Why Time Is More Valuable Than Money
We all have an equally limited amount of time from the moment we are born. Even millionaires and billionaires cannot purchase more time. If they are to live for 80 years, that's the entire span they are given; they cannot buy an extra 80 years. We can 'buy' time in terms of saving time by, for example, hiring personal assistants to handle tasks around us. But no one can truly purchase time itself.
As we get older, especially when we approach our senior years, our bodies may not be as flexible and strong as when we were younger, and our energy levels might start to decline. Even if we manage to live until the age of 80, we might not have the same energy we do now. If there's something you desire to achieve, now is the time to pursue it. If we delay, we'll be late. So, do not waste your time in your comfort zone if you have aspirations to fulfill. Time is a finite resource, and once it passes, it cannot come back. So why would you waste your time? Strive to achieve your goals while you are young.
Obstacles to Time Optimization
Fear
Fear is a major hindrance that prevents us from chasing our dreams. It could be the fear of criticism or the fear of the unknown. But if we allow fear to stop us from acting, we end up losing valuable time. When we finally make up our minds to chase our dreams, it might be too late – time could have run out.
Bronnie Ware, the author of 'The Top Five Regrets of the Dying,' worked with terminally ill patients and one of the most prevalent regrets she heard from them was the regret of not having the courage to live a life true to oneself, rather than conforming to others' expectations.
When we fail to act in line with our desires and convictions, we might have regrets when we realize we are running out of time. We might think that we should have pursued our dreams and been authentic in our decisions and actions, and not worried about meeting society's expectations or the expectations of those around us. Judgment is merely society's perception and opinions on those who fail to chase their dreams, and uncertainty can add a sense of adventure to our lives. We must dominate our fears to avoid wasting our time. Our biggest fear should be the waste of time, and we must realize this before it's too late.
The Dead-end of Unfulfilling Work
If your work gives you a sense of fulfillment and directly contributes to your goals – such as a boxer who aspires to be a world champion and trains hard every day, or an entrepreneur who strives to make the world a better place through dedicated effort – then that's progress rather than a waste of time. However, many people prioritize their jobs and careers over their passions and dreams. Working to earn a living becomes life itself rather than a means to pursue dreams and passions. This is a loss of precious time.
Retirement
Retirement is one of the biggest misconceptions we've been led to believe. We've been told that we can chase our passions when we retire and enjoy a secure retirement. But when we reach the age of retirement, we are no longer in our youth. Depending on the country, some of us may not even be able to receive retirement in the future, and in some nations, the age at which one can retire keeps increasing. The truth is, that we need to chase our dreams while we are still young; waiting for retirement is not an option.
Phone Addiction
Phones have become a vital part of our lives, especially among young people. However, most people use phones for entertainment instead of as tools to improve their lives. Mindlessly scrolling through social media and spending excessive time watching Netflix or YouTube can be a significant waste of time for young people who are in the best time of their lives to chase their goals.
The Excuse of Ignorance
Everyone starts without knowing what to do initially. Every successful person who has achieved their goals had to learn from scratch. If you don't know how to do something, take the initiative to learn. Resources are everywhere in this digital age, so there's no excuse for saying you don't know how to do something or that it's too late to learn. If you give up, it's over. When faced with adversity and defeat, have the resilience to bounce back. If we refuse to accept defeat and persist in finding a way, we can win.
Lack of Willpower
The most critical challenge, if we are to safeguard our precious time from squandering, depends on our willpower. It's our ability to make choices that align with our goals and resist distractions and obstacles. To safeguard our invaluable time, we must harness the power of willpower.
Conclusion
Time is our most valuable resource. We need to use it wisely and not allow anything to be wasted. Whether it's fear, unfulfilling work, waiting for retirement, phone addiction, or ignorance, we need to overcome these obstacles to make the most of our time and have the willpower to not waste time. Because once time is gone, it can't be purchased even if we pay billions of dollars.
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