50K Tuneup: Timing Belt

In part 8 of our 50,000 Mile Tuneup series, we’re checking the timing belt, which is our metaphor for examining how we manage one of our most precious assets: our time. 

As much as we like to pretend otherwise, time is finite. Maybe not in a quantum physics sense but in a practical sense: We have only 24 hours to spend every day, and we also have an unknown but finite number of days left in our lives.

Having a realistic view of what you are saying yes and no to can keep your life running smoothly, allow you to make time on important self-care, and do justice to the things that are most important to you.

Takeaways

  • We have a tendency to be delusional about time, leading us to try to cram too much into every day.
  • At the same time, we may put off things that are important to us in the false sense that there will always be more time “later.” 
  • Being “busy” is not a virtue. Managing our commitments so that we have time for what’s important (including rest and self-care) is. 
  • When we view our time as the finite commodity that it actually is, we can get the most satisfaction out of our days and out of our lives.

Lab Experiment