On a scale of 1-10, where 1 is not busy at all and 10 is totally time bankrupt, how busy are you? If you said 10 (or even 11 or 12), you’re not alone.
Life is busy. Especially when we have multiple roles and responsibilities and people counting on us. And who are we kidding, that’s mostly everybody these days. There is always someone or something who needs our attention.
So let’s say for the sake of argument there really is zero time. Let’s say that every minute is legitimately booked.
And then one day something magical happens.
You wake up in the morning and on your bedside table is a beautifully wrapped box. Pick it up and hold it in your hand. It’s weighty but when you shake it nothing seems to move around inside. Slowly you untie the bow and unwrap the paper…
Lifting open the lid, you find a very special gift just for you. Time.
Maybe it’s a few minutes, maybe an hour, or maybe several hours.
This bonus time exists outside of your regular routine.
But how to make the most of this unexpected gift?
Make a list of the 3-5 things that you feel are most important to your happiness (e.g. nature, friends, or reading).
How much time are you currently devoting to each one? If you had an extra hour might you want to sit in the garden or go for walk, call your best friend, or read a book?
Fill in the blanks:
If I had the gift of a few extra minutes, I would ________________________________.
If I had the gift of an extra hour, I would _____________________________________.
If I had the gift of several hours, I would _____________________________________.
If I had the gift of a whole day, I would ______________________________________.
Now that you are more clear about what’s important to you, over the next few days, pay attention to how you are actually spending your time. This isn’t about judging what’s good or bad, it’s about awareness. It’s about recognizing what is a choice and what isn’t.
