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Do You Spend or Invest It?
Posted by randy on: 2005-11-15 09:34:01
Do You Spend or Invest It?
Paula Gregorowicz
Copyright 2005, Paula Gregorowicz and The Paula G. Company
Time is our greatest and most precious asset. Time is the great
equalizer of all us human beings. Why then do we not recognize
and treat it with the respect it deserves?
Whether you are rich, poor, healthy, ill, or just humming along
in your life somewhere in between, we all have only 24 hours in
each and every day to invest wisely. We often spend a great deal
of time and energy thinking and worrying about, or working to
earn and pursuing more money. However, while we are doing that,
sometimes we are missing the greatest gift of all - our time to
experience our lives. A wise teacher once said to me, "You can
always get more money but you can never buy more time." Good
point!
How often do we consciously think about how we invest our time?
I consciously use the word invest because the way we choose to
spend out time is truly an investment in ourselves and our
lives.
Based on my observations over the last several decades on this
planet, however, you would never guess the true value of this
time commodity by the way people act and speak.
First, let's look at the common ways people dishonor time with
their actions. Do any of these choices look familiar? - Spending
hours in front of the TV. - Sacrificing a healthy amount of
regular sleep in an attempt to steal more time. (You may be
awake for more hours, however being in a fog and loaded up on
caffeine does not translate into quality or "more time".) -
Working ineffectively and/or spending so much time at a job that
you have in effect handed over your life to someone else. -
Existing in a state of stressed out or burned out. - Spending
hours aimlessly surfing the internet. - Participating in gossip
or the rumor mill.
Now, let's take a look at the language we use when we discuss
our precious friend, time. Do any of these comments look
familiar? - I wish it were Friday already! (usually spoken from
a Monday through Thursday point of view) - I'm just wasting
time; or, this is a waste of time. - I have some time to kill -
I'll get to enjoy my time when I retire. - I'm just counting the
hours until the end of the day, or the days until the weekend,
retirement, etc.
So, how often do you wish away your life? How often do you let
time simply pass you buy?
While it may sound clichГ©, the phrase Carpe Diem has a great
deal of merit. It means, seize the day. I can still remember my
first real experience with this term when Robin Williams
challenged his young students in the movie Dead Poet's Society
to do just that - seize the day. He used it as a call to arms
where every student in his class should make each day a day that
was truly explored and lived fully.
Where Does My Time Go? A Challenge for You
Do you know where all your time goes each day? What parts of
your life are most important to you? Are those the parts of your
life that receive the greatest amount of your time and
attention? Or, do you find yourself doing the same things today
that you did yesterday simply because that is what you did the
day before that?
For the next month, take stock of where your time and your life
go. At the end of each day, write down the number of hours spent
in each of the main areas of your life. An example of what those
main categories might look like could be:
Areas of My Life Physical Health & Well-Being Primary
Relationship, Spouse, Significant Other Friends, Family,
Children, Relationships Career/Work Finances and Money
Physical Surroundings (home, work, etc.) Spirituality
(connecting with a power greater than yourself) Fun and
Relaxation Making a Difference in your Community and the World
After the month passes, total up the hours spent in each
category and reflect back on how you spent your time. Did
"reality" surprise you? Or, was it what you expected? How does
the way you invest your time on a daily basis make you feel? Is
it in alignment with your values and what you really want from
your life?
Take some time to take stock in how you invest your most
precious asset - time. Remember, tomorrow is promised to no one.
Carpe Diem.
About the author:
Paula Gregorowicz and The Paula G Company specialize in helping
stressed out and overwhelmed women business owners achieve more
success without all the burnout and compromise. Author of the
burnout busting eCourse "Nip Burnout in the Bud" available at
http://www.avoidburnoutnow.com . Paula offers free help through
her free newsletter at http://www.thepaulagcompany.com.
Open community website
http://www.business-business.biz
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