EXPOSE | Do not “kill time”
“It’s bad enough wasting time without killing it.” – Norton Juster, academic, architect, and writer. He was best known as an author of children’s books, particularly popular was The Dot and the Line – A Romance in Lower Mathematics
EXPLORE | Learn to number your days
168 hours. Every week. Lord willing, that is what we have to work with.
With some planning and prioritization, it is possible to make the most of each of them.
However, that doesn’t mean stuffing them full of stuff.
So, what should make the list? What is worthy of our time?
If we’re sleeping (one can hope) 56 hours each week, and working (one can hope) only 40 hours each week, we’re really only talking about 72 hours of discretionary time. But not really, because we’ll need to account for eating and hygiene, at what, 14 hours a week? And then on top of that is the commuting, chores, exercising, church, seeing a friend, helping a neighbor, and if you have kids… well, you’re now down to about an hour a week.
Okay, so it only feels that way.
Let’s just say you get 20 hours a week of discretionary time. That’s almost three hours a day. What would (should?) our lives look like if we invested properly in those 20 hours?
With all that we have to do, it is awfully tempting to do nothing with most of those hours.
At first, indulging in idleness doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.
Until you realize the implications.
Idleness and laziness can actually have serious negative consequences on both our personal well-being and the well-being of those around us.
Now I know that your head is agreeing with me right now, but your body is saying, ‘Shut up’.
When we are idle, we are not engaging in activities that challenge and stimulate our minds and bodies, which can lead to “a lack of motivation, decreased energy levels, and reduced cognitive function.” Over time, idleness can contribute to a decline in physical and mental health, as well as a loss of purpose and meaning in life.
“Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry…”
Proverbs 19:15
If that doesn’t quite curb your desire to be idle, let me go on.
It won’t come as a surprise, but studies have shown that people who engage in regular physical activity are more likely to have better physical health, a more positive outlook on life, and higher levels of overall happiness and satisfaction. Conversely, those who engage in prolonged periods of inactivity are at greater risk of developing chronic health problems such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
Moving makes for better living.
But in addition to the physical consequences of idleness, you also face the social and emotional consequences. When we are idle, we are less likely to engage with others and build meaningful relationships, which can lead to feelings of loneliness, isolation, and depression. We may also become more self-centered and less empathetic towards others, as we become more focused on our own needs and desires.
If we consistently avoid taking action on our goals and responsibilities, we train our brains to prioritize short-term pleasure over long-term success. This creates a cycle of procrastination, where we become increasingly unmotivated and apathetic toward what we need to be doing.
Proverbs 13:4 states idleness plainly: you get nothing.
“The sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the diligent is richly supplied.”
Proverbs 13:4
You may not be a full-on sluggard–at the moment–but if we don’t “number our days”, we that is most likely where we’ll end up: looking back on our lives and realizing that we’ve wasted the days we have been given.
The phrase “teach us to number our days” comes from a prayer in Psalm 90:12, which reads: “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom”. This Psalm reflects on the brevity and fragility of life in contrast to the eternal nature of God and is a call for Him to help us understand the significance and value of each day of our lives.
When we recognize the fleeting nature of life, it motivates us to make the most of the time we have and to seek wisdom in all that we do. Numbering our days also gives us a sense of urgency and purpose, helping us avoid wasting our time on meaningless pursuits.
EXECUTE | The key to not wasting your life: Think: today counts
In his article, “How to Live a Simple and Wasted Life“, Jon Bloom highlights the danger of a life lived without purpose. By succumbing to a culture that glorifies busyness and material possessions, we risk losing sight of the things that truly matter: relationships, personal growth, and spiritual well-being. It is crucial to acknowledge the importance of living intentionally and to resist the allure of a life consumed by trivial pursuits.
If you’re struggling a bit with where to focus, or with discovering how you can better ensure you’re ‘counting your days’, here are some practical ways of evaluating the importance you place on living with purpose:
- Reflect on your values: have you identified what truly matters to you and align your actions accordingly? Write down your core values and refer to them when making decisions or setting goals. Consider what factors drive you, such as autonomy, mastery, purpose, or recognition, and incorporate them into your decision-making and goal-setting processes. You can also use this time to assess your progress, realign your priorities, and make any necessary adjustments to your actions.
- Set meaningful goals: based on your values, have you established clear, achievable goals that align with those values? Begin each day by setting a specific intention for how you want to live that day. It could be as simple as being more present, showing kindness, or pursuing a specific goal.
- Prioritize relationships: are you investing in meaningful connections with family, friends, and loved ones? Schedule regular quality time together and engage in activities that strengthen these relationships, cultivating a habit of being present and aware of each moment.
- Find a hobby. CEOs and leaders are known for their busy schedules, yet they often find time to engage in hobbies. In the Harvard Business Review article “Why CEOs Devote So Much Time to Their Hobbies,” it was revealed that hobbies can offer an “avenue for personal fulfillment, creativity, and exploration outside of professional responsibilities, enhancing overall well-being and productivity.” It might just be that pursuing an interest is the very impetus for finding a meaningful way of “not wasting life.”
But what if you don’t feel like it? Lifehack wrote an article titled: “What to Do if You Don’t Want to Do Anything.” I think the title says it all: there are times that we are just not motivated to do anything–meaningful, or otherwise.
To break free from the cycle of inaction, work through these questions:
- Maybe it is too big? If so, break the tasks into smaller, more manageable steps, focusing on the next step, not the next 10 steps.
- Have you set a… deadline? Sometimes this has been a good motivation for me: what if Jesus returns and finds you doing nothing? At least if you have a deadline you could say something like, “Ya, I have a plan to do that thing by next Tuesday.” Put a large note on your desk, in a window, on a flag in front of your house: I will do what I need to by [date]
- Do you need to bring in a buddy? A cheerleader or someone who can inspire and motivate you can… you don’t want to disappoint your buddy.
- Are you celebrating the win? Any win? And by celebrate, I don’t mean doing anything that is counterproductive to your doing what you need to be doing. Celebrate even the smallest step and let it give you a boost to take the next.
Each day presents an opportunity to take steps toward what truly matters and make a meaningful impact.
Learning to ‘number your days’ will help you break free from the cycle of ‘wasted potential’ by recognizing the perils of a wasted life, nurturing purposeful interests, treasuring the present, and conquering inertia.
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Further reading:
How to live a simple and wasted life
Why CEOs devote so much time to their hobbies
Teach us to number our days: the meaning and value of today
What do to if you don’t want to do anything
What is intrinsic motivation and how to find yours
Motivation theories
Photo by Behnam Norouzi on Unsplash