Have you ever heard the expression, “you have all the time in the world”? If you said no you’re probably living under a rock so let me catch you up to speed. Whenever I’m filling out applications, browsing Netflix for a movie, shopping, etc. (I think you get the point) people have a habit of saying things like, “take your time” “no worries, there’s no rush” “you have all the time in the world.” Unfortunately, you don’t have all the time in the world. You can’t stop time, pause it, slow it down, or whatever other synonyms you want to call it in regards to hoping time will move just a tad bit slower for you. Whether you want to believe it or not, you will never be younger than you are at this very moment. At birthdays people make comments such as, “you’ll only turn (insert age here) once!” Uh yeah, you only turn every age once. Time is ticking and sometimes we have a problem of letting slip away.
Sometimes I feel like I blink and two months have passed and then other times a week can feel like a century. I find motivation in counting down the days to some big event like a concert, vacation, gatherings with friends and/or family, and so on. I, like a lot of other people, am so focused on fast-forwarding life until the next big event. I do this and then turn around and complain that I don’t want to grow up, or graduate from college next year, or find a “big girl” job, or have responsibilities. I want to continue to have a young heart but I’m anxiously waiting for time to go by. We are all guilty of this as some point or another. I don’t want to look back when I’m sixty years old and wish that I had used my time more wisely. Simply put, time is a precious gift that you can never get back –– you can’t exchange it and it’s nonrefundable. You get what you get.
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock –– stop allowing yourself to waste the precious time the good Lord gave you over things that are irrelevant. Stop with these time wasters and live like you were dying (thanks Tim McGraw):
1. Social Media
If you claim you’ve never sat on your butt scrolling through Facebook reading that same post you did twenty minutes ago, you’re lying to yourself. Stop living vicariously through the lives of others, watching Tasty videos, or videos about “Damn Daniel” and his white vans that literally anyone can buy at any mall. Go do something! This is the biggest time waster of them all. You won’t have any cute pics to upload or sappy posts to write if you don't go live life. Put the phone down and do something or go see someone that holds a special place in your heart.
2. Applications (Apps)
People, Candy Crush and Farmville have got to go. Stop sending me requests on Facebook and more importantly stop playing the games! Hey ladies, you want to meet a guy? Get off Tinder and go put yourself out there (I would suggest to start off by looking in the library because if he’s studying he’s obviously a keeper). I am a lover of Pinterest, but if I continue to pin recipes, workout routines, clothes and other things I want/or want to do –– that won’t help me because I’m not doing it. I am guilty of pinning everything from wedding plans to crafts to recipes to workout routines but never actually follow through with any of it. I’m too busy admiring it online instead of applying myself to actually make it happen in real life (obviously the whole wedding planning won't happen for a long time, but it’s good to be prepared, right?).
3. Television
Yes, this includes Netflix and Hulu. Sitting around binge watching eleven seasons of "Grey's Anatomy" will get you nowhere in life, and you’ll gain a couple of pounds from all the brownies and ice cream you indulged in (trust me, I say this from experience). If you’re winding down from the day and you want to watch TV, I get that completely. Inform yourself by watching the news and then watch whatever TV show you’re hooked on this week. If you spend and hour or two watching TV, I see no harm in that. If you spend an entire day with your butt planted on the couch and you have an empty bag of chips and soda cans next to you, that’s a day wasted. Stop being lazy and go be productive!
4. Internet
One moment I’m doing my online quiz and then all of a sudden I’ve updated all my social media profiles, did some online shopping, checked social media again, looked at my e-mail praying no one e-mails me about anything that requires responsibility, shopped some more, checked what’s on Netflix and the routine continues until I realize that it’s some ungodly hour and I got nothing accomplished. Don’t get me wrong, the Internet if very useful. I couldn’t imagine life or surviving school without it; however, aimlessly searching for things or impulse shopping may not be the best idea. Go to the Internet for a purpose. Don’t have one? Then go do something else that does serve a purpose.
5. Meetings
Geez people do not call a meeting unless it serves a purpose and you can actually get things done. If you can send all the information you need via e-mail or discuss it in a phone call and there won’t be complications, then you don’t need to schedule a meeting. Be efficient and respectful with other people’s time. It took a lot of effort to pull people away from their busy lives and schedules, so use this time wisely. If you do need a meeting, cut to the chase. Don’t spend hours on end allowing others to complain about issues or difficulties. Focus on the objective(s) and goal(s), there’s a fine line between b!tching about things and problem solving. Git ‘er done!
6. People
It sounds harsh but it’s oh so true. If you have people in your life that don’t have your best interests in mind, they don’t deserve to be in your life in the first place. Whenever you’re celebrating a success or victory, look around at the people who are not lifting you up –– those are the toxic people you need to push to the side. This also applies to arguments with others. If it’s a match to see who can scream the loudest or who can beat the other person down the most, that’s pointless and so is keeping that jerk in your life. We all make mistakes, I am aware of that, but if someone starts making you question yourself in an unhealthy manner it’s time to bid them farewell. Don’t spend your life pissed or upset because someone who “cares” about you hurt your feelings for the millionth time. *Cues ‘N Sync song Bye Bye Bye*
There are times for all these “things” but most people have an obsession/addiction to these time wasters. Enjoy in moderation and don’t allow anything to consume you. Now stop reading this article and make something useful of your time!
