Leadership Thought #450 – Spend Your Time Wisely

I have always appreciated the idea of viewing time as a valuable resource, akin to currency. You get to decide how you spend it and what types of investments you make. Sadly, just as with our finances, many of us make poor or uninformed decisions. Time is finite. There will inevitably be a moment when it grows short and then disappears. Our children will only live with us for a brief period. They grow up and move away to begin their lives. People we care about will leave us, and all that will remain will be the memories we made with them while they were still here. Our careers will follow a natural arc. Eventually, our lives will be less about what we do for a living, and we will need to redefine ourselves. Knowing this, what can and should we do differently? It all starts with priorities.

Always remember that how we spend our time is a proxy for what we value. I hope the following questions spark some useful self-reflection:

• If we spend most of our time at work and not enough time with our family, what message does that send to our loved ones?
• If we watch the clock at work and leave at the first chance we get, then what do we expect will happen with our career?
• If we spend most of our free time on leisure activities but neglect our physical fitness and health, what can we expect to happen as we age or face major life stresses?
• If we spend more time on fun and relaxation than on learning and growth, why should it surprise us that the complexities of life become overwhelming and others pass us by?
• If we are spending rather than making and/or saving money, what is the inevitable consequence?
• If we focus more on taking or receiving rather than giving, why should it surprise us that our social circle eventually narrows, and others we hope care about us lose patience with us?
• If we spend no time on ourselves, why is it a surprise that we end up feeling unhappy with who we have become and the demands placed on us to maintain that person?
• If we ignore our basic human need for spiritual understanding and development, it is no surprise when midlife crises emerge and our lives feel less fulfilling, despite the rewards of success and/or material acquisition.

As with most things in life, operating at extremes is rarely the answer. Balance and flexibility are the key, and we need to be able to flex up or flex down as required. Knowing your priorities, where you stand in life, and where you lack investment is vital. The way we spend and invest our time ultimately shapes who we become and the personal legacy we leave.