How do you use your time well?
That’s a simple question with a very complicated answer.
The idea of using time well is something I’ve written about in various places and for many years, but I’ve never approached the question:
What is a good use of time? How do we know?
Here’s an interesting starting point to answer that question:
Improvement and growth don’t have a linear, one-to-one effect on our lives.
For example, getting 10% better at golf isn’t likely to make you 10% happier. Whereas getting 10% better at your marriage could potentially make you 50% happier.
Improving 10% at a skill or vocation is unlikely to result in a significant increase in pay, but improving 10% at managing complex projects or managing people could potentially multiply your income many times over throughout your career.
Leverage in Life
Basically, there are leverage points in life. And it’s not always clear where those leverage points exist. Spending the time to make two new friends could be life-changing… if you have no friends. But it could also be a complete waste of time and energy if you rely on your social life as a way to avoid responsibility and doing something meaningful.
