Is It Going to Be Spent or Invested?

Is It Going to Be Spent or Invested

The most valuable commodity we own is time. We're all treated the same by time, ultimately. Then why don't we acknowledge it and accord it the deference it merits?

Everyone has the same amount of time available to them each day, regardless of their socioeconomic status, health, or general level of happiness. The pursuit of wealth is a common source of stress and preoccupation for many of us. But in so doing, we risk losing the most precious commodity of all: the opportunity to live. Once upon a time, a smart instructor told me, "You can always earn more money, but you can never purchase more time." Right on!

When was the last time you gave some serious consideration to how you spent your time? I use the word "invest" on purpose because how we spend our time has a direct impact on our well-being and the quality of our lives.

From what I've seen over the course of several decades on this planet, however, people rarely let on about the true value of this precious commodity in their actions or words.

Let's start with the most prevalent ways people disrespect time. Any of these options look familiar to you?

• Hours and hours of mindless TV watching.
• Sleeping less in order to gain more time.(You may be awake for longer periods of time, but if you're groggy and hopped up on coffee, that's not quality or "extra time."
• Work inefficiently or spend so much time at work that you give up control of your life.
• Being in a constant state of anxiety or exhaustion.
• losing track of time while surfing the web.
• Participating in a rumor or gossip.

Let's analyze the words we use to talk about time, a resource that is invaluable to us. Could you possibly recognize any of these responses?

Please, let it be Friday already! I'm wasting my time; or this is pointless; or I have a Monday through Thursday mentality; or I'm wasting my time.

When I retire, I'll finally have some free time to do anything I want with.

All I can think about is how much longer it will be till the conclusion of the workday, the weekend, retirement, etc.

Now, tell me, how often do you wish your life away? What percentage of the time do you just let life pass you by?

The expression "Carpe Diem" may be overused, yet its wisdom is timeless. To put it another way, it means to make the most of the present moment. When Robin Williams urged his young students to "seize the day" in the film Dead Poet's Society, I first encountered this concept. His students should utilize every day as an opportunity to learn something new and experience life to the fullest, he urged them.

I issue you a challenge

Does each day seem to fly by without you noticing? How would you describe the most vital aspects of your life? Can you say that you focus the majority of your energy on those aspects of your life? Alternatively, are you stuck in a rut, repeating the same things over and over again just because you have always done them that way?

Make a point to reflect on your life and time usage for the following 30 days. Keep track of how much time you spend on each aspect of your life every day. Here's how one set of broad classes might look:

Zones of My Existence

Connections with friends, family, and extended family, as well as with one's significant other and one's biological or romantic partner, can have a positive effect on one's physical health.

• Money and Finances in Your Profession or Job
• Environmental factors (home, work, etc.)
• Spirituality (connection with a power bigger than yourself) (connecting with a power greater than yourself)
• Enjoyable downtime
• Improving Your Neighborhood and the World

Add up the time you spent on each activity at the end of the month to get a sense of how you spent your time. When you looked at the "actual world," were you taken aback? A better question could be: did you anticipate something different? How do you feel about the way you spend your time on a daily basis? Is it congruent with your ideals and the things you hope to achieve?

Consider how you are using your time, your most valuable resource. No one can guarantee that they will be alive tomorrow. Seize the day.