STOP WASTING TIME | Stefan James Motivation

Stop wasting time. Time is something that cannot be wasted, replaced or re-written.

This is why time is so precious. It's a depreciating asset. From time to time, we all get caught up in activities that do not contribute to our highest self. Some actions seem like they don't matter because we don’t see the negative impact that they have on our lives in the short-term. However, over time, they creep up on us and we are left wondering, “Where did time go?”

A lot of people end up getting sucked up in a time-wasting vacuum. As a result, they waste their life away. In the back of our minds, we all know that we have a limited amount of time on this planet. Sometimes we need to be reminded of how short life is so that we are motivated to live our lives more fully.

When you value time, you don't waste it. In the words of Marcia Wider,“It’s how we spend our time here and now, that really matters. If you are fed up with the way you have come to interact with time, change it.”

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Do you want to stop wasting time?

Everyone wishes that they had more time, but here lies the problem. You don't need more time. Rather, you need to do MORE with the time that you already have. If you've ever caught yourself saying, “I don't have time” you need to realize that this is just a disempowering story that you are holding onto in order to prevent yourself from failing. We all have a fear of failure.

However, this mindset hinders a lot of people from maximizing their lives and mastering their time. A survey by Salary.com found that 89% of respondents said they waste time every single day. It's fair1 to say that time wasting has become an epidemic.

You always make the time for things that you are most committed to. I believe that how you spend your time says a lot about what matters most to you. This is where people get stuck. Oftentimes we engage in time-wasting activities that prevent us from moving forward in life, whether that's trolling on social media, watching TV shows, or hanging out with negative people.

For many people, it can be a shock to realize how much time they are wasting on things that don't matter. If you've ever asked yourself, “Where does the time go?” then you may want to re-think how you are spending your time.

In the words of Charles Darwin, “A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of time.”

If you want to become a time management ninja, then it's important that you understand how you can start getting get more done. Let's explore 3 ways that you can stop wasting time today.

1. Prioritize Your To-Do List

You might be wasting time because you are keeping yourself busy with other tasks that are less of a priority. When the things that you desire to do most are less urgent on your list then it's easy to put them on the back burner. How about creating a “not-to-do list.” In his book, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, David Allen says that this is a great way to consciously identify and limit those tasks that aren’t worth your time. When you know what isn't a priority, then you can start figuring out what is.

I start my day by writing in my Productivity Planner. This tool has allowed me to procrastinate less and get my most important tasks completed. As a result, I feel more productive on a daily basis. Instead of focusing on many different things, schedule one chunk of time to make progress towards your most important goal.

When it comes to prioritizing your to-do list, if you want to get more done, you need to do less in your day. Don't try to do it all. That will only lead to many things getting started, but nothing getting finished. What do you need to do less of?

2. Eliminate All Distractions

A distraction is anything that you indulge in that always makes you feel worse after you do it. This could be sleeping in for an extra hour or having meaningless conversations on the phone. I believe that the reason why we end up distracting ourselves is that, deep down, we don't feel fulfilled.

As a result, we look for some sort of escape or immediate sense of comfort in order to fill the void inside of ourselves. By doing so, it may feel as if you are escaping the pain. However, it only serves to further hinder your progress and holds you back from achieving your goals.

Nothing makes me happier than knowing that I am making progress towards becoming a better version of myself. At our core, we all want to feel this way. However, in order to achieve this state of happiness, we need to commit to never-ending growth. If you aren't growing, you're dying.

3. Take Breaks

Oftentimes, overachievers and workaholics are praised for their behavior. Working yourself senseless is associated with success, but is it? In today’s hyperconnected world, finding a moment to take a breathe and relax our minds has become a lost art.

However, if you aren't taking breaks and allowing your brain to reboot itself, then you are most likely decreasing your productivity levels. Stopping your work when you are “in the zone” may seem counterintuitive, However, research shows that by being more intentional with our work and slowing down, we actually get more done.

Researcher K. Anders Ericsson, who has studied elite performers, including musicians, athletes, actors and chess players found that these types of people practice in uninterrupted sessions that last no more than 90 minutes. By engaging in work that is both intentional, high effort, and high concentration practice, they maximize their time spent on tasks. In short, they have mastered the art of working smart, not hard.

Stop wasting time. If you can spend most of your time wisely, then you will be winning at life.

In the words of Pope Paul VI – “Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.”

Wasting time happens to everyone at some point in their lives. It's okay to relax and waste time now and then. However, if it starts to become a bad habit, it only takes us farther away from living a happy and productive life. What small change will you make today that will allow you to stop wasting your time and start living your life?