Don't Just Spend Your Time - Honor It! How to Make the Most of Your Most Valuable Resource
It’s easy to get lost in the motions of life, between our daily obligations, staying current with news and social media, needing time to socialize and more.
One way to stop the motions is to adopt practices that honor your time, not ones that just pass the time. Life is not meant to just pass us by, but that often happens without us even realizing it.
From the moment we wake up, we begin to anticipate what’s coming up that day. Once we begin to push through our day, we are trying to get to dinner plans that night. Once that is over, we head home, and numb our minds with television and technology. We fall asleep, wake up, and do it all over again. We are always living for the next moment, always hoping for something that hasn’t happened yet.
“Most humans are never fully present in the now, because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one. But then you miss your whole life, which is never not now. Your life is only ever now.” - Eckhart Tolle
How can we slow things down? How can we maximize our time so we can get the most out of our lives in every moment?
Accept Where You Are Right Now
We can become consumed in the thoughts of, “When I do this, or accomplish that, then I will be happy.” When we get that promotion, move to this city, find a partner, lose ten pounds, is when we feel our life can truly begin! But life is happening right now, and when our minds are focused on what we need in the future, we miss out on what can be done in the present.
... but know it’s not forever, and don’t settle
Where we are right now is not necessarily where we will be in six months, two weeks, or even an hour. The only constant is change. If we do want that promotion or that healthy lifestyle, we need to start with what we have. You receive a promotion for working hard and working effectively, so, start doing that right now. You can live a healthy lifestyle by nourishing your body and your mind, so, start doing that right now. When we think about big and lofty goals, we tend to overcomplicate the present. Just begin.
Stop Doing Things You Hate
There is a lot of power in saying no. If you don’t want to go to that birthday party, take on a new project, or collaborate with a colleague, I’ll tell you a little secret - you don’t have to! It’s natural to want to be polite and please everyone, but being a people pleaser in the moment can lead to suffering later on.
Allow yourself to politely decline any offers that won’t contribute to your overall well-being, and use that time instead to focus on yourself. Make productive, positive habits that will really pay off in the long run. Take the time to get organized and set intentions. The possibilities are endless, and the power to choose is YOURS!
Connect By Disconnecting.
At Work From Om®, we believe in the the value of connecting to what matters, and disconnecting when needed. We have endless options to occupy our brains -- social media, a 24/7 news cycle, “Netflix and chill” -- you get it. But when we emphasize taking the time to connect, we don’t mean by commenting on your acquaintance from high school’s engagement announcement. We mean in the present moment, with the people and places right in front of you. Put your phone away during a family meal, turn off the television on a weekend afternoon, or designate certain hours for social media and checking emails. Disconnect from the world inside developing technology and connect to the world all around you.
Meditate and Move.
It’s also important to take the time to connect to the world within you. Meditating is a vital practice that can help you cultivate a sense of stillness and ease in your everyday life. Sit and focus on your breath for just one minute every day, eventually moving up to five minutes, ten minutes, and so on. As you continue to practice and build your meditation muscles, you’ll see you can act more mindfully as you live each day.
So, we sit still for the well-being of our minds, but we move for our bodies. We know that regular exercise can aid in increased energy levels and weight loss, but it can also reduce your risk of disease by stimulating blood flow, and strengthen your organs like the heart and lungs. Regular movement is just as important for a healthy body as it is for a healthy mind. So instead of sitting idle, mindlessly watching television to pass the time, get out there and move!
