{"id":33794,"date":"2017-03-11T02:03:36","date_gmt":"2017-03-11T10:03:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=33794"},"modified":"2017-02-01T20:13:57","modified_gmt":"2017-02-02T04:13:57","slug":"give-yourself-more-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/11\/give-yourself-more-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Give Yourself More Time"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Tokyo,
Tokyo, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It is easy to give time to others\u00e2\u20ac\u201d but do you give time to yourself?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

We all have a limited span of time on the earth. And we never know when we are going to die.<\/p>\n

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?<\/p>\n

We all live as if our lives will plan out according to plan \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we assume we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re going to live to 65, and one day retire, and finally start \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcliving\u00e2\u20ac\u2122.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The future is uncertain\u00e2\u20ac\u201d so why do you give away so much of your time like it were infinite? Shouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t you give more time to yourself?<\/p>\n

How to have enough time<\/h2>\n

We never have enough time. Yet if you gave all of your time to yourself, you would have enough.<\/p>\n

Most of us are bounded by work, family obligations, and to pay the bills. However beyond our obligations\u00e2\u20ac\u201d how much time do you give away to others, which isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really necessary?<\/p>\n

On the weekends, do you really spend your time how you really want to spend it? Or do you feel guilty saying \u00e2\u20ac\u0153no\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to your friends, family, or colleagues\u00e2\u20ac\u201d who try to convince you into doing things you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really want to do?<\/p>\n

What if?<\/h2>\n

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?<\/p>\n

How to give yourself more time<\/h2>\n

Some tips to gain more time:<\/p>\n

1. Learn how to say \u00e2\u20ac\u0153no\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/h2>\n

We all feel guilty for saying \u00e2\u20ac\u0153no\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to the requests of others. Yet one of the best ways to give yourself more time is to learn how to say \u00e2\u20ac\u0153no.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

You don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have to say \u00e2\u20ac\u0153no\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to somebody\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s face. Try to do in a way that lessens the blow \u00e2\u20ac\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

You can be honest in saying \u00e2\u20ac\u0153no\u00e2\u20ac\u009d without being mean.<\/p>\n

2. Figure what distractions to subtract<\/h2>\n

It is hard to \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcadd\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 time to our schedule. It is easier to subtract distractions and unnecessary things from our life.<\/p>\n

You decide what to do and what not<\/em> to do. What are some things you can subtract from your life, in order to have more time?<\/p>\n

Does that mean learning how not<\/em> to bring unnecessary work home, once your office job is over? Does that mean to not<\/em> watch TV, browse social media, or vegetate on the couch after you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re done with work? Does that mean to uninstall your work email from your phone, and not to check it after you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re out of the office?<\/p>\n

An easy way to figure out what to keep or what to ditch: ask yourself, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Does this activity empower<\/em> me, or distract<\/em> me?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

3. Treat each day as if it were your last<\/h2>\n

If today were your last day on earth, how would you spend today differently (assuming you couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t just quit your job).<\/p>\n

Who would you meet for dinner? Who would you call? Who would you message and show your love and appreciation for?<\/p>\n

Who would you not<\/em> spend time with? What negative emotions or ideas would you not<\/em> let enter your head? What dreams and hopes would you no longer entertain?<\/p>\n

How could you make the best of today? Does that mean reading a few chapters from a book you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been dying to read? Writing an article, or starting a chapter for a book you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been wanting to write? To walk around after work and snap some street photos that is meaningful to you? To start an art project?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Give yourself more time<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t feel guilty \u00e2\u20ac\u201d know you are doing it for the greater good.<\/p>\n

Always,
\nEric<\/p>\n

Learn more: Life Lessons ><\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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