Want More Time?
I have always been fascinated by time, how time goes so fast, how I get more time, and why it is now when I look in the mirror, the person reflected at me looks different than I expect her to. My husband Brian and I celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary this week. It's been fun and mind-boggling to reflect on our family's adventures, laughs, struggles, growth, and love over the years.
As an undergrad, I had the privilege of conducting research with Professor Jon D Robinson, a pioneering time-use scholar, and my absolute favorite Sociology professor. He was coined the "Father of Time" and found that people have more leisure time than they admit. Studies have shown that free time unrelated to work or chores is vital for our health and happiness, and the optimal amount of leisure time is about 2.5 hours per day. Less than that, and people feel stressed.
Time is a precious resource, yet we live in a culture that constantly makes us feel like we never have enough. We tend to get sucked into the vortex of busyness. With only 24 hours in a day, countless distractions, and growing to-do lists, how can we ensure we spend our time on the things that matter and give us joy? Moms especially feel a time restraint and shortage.
I started tracking my time to find more leisure time. I define leisure as activities that bring me immense pleasure and joy. This is not zoning out on Netflix or doom scrolling Twitter or gawking at Instagram. Not that there's anything wrong with these activities. They don't add a bounce to my step and contribute to my overall happiness. I'm talking about hiking, feeling the sun's warmth on my skin, engaging in conversation with my family and friends, playing the piano, reading for pleasure, or even sitting silently for 5 minutes without anyone shouting, "MOM!!".
7 Simple Ways to Capture More Leisure Time
Take Notice: Jot down activities already occurring during the day that bring you joy. Did you take a 10-minute break from work for a quick walk? Talk on the phone with your sister? Take a class? Listen to a podcast? Engage in meaningful conversation with a loved one? The point of this exercise is to become more aware of the micro-moments of leisure time that we DO have in our daily lives. When we change our perspective to notice the joyful moments, that's our new reality.
Identify Time Wasters: Identify activities that take up your time but do not add value to your life. This could be spending hours scrolling through social media, binge-watching TV shows, or engaging in any activity you deem unproductive. Social media might bring you joy for the first 5 minutes, but then you notice it zaps your energy. Then set a 5-minute timer and move on to something else that fuels your energy. Identify and eliminate these time wasters, and you can free up several hours each week dedicated to leisure activities.
Let Go of Something Today That Isn't Serving You. You Can Take Back That Time For Something That Matters.
Prioritize your Schedule: List all your daily activities and prioritize them based on their importance. Allocate specific time slots for essential tasks like work, exercise, and household chores, and try to complete them within the scheduled time. This will help you create a more structured routine, giving you more time to pursue leisure activities.
Multitask Efficiently: I love to listen to Podcasts, and this one has been a game changer. I listen to Podcasts while I cook dinner and do laundry, two chores that bring me zero joy. You can also combine leisure activities with other essential tasks. For instance, you can catch up with a friend while walking or watch your favorite TV show while exercising.
Learn to Say No: This is for you people pleasers out there. Many of us struggle with saying no to requests for our time and attention but learning to say no is critical to finding more leisure time. It's okay to decline invitations that do not align with your priorities or interests. Saying no can help you create boundaries and ensure you have time for what matters most.
Delegate Tasks: Delegating tasks can be an effective way to free up more leisure time. If you have household chores or work tasks that can be done by someone else, delegate them to others or get your kids involved. This will allow you to focus on the tasks requiring your attention, leaving you more time for leisure activities.
Give Time Away: Dr. Holmes, author of Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most, found in her research that when people give away, 30 minutes of their time reported feeling like they had more time than those who used the half hour for personal pursuits. We know from the research that even spending a small amount of time helping others has a multiplier effect. Volunteering can have an incredible impact on your physical and mental health, relieving stress, boosting self-esteem, increasing the immune system, and even helping you live longer.
The Most Important Thing in Life is to Make Time for the Things that Make Life Worth Living
Need help to find more time and an accountability group? I will teach you how to experience IMMEDIATE and SUSTAINED improvements in your happiness and well-being. I look forward to seeing you there. Sign up Today! This program had a profound impact on my overall happiness, productivity, and ability to deal with significant challenges with more ease.
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I hope you find another 30 minutes in your day for something that brings you joy! Finding leisure time can be challenging, but it's essential to prioritize it in your life. Remember, leisure time is not a luxury but a necessity for maintaining happiness and healthy work-life harmony.
Wishing you a day filled with Joy!
Katherine