So many of us feel a scarcity of time: we feel rushed, like there’s not enough time to do everything, always behind, never feeling like we’re doing enough.
This problem is called “time scarcity,” and it’s one of the most common stresses in our society.
So how do we deal with this? Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer — but there are a few things I’ve found to be really powerful.
Let’s talk about the problem before we talk about the solution.
The Problem of Time Scarcity
Most of us feel some kind of time stress: I’m not making the most of my time, or there’s not enough of it to get everything done, it’s slipping away too fast, I’m overwhelmed by it all.
The feeling is that there’s not enough time. With a feeling of scarcity about time, we stress that we won’t get everything done. We feel behind.
Here’s the first thing to realize: there’s always a fresh supply of time. We get the same amount of time no matter who we are, and we get a fresh batch of 24 hours every day, no matter how terribly we spent the previous 24 hours. It’s a fresh start, over and over, a chance to try something new.
Use Your Time Wisely
Here’s the next thing to realize: it doesn’t matter how much you get done, doing more doesn’t solve the problem of not enough time. I have had fantastically productive days, where I’ll get 20-30 tasks done with zero procrastination or distractions … and I still feel like I need to do more, and that I wish I had more time.
And here’s the fourth thing to realize: these hours really are precious. They are a gift. We take them for granted, and don’t appreciate them to the fullest. We go through our days doing routine things, not really paying attention, and because of that … the hours slip through our fingers, and we wonder where it all went.
So with these things in mind, I’ll share the three most important ways to make the most of our 24 hours.