Hello!
When we look back on life and how time passed – SO often we have regrets about what could’ve been accomplished in that space of time! We often spend time in ways not planned. Usually the plan is to be productive but often we are not.
Here’s how we waste time best:
1) We allow ourselves to get distracted by entertainment, people and the latest culprit…social media. The ease of turning on that TV, looking at that video, texting away with a friend (or the more “old fashioned” choice – calling them for a conversation about nothing) or jumping on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc., for some virtual dialogue or “sharing” trumps the self-discipline required to do what requires some thought and work. The thing is once started on a project or an action item you are avoiding, it is usually no longer drudgery…not if it’s something you enjoy or the outcome is something you are committed to achieving. It’s about taking that first step at exactly the moment when you are tempted to waste time elsewhere.
2) We spend time thinking and dwelling on what other people are thinking or doing “to us” or about us. If we spend time lamenting what “COULD” be going on in other people’s head or why they are doing what they are doing, we are wasting time/life. Most times, their behavior has nothing whatsoever to do with us and if it does, they need to deal with it. But wasting time — beyond a prayer for them — giving them space in our head and thoughts is just a crazy waste of time and life. Think about how much time – in minutes, hours or even days – you have spent trying to know the unknowable. Now consider what you could have accomplished if that time was used to actually get things done in your life.
3) We sit with past pains, making them present pains and refuse to release, forgive and let go. As much as we think TV, social media and texting are robbing people of productive time, being saddled with negative thoughts, worrying and nursing pains in a state of un-forgiveness takes away much more valuable time and, much more than time; we lose out on life and living! Some people spend a lifetime not forgiving some old hurt and they lose entire decades nursing ‘old pains turned into core issues.’ Some people create personality traits and hang on to deeply entrenched beliefs on the basis of some old wound.
And this is not just to do with forgiving others: A lack of forgiveness towards our self often results in living in a state of regret, shame and guilt. This weight often gets unbearable.
Not letting go, robs us of joy, creativity, good health, friendships, peace, prosperity, etc., etc…the list really does go on and on.
And here’s what we can do about it:
1) Choose to NOT waste time. Have an intention, make a commitment to appreciate fully each day you are given. If you are in a state of appreciation and gratitude, you will be less inclined to waste the valuable time you are given.
2) State your intention ▲▲▲ by beginning with this intention each day, or even at the top of every hour, you are more likely to utilize your time more wisely. Affirm, affirm, affirm.
3) Allocate a certain number of visits or minutes to social media and daily entertainment. Create a schedule and stick to it! Practice self-discipline by devoting 21 days to growing that essential success habit, specifically and intentionally. (See free 21-day program at JuletteMillien.com.)
4) When the urge to roam hits and a project or action item awaits, take a deep breath and be still. Recall your intention, state your affirmation and be still. After several deep breaths, move forward with a small step. For instance, if one of your action items was to read an article as research for a project, open the magazine (hard copy or e-version) and read the first sentence. If you have to locate it online, close all other windows that serve as a distraction and locate the article; again, read the first sentence. If the urge to be distracted continues, repeat the deep breaths, stillness, intention and affirmations as suggested above; return to the article and read further.
5) When you dwell on what others are doing, saying or thinking about you, stop the pattern by having a plan in place ahead of time. When the distracting thought pops in, put your plan in motion. Have a positive visual reminder or affirmation to steer your thoughts away from the negative direction.
6) Decide ahead of time that dwelling, worrying, being anxious about these sorts of things – what people are thinking and saying, is a grand waste of time and commit to stopping. Accept that you have done it, forgive yourself and then enforce your own agreements, moving forward.
7) Create a list of all the people or things you need to release – anything or person that holds ANY negative space in your heart and head.
8) Review this list and one at a time decide to and then release an item/person each day. Beginning with yourself is necessary. What are you not forgiving yourself for?
9) Create a list of all your goals for the rest of the week/month/year. Get a clear picture of the time that is required to achieve these goals and what completion looks and feels like. Each time you are tempted to waste time, recall this picture, vividly and vibrantly. (Ideally, create a vision board of these goals and place where you can easily see it, when temptation comes to visit.)
10) If you are a chronic time waster, permit yourself a certain amount of time per day to wean yourself off of this unproductive habit. It took years to create these time wasting habits, expecting them to disappear instantly is very unreasonable. Allow yourself the flexibility to create new and powerful success habits WITHOUT beating up on yourself along the way. Perfection is not the goal but getting up and moving forward each time you stumble is necessary.
Wasting time is a sad and energy draining challenge to confront. Sad because the lost time is just not retrievable and regret is another grand waste of time! Also, we have so MUCH more really important matters to focus on: in our families, our relationships, our community, our work, our world…it’s sad to have to come to terms with all that has not been done. But coming to terms and moving on is necessary.
Wishing you an abundance of peace, productivity and joy,
♥~
