It’s important that we are aware of where and how we spend our time. If we are not intentional about allocating time, we can easily fall in to trap of just getting constantly distracted by something or reacting to anything what is happening around us.
People around us like co-workers, friends or family will always place some time related demands on us and will want something from us. Similarly, we are bombarded daily by information, advertisement, social media and news from left, right and centre so unless we are crystal clear about where we want to spend our time on, in any particular moment of the day, we will randomly fly like a leaf in the wind – hopping from one thing to another. And hardly accomplish anything.
Rob Moore in his book ‘Routine = Results’ uses an acronym WISER to breakdown our time-spending into 5 types:
W – wasting your time,
I – investing your time,
S – spending your time,
E – enjoying your time, and
R – time spend resting.
It’s a good way to start breaking time down.
WASTE:
We all know when we waste our time. It’s usually when we binge on social media, watching too much Netflix, news or consuming irrelevant information. We waste our time also when we hang around negative people who just complain all the time, when we argue, when we are being defensive, jealous, envious, engaged in unnecessarily worry, procrastinate or doing things we strongly dislike. We usually try to distract ourselves. It could be to avoid pain we experience or just delay important work we set ourselves to do. Nevertheless, we feel a frustration and guilt that comes after such waste of time.
INVEST:
We invest our time when we engage in activity which gives us recurring and residual benefit. ‘Use’ the time once, and ‘earn’ on it on an ongoing basis. It’s time that gives security, freedom, leverage and fulfilment. This could be raising our kids, social or family time you enjoy which deepens our relationships, planning, investing money, building a business, creating systems, hiring, leading and inspiring people, creating quality content which will last, education or philanthropy. It gives us a physical or emotional ongoing return.
SPEND:
Spent time is time that gives us some return, but no ongoing, residual benefit. This is often time spent on doing necessary things, like working for a living, house and DIY jobs/chores, taxi-ing the kids to their activities, commuting and more. If we can turn some of our spent time into invested time, then we will preserve the precious commodity that continually counts down throughout our life.
ENJOY:
This is time for doing what we love: time to play, travel and create; time to exercise, learn, read and socialise. Whatever it means to us. A well balanced life will enable us to merge our invested and enjoyed time together – to do what we love, and love what we do. To merge our passion and profession, vocation and vacation. It is possible, if we plan our life in the right way.
REST:
We all need time to rest and recover, as long as it doesn’t drift off into wasted time. Sometimes rest time can be invested time, like strategy, planning, setting goals or going on ‘off-grid’ holidays. Or it can be pure rest like time with loved ones – time to recharge, plan, think, make space, observe, calibrate and be present to breathe in everything that gives life colour and meaning.
STAY AWARE of where you spend your time – you are a master of your time destiny, as long as you know the difference between busy, efficient and effective.