How Do You Feel About How You Spend Your Time Each Day?

Sometimes when I hit the bed I would feel disappointed because I wasted the entire day. But, on the otherhand when I make a come back that day will be my best day forever. So I would say it's s 50-50 situation.

I am very task oriented and feel like if I am not doing something productive, I'm wasting time. My struggle comes from knowing the balance and making myself have 'down time'. I also still struggle with making time to do the fun things in life. Especially right now, as I attempt to build a small business, I know I work way more than I play. Even at my own business, I feel like if I am not 'working', my business may not prosper. I've been programmed to perform. I absolutely know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my life's scales are out of balance with me working, performing, doing, and being busy tipping the 'heavy' side in opposition to me taking time off, enjoying little things, relaxing, and celebrating. A favorite TV evangelist of mine, recently wrote a book, entitled, “Eat the Cookie, Buy the Shoes, ” that concept alone could be life changing for me! I don't take the time to celebrate my little victories and treat myself to something good!

@Countryporch02: Just recognizing that you're trying to maintain balance is a great thing! That's 80% of the problem for a lot of people. They don't “feel” productive, so they keep doing productive things, and then they miss on some of the best things about life.

I struggle with the need to be productive too. I feel bad if I waste 30 minutes sometimes. But I also have gone through ridiculous workaholic periods where I worked 12-16 hours a day. Just remembering those periods gives me the chills and I try to keep that in perspective when I take necessary breaks.

I agree that your self-discipline mostly depends on your inside feelings. It is very important to be in harmony with yourself. You can do more when you are calm and your thoughts in order. If you want to succeed in your life, try not to spend too much time for flying in the skies and ofcourse you should know what do you want from your life, at least a little plan in your head…

I know exactly what you mean when you say that you have been programmed to perform. In fact, many of us have been raised with an idea that we absolutely must be productive. When I first started my on-line business I had been doing the same thing you are doing right now working – working – and working some more. While my hard work has paid off, over the years I realized that there is no such moment when you would be able to say, “Ok. Now I can unplug and relax”. Unless YOU deliberately make time in your busy scedule to play and celebrate your achievements.

Fellowstream is right – staying productive to feel productive is the surest way to miss on some great things in life.

So whenever, you catch yourself thinking how much still needs to be done, take 15 minutes to read “Eat the Cookie, Buy the Shoes”. This will be a great way to accomplish two goals at the same time: 1) take a break and 2) get the right perspective on work.

50-50 situation is fine. We physically can not be productive every day of the month. As long as you make up for the “lazy” days with “best days ever” you have two “very good and productive” days.

I believe we hang on to a lot of emotional expectations out of someone else's actions and behaviour towards us and get in a grave situation of being happy of sorrow. Our happiness is very relative and so we need to learn to be happy by ourselves and sanitize our mind of the effect of the owrdly things as sson as we are closing our day.

I wish I had something more positive to say. I am working to change many of the things that I know I need to change in my life that are not positive. I earn a living by doing things I no longer enjoy.

do you know that your time is the only currency God gave to you

hi Arina, I love reading your blogs .. they make me stop and think …
like this one.. and after having read the replies I have a different take on most of the comments here with one underlying caveat..Since I have a Traumatic Brain Injury I am not able to complain about how I “waste” my time doing things that are non -productive because my mind does not remember every “wasted” moment. Like for example I've been on my computer using my R.A.S. system to filter through emails for about 3 hours, read some 'wasted” my time reading many of them but found your letter and decided to open it up , where I am now spending time writing out this reply to your blog… is that considered a “waste” of my time? LOL . It depends ultimately on how I choose to view it . Not on any future maybe I will get a reply from you.. or any one else on here.. Its as I have already said how I choose to label anything that I do including “wasting” my time.

LOVE

FF

I am finding very very diffcult to complet my task in time. I am running short of time. I wish I could have 48 Hours in a Day. Life is beautiful it depends on you how you live your life. First your should love yourself then life will be beautiful. And I believe to do every task with great dedication. Never do any work half heartedly.

Hi FF,

Thank you for your sharing. You've mentioned one valuable point – there is no ultimate “gold standard” in how one should spend his/her time. I can burry myself at work (while being very efficient at what I do), but waste my life away. Or I might spend my time enjoying what I do, even if it won't bring me any noticeable results. I guess one way to look at it is – if what you are currently doing adds value to your life (and not just in terms of money) it is time well spent.

So thank you for taking your time to leave a comment.

You have a valid point, Jayesh – loving and accepting yourself is a first step to loving and accepting other and making your life better and brighter. I am sorry to hear that you find it very difficult to complete your tasks in time. There could be two possible reasons for that: 1) you are setting overly optimistic deadlines for yourself or 2) it takes you longer to complete your tasks, because you want to do everything perfectly.

I agree with you that if we approach our tasks with passion and dedication, we are more likely to finish them faster and enjoy them a lot more. However, in order to be more productive and have more free time, it is also important to know when you to say, “That's good enough!” and move on to the next task.

Great advice!

i have a problem of delaying job or meeting people in time and any time i try to be faithful to time something comes across this is making me waste time and loose a lot of job.
but am happy to have this message.
i wish i could get an advice on how to improve things

Arina as you quote"Time is limited" thnx for your time that you set aside to share with us.

i am not so good when it comes to spend time for tasks which are necessary to do that particular day.

Arina, you are a very good person and a very good witer…kisses!

most of the times i dont go to bed with a smile, its just a feeling that today did some good things or today i wasted lots of time…its just the feel good feeling or feelbad feeling…. after reading Ur post got the thought to live the day so that i can go to bed with a smile. Thanks

Rovin
India