Time vs. Priority

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Here is a non-secret: I like podcasts of all types, but mostly those that choose to educate. The vast variety of topics allows for all types of exploration. I came across a podcast that said to be mindful, so down a rabbit hole I went. Then, several more on how to make money, ancient artifacts, painting, improving oneself, health, architecture, how to properly run, etc. I went down the proverbial rabbit hole for all of them. I found all of them compelling for a brief moment. I was going to be a painter, go on an archeological dig, and travel the world. I did it all in my imagination because who has room on their to-do list to add any or all of these things? I barely have the time to listen to the podcast.

Marketing tells us we need to improve our sleep while waking up 2 hours early to do a relaxing routine before we start our work day. Then don’t forget there is a 2-hour wind-down routine to do as well so we can sleep better. So that is 12 hours of our day: 2 hours before sleep, 8 hours of sleep, 2 hours after we wake up. Then in the next 12 hours, most of us work for an income for another 8 hours minimum. The remaining 4 hours are for commuting to work, activities, eating the recommended 3 times, and squeezing in the kids' activities including homework. Do not forget about paying bills, cleaning the house, and doing yard work. That does not include getting the supplies for all this whether in person or having to order it for it to be delivered at the most inconvenient time. Whew, that is a lot. Now where are you to fit in your fun, enjoyment, and relaxation in those 4 hours of wind-up/downtime? That is where I choose as while sleep is very important, all that wind-up/downtime seems a bit tedious. Don’t get me wrong, I do some of it.

Time management is a skill I had when I was younger and had energy like a chihuahua barking through a fence defending their territory. There was so much to do, I rarely ever completed my Must-do list. As much as I made progress on all of them, rarely were more than the top 3 completed, not including the basics like getting out of bed, dressing, eating, etc. This was because everything felt very important to accomplish. A little progress on everything felt better than only completing 4 tasks. Now, older with less energy getting those top 3 completed is good enough as I have learned that only the emergency or those that impede survival are important. The rest can wait until tomorrow, and if they cannot they will tell me by impeding my day. Most things can wait. I have a single task that has haunted me for 2 years, does that tell you how important it is? I am the only one who knows that it needs to be completed just because it would be the proper thing to do. Maybe it will be finished in 2025, if not I am sure it will still be there in 2026.

Your time is valuable, not just monetarily so does it reflect your priority? Probably not in the way you would want because most people would not spend 40 hours or so working for income. However in today's world that is the way of showing we care about ourselves as well as our family. It's funny how we don't spend time with our family or friends but we are prioritizing them by working away from them. We are providing means to obtain the basics of life (shelter and food). It's amazing when looking back to the era of hunters and gathers. They stayed away from family and friends as long as it took to provide food and supplies (wood for fire or shelter). It seems easier to say they did that for the survival of their loved ones than it is for us to say today's jobs with very little risk to life in comparison is putting family first. But we are.

Gurus say you need X to prove you are taking care of yourself then X to prove you are taking care of family etc. This is where your foundation of free will comes into play and decisions have to be made. When looking at the big picture of your life from 30 thousand feet do your actions match what you believe are your priorities? If not review your values as they may have fit 5, 10, 20 years ago, or even 6 months ago, do they still align with today's challenges and or the trajectory of the life you want to lead? I recommend doing this at minimum yearly but there is an argument for doing it quarterly or every 2 years depending on the situation.