Time Well Spent
here’s to managing the time we’ve been given (with our kids) well
I was recently given a perspective + a fact: “Life is lived in hours” and there are 168 Hours in a week.
What we believe: What we do with our time matters.
What we want: To be a good steward of my time + live for what matters most.
THE WEEKLY 168-HOUR CYCLE IS BIG ENOUGH TO GIVE A TRUE PICTURE OF OUR LIVES. YEARS & DECADES ARE MADE UP OF A MOSAIC OF REPEATING PATTERNS OF 168 HOURS. YES, THERE IS ROOM FOR RANDOMNESS, and THE MOSAIC WILL EVOLVE OVER TIME. BUT WHETHER YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE PATTERN, IT IS STILL A CHOICE.
LAURA VANDERKAM
Let’s choose to pay attention. To notice the pattern.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:
Print out a physical copy of the 168 Hours Worksheets. Put it in a convenient place and have a pen close by.
Write down how you spend your time in 30 minute increments. Check-in throughout your day. Record the task or activity. Keep the note short.
Get a highlighter and color code 3-4 categories (ie. sleep, work, time spent with children, etc.)
Take a look at how you’re spending your time. Use the data to take a look at your life.
Laura offers this advice: Keep a time log until you are satisfied that you have a complete picture of how you spend your time.
QUESTIONS TO ASK:
Are the priority areas of your life receiving priority amounts of time?
Where would you like to spend more time?
Where would you like to spend less time?
why it matters:
Because there are 168 hours in a week…
Because there are days when we are a mess. We are navigating this life, our circumstances, our job, and relationships. We are at the office, in traffic, back at the office. Sitting in carline. Running to the grocery store. Stacking blocks. Watching a show. We spend time doing grown up things like cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Trying to keep up. Always feeling tired. Oof.
There’s a relationship between what’s on your mind and how much is getting done. Think about it:
Tracking your time helps you realize how moments could be better spent.
Tracking your time helps you realize you actually may have more time than you think.
Tracking your time makes you rethink how much time was spent on the things that didn’t matter and new ways you could live more intentionally.
Life is lived in hours…
If I want to be a good mother, I must spend time with my children.
A marriage requires conversation, quality time, and intimacy.
To keep an organized home, I must show up daily.
If I want to be healthy, eating well, exercise, and getting enough sleep are sure to be scheduled.
Let’s choose to pay attention. To notice the pattern.
Here’s the deal:
You can choose how you spend your 168 hours.
You can live for what matters most.
We’re not on a hamster wheel. Our days are not about filling each and every pocket of time.
If you’re ever feeling short on time. If you wish you had more time. Start somewhere. Track it.
Written by: Brooke
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