Time as a finite resource
One of the best shifts in my mindset has been noticing how limited our time in the world is. Call me morbid, but the thought of my own mortality spurs me into making wiser choices on how I spend my free time.
Take reading, for instance. I often feel panicked that despite my best efforts, I will never have enough time to read all the books I want. The thought of all that knowledge and understanding that I have literally no time to discover makes me bemoan my limits.
But that also motivates me to spend my time more wisely and squeeze in a few pages when I can: reading in the commute to and from work, during breaks, before bed, on weekends, etc.
Plus, not having enough time for all the books in the world means I’ve relaxed about not finishing one; in fact, I’ve become ruthless about dropping a book if I don’t like it so far, or if I don’t see the point of completing it. Life’s too short to slog through books that don’t give me pleasure, knowledge, or nourishment.
This also applies to my creative pursuits. Since time is a limited resource, I’m forced to weigh tradeoffs carefully. I could spend an hour on Instagram, or I could focus that craving for leisure on a healthier outlet such as writing in my journal, breaking out my watercolors, or taking a few shots with my camera. Choosing the latter is always infinitely more rewarding immediately afterwards.
Don't get me wrong, mindless activities can be incredibly fun! God only knows how many hours I’ve spent playing The Sims 4 or following Youtube drama. That said, it’s important to maintain intentionality so you’re not just defaulting to the convenient, frictionless options.
I know not everyone needs to take such a morbid approach to curb time-wasting habits, but for me, it’s been truly life-changing. Being acutely aware of the ticking clock pushes me to focus on my priorities and what I really want to do instead of what is easy at the moment.