Are You Penny-Wise but Time-Foolish?

It’s often been said that youth is wasted on the young. But I think a lot of people feel that way about time, too. Looking back, we can remember when we had a lot more time on our hands, but not a lot of resources to make the most of it. Now that we’re established, it seems that each day is less about what we want to do and more about what we have to do. Part of that is just a natural consequence of being an adult and having obligations to our families and our businesses. But still—shouldn’t stronger economics create better, more abundant choices for how we spend our time?

A lot of the problem, I think, arises when we are penny-wise and time-foolish. We accept that time in our work lives needs to be carefully structured to give us the best return, but then we try to shove all our other responsibilities into whatever is left and, inevitably, the things we like least get pushed farther and farther down a growing list of must-do’s. But the fact is, if you say you’re going to do something “when time permits,” you’re admitting that your time controls you instead of the other way around.

The answer then is to take back control and schedule the must-do’s of life the way you schedule your work. Often, when I suggest this to someone, I get the objection: “But I don’t want my life to be so programmed. I want to have more freedom.” And therein lies what I call the scheduling paradox—the counter-intuitive fact that the more you schedule your life, the freer you become.

Think of it: what would it be worth to you to begin your workday feeling peaceful, centered, and positive, knowing that everything else is either done or is scheduled to be done? Time for everything and everything in its time. No pressures, no nagging “I really have to find time for that” thoughts to cloud your focus. Try it. Create a comprehensive schedule that fully acknowledges the depth of your responsibilities and fully respects the value of your time. I think you’ll be surprised at how liberating it is to know that at any given moment, you can free your mind to devote the full measure of your attention to the task in front of you.