If you clicked on this post out of despairing desperation then my fren, you are a lot like me. HI. Let’s hop on the next ship to Antarctica and be sad together. OR MAYBE WE SHOULD – idk – TRY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM INSTEAD?? There are only so many hours in a day.* And within the small span of time we are given in a day, there seems to be NO TIME EVER to do the fun things. This was an ongoing struggle for me until the day I realized “THERE MUST BE A WAY TO CREATE MORE TIME.” Because nothing is impossible, right??**
First let me clarify a few things: A HAVE A STRANGE LIFE. It’s strangely awesome, of course. But I understand that not everyone works from home on their family’s business while simultaneously working on their future career as a writer and a musician (with a blog – bonus!) I AM VERY VERY BLESSED. But even though I don’t have a “normal job” and I don’t go to college, I am still an incredibly busy human. I never really have “free time” because I can ALWAYS find something that needs to be done, cram it into my day, then crash for the night with an exhausted brain and body. BUT DID YOU SEE WHAT I JUST SAID?? IT’S A CLUE TO SOLVING THIS PROBLEM. Let’s get on.
*25 to be exact. I counted one time. Right after I failed math.
**UNQUESTIONABLY. It’s scriptural. Woooo.
WHY DO YOU HAVE NO TIME TO DO ANYTHING BUT #WERRRRRK?
The answer to this question will be a little different for everyone. Which is why I’m only going to share my experiences with this – because as I said before, I have a strangely flexible but deceptively busy lifestyle. But if you’re serious about making more time for funsies, you’re going to have to face this question. Because it might not be JUST WORK that’s keeping you occupied. SURPRISE.
The hustle is challenging, but it is also addictive. Sometimes we get roped into spending our time doing things that aren’t necessary to our careers, our happiness, or LIFE ON PLANET EARTH. I’m not saying this is you – I’m just saying…keep an eye out. Take note of where EXACTLY your time is going.
PRIORITIZE THE LIST OF THINGS YOU HAVE NO TIME TO DO
Maybe you want to read more books. Maybe you want to spend more time with your family and friends. Maybe you want to study neuroscience because WHY NOT.* Chances are, you want to do more than one thing. So now what??
- Make a list of all the things you have no time to do.
- Rank those things based on what you want to do THE MOST.
- Start by making time for the first one.
This might seem stupidly obvious, but it kind of wasn’t for me. I was like, “OMG I COULD PRIORITIZE THIS” and my life was forever changed. Priority lists might actually be my favorite thing now.
*Me, actually. I know I’m a nerd. But you love me.
REMEMBER HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE FUN
Your task list is never done until you cross off: “Have fun!” ISN’T THAT CUTE OMG I THOUGHT OF IT MYSELF. Cheesy phrases aside, it’s true. I’ve had some experience of crossing off task lists. I’m a bit of an over-committer and an over-achiever, so I believed for a time that a crossed-off task list would make me feel accomplished – I was wrong. By observing my thoughts and emotions day by day, I’ve discovered that if I don’t do something that brings me joy, I feel like a failure. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. Happiness is the ONE THING that puts me in a good mood. IRONIC, RIGHT.
The thing you don’t have time to do might be the very thing your soul needs right now. So don’t ever ever EVER feel guilty for doing something that brings you happiness and satisfaction. Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.*
*I stole that from somewhere. But if yoU WANT TO BELIEVE I AM WISE AND SAGACIOUS, GO AHEAD BRO.
HOW I FOUND TIME TO DO THE STUFF I ACTUALLY LIKE TO DO
Only YOU can figure out what’s best for your lifestyle.* DO YOUR HOMEWORK, BRO. But if you need some real life example to follow, this is how I managed to create time to do the stuff I actually like to do but had no time to do. And it wasn’t easy. It took (and continues to take, let’s be real) focus, effort, and self-control. I don’t know how versed I am in any of those things, but I MUDDLE THROUGH. And I’m sure you can, too.
1. PUNCH OUT
At the beginning of the year, I made this one of my resolutions and SURPRISE I HAVE ACTUALLY KEPT IT: say goodbye to the internet and my task list at 6pm every night. In short, PUNCH OUT. I’ve always been more of an early birdie than a night owl. Most of my inspiration and motivation attack me in the morning hours. That means evening is my favorite time to chill. But my sister, for example, is just the opposite. She loves slow mornings and seems to be the most inspired (and wired) at night. SO IT’S DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE. Find a time that works well for you, and be okay with saying, “my day is done.”
2. BEWARE THE SOCIAL MEDIA TIME SUCK
We all know it: SOCIAL MEDIA WILL SWALLOW YOUR LIFE, YOUR GOLDFISH, AND YOUR MOTHER’S COUSIN’S FIRST CHILD IF YOU DON’T WATCH OUT. There is something so blissful about ignoring the woes of life and scrolling through our Instagram feeds – but the enjoyment is only short-lived and pretty soon we realize that our day is gone and WE HAVE DONE IT AGAIN WE ARE THE WORST FALURES EVER. OR MAYBE THE BEST FAILURES EVER?? WHATEVER. WE ARE FAILURES.
Social media is fun and helpful and essential to some careers – but only at very specific times. I’ve been discovering in myself that if I were to rake together all the minutes I spend scrolling through Twitter and Instagram in a given day, BOOM THERE’S THAT CHUNK OF TIME I WAS CRYING ABOUT NOT HAVING. I actually do have that time. I’m just scattering it about in all the wrong places and making myself sad. NOT A GOOD PLAN.
3. WORK LIKE A BEAST
Sometimes, when I feel like a have a particularly busy day ahead of me, I propel myself forward with a challenge: let’s see how fast I can get everything done and I’ll have that much time left over for fun stuff! THIS IS CALLED BEAST MODE. And you could totally do this instead of punching out at a specific time but I prefer to punch out just because I’ve got a rap sheet filled with “ABBIE STAYED UP WORKING AGAIN” so sometimes I need to be controlled with force.** But it all depends on your personality. Move and work in a way that best serves you. Don’t worry. Be happy.
*…and prevent forest fires but that’s a whole other topic right.
**DON’T BE SCARED. I promise I’m only dark and terrifying at heart. Like a cupcake with a surprise (razorblade) inside.
TALK, BRO
Are you struggling to find time to do the things you actually like to do? Have you tried creating time for those things instead of just WHINING ABOUT IT?? Oops, here comes my Drill Sargent side. Do you have a particular time when you “punch out” of your task lists and distractions? DO SHARE WITH ME, Y’ALL.
love,
abbiee
