I’ve spent a lot of time lately looking at my personal habits under a microscope. I started doing this because lately it seems time has not been on my side. I just always seem to be busy. Wondering where did the day go and how am I going to get this or that done. I know, for certain, I am not the only person feeling this way. I know this because everyday in our office I hear people say they don’t always have time for any of the following: traction exercises, quiet time (resting, prayer, or meditation), physical exercise, etc.
We get stuck on this vicious cycle of wake up late (“I’m tired”), hurry off to work, eat convenience food, hurry home from work after errands (kids, grocery, whatever), plop on couch due to having relaxed all day and watch t.v., fall asleep too late….wash, rinse, repeat. Does this sound like you or anyone you know? You can change some of the steps, but this is the life most people lead. Life is passing us by as a result. Furthermore, in all the hurry we fail to tend to our health and may shorten our life with lack of exercise, sleep, good food, and too much stress. So now we are hurrying to keep up with life, while literally shortening out life. This is called a lose-lose. It simply is unacceptable and it has to stop.
What do we do about this? We look and it all feels essential. The truth is it is not. When you get down to it all that is essential is your health, relationships (friends/family), and beliefs. If anything gets in the way of these then the obstacles have to be changed to non-essentials. Even work (I know we all have to do it), if it is harming your health, then it is time to start looking at other options. You may not be able to change that one right away, but you can start getting after it. You cannot let anything rob you of your life. Life is literally too short. What else can be done….right now. Today. The easiest thing you can do that will save time, money, health, and relationships is to unplug your television. Now most people when you bring this up usually say. “well, I don’t watch that much, I don’t have time.” This is usually not true. Really be honest and pay attention. You may watch more than you think. In fact, according to Nielsen (the ratings people) Americans on average watch 153 hrs of t.v. per month….that is 6 days and 9 hrs….per month….almost a quarter of the month. No wonder our country is unhealthy and over stressed.
Let’s take it a step further (I got this idea from savingadvice.com) say you value your time at minimum wage (you may make more, but let’s for the sake of argument go with this) which is for the federal government $7.25/hr. Now lets do some math! 7.25 x 153 (hrs of TV per month) =1109.25. So that means watching TV (if you are the average American) is costing you roughly $1100/month. That’s a lot of money. Now obviously, you couldn’t work all those hours, but the point is clear. T.V. is a monster time suck and money suck. It also hurts your health in that you are sedentary and if a person is like many Americans and failing to get enough exercise, then television may be a prime culprit.
The second step to more time that can be done today: learn the word “no”. Try it, it’s fun. We feel so many things are obligations and we tend to overextend ourselves. I see this daily in practice. People are always indicating that they have this group, task, function, etc to do after work or over the weekend. Many of these things are good things, but they become less than good when they get in the way of your quality of life. So do you need to be away from family more to join this activity or committee…no. Don’t do it. Make time and take time for you. Especially moms. I know you want to help everybody, but the best way you can do that is by feeling your best: mentally and physically. To do this it involves creating time for peace, family fun, and health goals.
In the end, it comes down to taking 15 minutes and really deciding what are the essentials to your quality of life and then cutting out or minimizing things that are obstacles to these essentials. We need you to do this. The world doesn’t need more zombies and people who get old before their time. We need creators, innovators, dreamers, happy, healthy families, and people who are actually living the lives they want to live. So the question is: is your life the one you want? Are you doing what you want? And if you aren’t maybe a good place to start will be priorities. You deserve happiness and now all that is left is for you to enjoy it if you have it and to go get it if you don’t. Either way, choosing to live your happiest and healthiest life is something you will not regret. As for me, I will be on the same mission, so we have each other.
Health to you, above-down, inside-out, Graham