Have you ever said, “I just don’t have enough time!” I’m sure you have over and over again just like I have. But, did you know that there is something you can do to save 20 years of your life! That’s right, 20 years! But before I get to that, let’s look at some of the things we say “no” to because we just think we don’t have the time.
Waiting Until the Last Minute
As an Education Administrator for the Air Force, I see it nearly every week – people who wished they had started working on their Community College of the Air Force or CCAF degrees much sooner. They’ve waited until the last minute and they are rushing to try to complete it because now’s there’s an opportunity for a promotion that no one ever saw coming. And, instead of already having a CCAF or equivalent degree, these Airmen are rushing to try to get it done in time for the promotion board. Unfortunately, very few make the deadline.
Time spent with family and friends can get harder and harder as we get older because of other commitments we have made or just because we are working longer hours. Sometimes, it’s just inconvenient for us to travel to see our parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, grandparents or “framily” (friends who are our family). The drive is too long, the cost is too high, the timing isn’t good. There are tons of excuses.
Not-So-Quality Time
Then there are the relationships we have, but the time we spend with those we love isn’t very good quality. I am guilty of this on more than several occasions! I’m constantly thinking of what’s next on my to-do list of things that need to get done around the house, that I neglect the most important part of our home, the people and pets who live in it! My time with them is spent talking about unimportant things or distractions instead of listening to their needs and growing our relationships deeper. All our family and fur babies want is our time, attention, and love. Seems simple, but in many instances, we are not intentional in how we spend our time with them. Then the cycle begins and we say – we just don’t have enough time. What if I told you, we actually have plenty of time, if we adjust one simple thing in our lives!
Get 20 Years Back!
Dr. Adam Alter is a New York Times bestselling author and renowned researcher and professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business. He is an expert in human behavior and research who helps people create quality lives and teaches ways to enrich them. He says that there is one thing we can do to eliminate wasted time that will literally give us back 20 years of our lives.
Know what that is? Eliminating the death-scroll! Yep, all of those not-so-little moments we spend on social media looking at videos, pictures, and posts deeply cut into our lives. So much so that research shows that those of us living today could spend up to 20 years of our lives death-scrolling through social media! The crazy part is that most of us know that this is bad for us because it doesn’t really enrich our lives!
What Teenagers Really Want
When asked, teenagers agree that they wished they were able to spend more time face to face with their peers than trying to catch up with them on social media. They crave in person interaction. Many parents who work in Silicon Valley who create and develop these platforms, send their children to schools that ban cell phones during the school day. Why? Because they know that their children are healthier and more enriched by playing with their friends on the playground, reading a book, or developing social skills through interaction with others instead of a screen.
What Happens at Work?
There’s a much bigger impact on job performance. By scrolling quickly through posts, videos, and photos, we train our minds to only handle tasks in very small increments. So, when we are given projects or tasks that require concentration greater than 2 minutes, many of us fail to stay involved. In fact, Dr. Alter says that it’s incredibly difficult to get adults to stay focused enough to get 10-15 good working minutes out of them throughout the day! Isn’t that crazy? Can you imagine ordering food at a restaurant and not getting it for 45 minutes to an hour later because the kitchen staff couldn’t stay focused enough to get the meal out to you in a timely manner? This happens and it’s happening in workplaces all around the world because we cannot stay focused.
What to Do, What to Do?
But you might be saying, “I can’t give up social media altogether! What would I do?” You can and there are plenty of things to do. The first thing you need to realize is that trying to quit cold-turkey won’t work unless you substitute your death-scrolling time with something that’s productive. For example, spending time with friends, trivia nights, concerts, festivals, travel, reading books, learning a new hobby, trying something new are all great examples of enriching activities. When was the last time you tried something for the first time? Let that question sink in. Secondly, I’m not telling you should quit social media altogether, but what I am asking you to do is try and cut down on the time you spend on social media. Even a few less minutes and hours each day can help. Spend those minutes journaling, thinking about your hopes and dreams, or just closing your eyes.
Dr. Alter also says that reconnecting with the world outside helps us to reset our minds and hearts and brings us peace. Our favorite place to do this is the beach for very different reasons. My wife loves to listen to the ocean and just sit on the beach with her service dog Louis (Lou-ie). The sound of the ocean waves brings a peace to her heart that can’t be replaced by any other sound. I love surfing and being out in the ocean with the water surrounding me and the sun of my face. The beach is our place to recharge, relax, and ready ourselves for the demands of our jobs, children, and fur babies. It’s literally our happy place. And, when we are there, we can focus on each other and when we are home, we can relive the memories we’ve made.
A Gift of a Lifetime
Being in the moment is the most precious gift you could give your family, friends, and pets. It’s the one thing that only you can give that no one else can. So, instead of looking to see what other people are doing or posting, make your own memories with the people and pets you love and save yourselves years of wasted time.
Take it from someone who is a little older and a little seasoned, any time you can regain to spend with those you love is more than worth it! So, put down those phones for just a few minutes and take in the world and those around you. You won’t be missing a thing and will be gaining so much more in return!
