The Value Of An Hour

by Lisa Petty

Just a little while ago we were gifted with an extra hour. One extra hour. Without getting into a discussion about how this hour is merely pay-back for the one we lost earlier in the year, let's contemplate that hour for a moment. Did you use it well?  No doubt, the world seems to be turning faster. We're busier. Despite modern conveniences, we seem to have less down-time. Undoubtedly, things fall through the cracks. It's unavoidable, really. But as we sit in contemplation of the value of an hour, we should also take time to focus on our priorities and be conscious of the things we allow to slip through the cracks. If your relationship and your family is a priority in theory, why do you see them so rarely? If your health is valuable, why do you burn the midnight oil and short-change yourself on health-essential, energy-promoting sleep? Why do you skip yoga class, the gym or even a walk through the park with that aforementioned family?

If you had one hour left, what would you do with it?  Post your status on Facebook, or tweet about it? Clean up your email inbox?  Worry about things you can't change?

With an hour holding such high value to us, then, it's important that we use each one of them well. Yet, a 2005 Associated Press article concluded that the average worker wastes more than two hours per day, not including the lunch hour. And this survey was done before the Facebook and Twitter time vacuums really started sucking up our time and attention. Excluding weekends and factoring in a two week annual vacation, we're frittering away about 500 hours a year – which equals about 62 eight-hour work days. What could you accomplish with an extra 62 work days? You can find out, if you simply stop wasting time. Here are a few ways (besides putting a timer on Facebook) we can find extra minutes in a day:

Prioritize and plan. Having a set of goals for the day can help keep you on track. Refer to it often, especially when you catch yourself engaged in time-wasters.

Procrastination is a big waste of time. Stop over-thinking: rather than taking time envisioning every possible scenario for how a plan can go wrong, create a realistic plan and put it into place. Leave room open for unexpected contingencies.

Perfectionism is the root issue for many a procrastinator, and it stems from the belief that if you can't do it perfectly, you can't do it at all. Nothing is perfect. Get over it, and get on with it.

Say "no." If you keep taking on responsibilities and picking up the slack for other people, you'll never get around to checking off the items on your own list. At times, we all have to take on extra responsibilities, but for the most part, if saying 'yes' makes you feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed, 'no' is an acceptable alternative.

Delegate. If you aren't the best person for a job, find someone who is. This is particularly valuable for the self-employed and small business owners who try to save a buck by doing tasks like book-keeping (which may not be a personal strength) themselves. How much time do you waste in a bid to save money?

Clean up your act.  Clutter is distracting. Looking for a misplaced file is not the best use of your time. Time spent creating simplified systems of organization is a powerful investment.

Give it a rest. The more tired you are, the less efficient you are. Period. Take time to relax and rejuvenate. Not only will time off help you protect your precious health, but it will also allow you to nurture your relationships and hear your own inner wisdom.

As you create more time in your life, you'll be able to accomplish some of those big goals you've always held 'out there' for when you aren't so busy, like community service, hobbies, or writing the next great novel.

What's it going to be? •