for the fun things. One thing I've learned to watch is the time thieves: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and, yes, surfing my favorite blogs. Except for Pinterest, I love all these elements of social media. Now I read my blogs while I'm on the treadmill, check FB and IG when I'm in a waiting situation or while my husband wastes his time channel surfing. In fact, I'm checking out social media right now while waiting for my car to be serviced.
man judy...you must have been eavesdropping on me and tripp. I sooooo get this. since I started my current job, I've been working more hours. meanwhile still trying to do everything I used to do just squeezing it all into little pockets here and there. and for me that means I so rarely have time to enjoy the process. I'm going to have to make some hard choices....I can't do it all. but I like how you've made your creative time a priority and scheduled everything else around it. I'm inspired! going to have a nice long chat with my too do list. ;) xoxoxo
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