Give Yourself More Time

Tokyo, 2016
Tokyo, 2016

It is easy to give time to others— but do you give time to yourself?

We all have a limited span of time on the earth. And we never know when we are going to die.

We might have another 40 years to live. We might have another 4 years to live. We might have another 4 days to live. Who knows when we are going to die?

We all live as if our lives will plan out according to plan — we assume we’re going to live to 65, and one day retire, and finally start ‘living’.

But the sad thing is many of us will die before we expect. We will get in car accidents, we will get mysterious diseases, sudden heart attacks, or cancer.

The future is uncertain— so why do you give away so much of your time like it were infinite? Shouldn’t you give more time to yourself?

How to have enough time

We never have enough time. Yet if you gave all of your time to yourself, you would have enough.

Most of us are bounded by work, family obligations, and to pay the bills. However beyond our obligations— how much time do you give away to others, which isn’t really necessary?

On the weekends, do you really spend your time how you really want to spend it? Or do you feel guilty saying “no” to your friends, family, or colleagues— who try to convince you into doing things you don’t really want to do?

What if?

Assuming you have a 9-5 office job, you probably have free time before work, during lunch, and after work. What if you devoted all of this free time to yourself? What more could you achieve? What creative projects could you pursue? What photos could you make?

How to give yourself more time

Some tips to gain more time:

1. Learn how to say “no”

We all feel guilty for saying “no” to the requests of others. Yet one of the best ways to give yourself more time is to learn how to say “no.”

You don’t have to say “no” to somebody’s face. Try to do in a way that lessens the blow — without hurting someone else. Tell them that you appreciate the offer to do something, but you will have to pass this time. Tell them that you appreciate their generosity, but you have already made plans for yourself.

You can be honest in saying “no” without being mean.

2. Figure what distractions to subtract

It is hard to ‘add’ time to our schedule. It is easier to subtract distractions and unnecessary things from our life.

You decide what to do and what not to do. What are some things you can subtract from your life, in order to have more time?

Does that mean learning how not to bring unnecessary work home, once your office job is over? Does that mean to not watch TV, browse social media, or vegetate on the couch after you’re done with work? Does that mean to uninstall your work email from your phone, and not to check it after you’re out of the office?

An easy way to figure out what to keep or what to ditch: ask yourself, “Does this activity empower me, or distract me?”

3. Treat each day as if it were your last

If today were your last day on earth, how would you spend today differently (assuming you couldn’t just quit your job).

Who would you meet for dinner? Who would you call? Who would you message and show your love and appreciation for?

Who would you not spend time with? What negative emotions or ideas would you not let enter your head? What dreams and hopes would you no longer entertain?

How could you make the best of today? Does that mean reading a few chapters from a book you’ve been dying to read? Writing an article, or starting a chapter for a book you’ve been wanting to write? To walk around after work and snap some street photos that is meaningful to you? To start an art project?

For me, I blog everyday as if it were my last day on earth. I try to tell my loved ones my appreciation for them. I try not to waste a single day, although I fail a lot of the time.

Give yourself more time

Have compassion for yourself, and know that you need to give yourself more time. More creative leisure to do the art you were born to make.

Don’t feel guilty — know you are doing it for the greater good.

Always,
Eric

Learn more: Life Lessons >