More than anything else, the Trump administration bothers me because of all the time wasted--time that could have been spent working to uplift lives all across our country and the world was spent, instead, on fattening the egos, pocketbooks, and power of many unethical, hateful, hurtful, greedy people--people who took our country down, down, down in countless inhumane, dangerous, destructive ways.
Time, as most of us understand, is a precious and limited commodity--one whose value cannot be underestimated. When time is well used and well spent, what we can do is remarkable. How do we spend time wisely? How do we avoid wasting time?
No matter what we're doing, we have to ask ourselves, Is this time well spent? For example after listening to yesterday's riveting January 6th Hearing, I found myself falling down the Trump Hole again. Trump's behavior, record, and regular outrage can take you down that dark, deadly hole too easily of you let it. Falling down the Trump Hole is a waste of energy--it does no one any good. On the other hand, strategic political work that truly results in betterment, is a good use of time. Acts such as researching and supporting leaders who work for the people and do good work as well as encouraging people to vote are examples of political time well spent rather than getting lost in ruminating over Trump's deadly ways.
Most of us know when we're wasting time. I know that when I'm tired, I tend to waste time. Rather than getting the rest I need, I push on in ineffective ways often wasting time rather than getting myself back on a good routine with plenty of rest. Or I may spend too much time ruminating over same-old, same-old scenarios rather than simply accepting the reality of a situation or acting to make it better. I have friends who waste time with inability to make decisions or engagement in behavior cycles that don't take them anywhere positive. We all waste time now and then--that's a fact of life, but in general, if we use time well, we live good lives overall.
One of my favorite "use time well" strategies is working backwards with a long range plan. You start with a dream destination of some kind. That destination may be an educational degree, job, home, vacation, skill or more--it's basically something you desire and think is good for you. Then you make a plan on how to get there. The plan uses time in effective ways. When you have a destination, you tend to waste less time.
Another effective way to use time is having a good routine, yet if you don't review and revise that routine regularly, you may find that you have pockets of wasted time in your routine--time that could be better spent in other endeavors. And, giving your time to others can be a good use of time--designating time to support, entertain, care for, listen to or help others builds camaraderie and collaboration which is a positive way to use time.
Wasted time is defined differently by everyone. I define wasted time as time that does not support your good living. When I was a child, my mom thought daydreaming was overall a waste of time, yet I was a big daydreamer. I wish she had recognized that rather than try to reverse my love of daydreaming, she might have helped me channel that energy into daydreaming-like endeavors such as classes and clubs related to art, theater, and writing. One of the best activities I engaged in as a child was a summer class at the local art museum--I loved it, that's who I was, and still am in many ways. Mom instead introduced me to what she loved--being active outdoors and elsewhere with friends was a profitable use of her time, that's what she loved and that, in many ways, made her the vivacious, popular, happy, warm and spirited woman that she was and still is in many ways.
These are good questions to ask the people you love and spend time with:
- What is a good use of your time?
- What is a good use of our time together?