How To *Finally* Stop Time From “Slipping Away” in 2024
No, time does not fly if you don’t want it to
Tell me you recently thought to yourself, “How is it already March 2024?”
I know, I did.
The same cycle repeats itself year after year. Time flies and flies.
We are great at letting time pass us by until we realize there’s no time left.
Whether it is pursuing our fitness goals, applying for a new job, moving to that city, connecting with a friend, or simply picking a new hobby.
There is never enough time.
This year I don’t want to feel that loss of control over time anymore.
So, here are a few minor mindset switches I am making in 2024 to feel a bit more in control of my time without waiting for December 2024 to arrive.
Which it will very soon — whether you like it or not!
Embrace novelty in the mundane
We love discipline, productivity hacks, and predictability in our schedules.
But repeating the same things without iterations won’t lead to change.
Because 5 am power runs and cold plunges work for somebody else, that doesn’t mean it is the best use of your time. Switch things up till they work!
I felt a tinge of guilt if I would take an afternoon nap or get out for a mid-day stroll because it felt like, “I was losing on precious ‘work’ time.”
But what I needed was to change my ‘perception’ of time. I needed to change how accustomed I was to the predictability of my daily routine.
Embracing novelty is a glorified way to add new experiences to your day.
You will love the refresh and appreciate the change in the environment.
Do things out of curiosity
I’ve been there, done that.
I began writing online in 2019 and I stopped when I didn’t see traction.
I started writing again in 2020 and gave up as I didn’t ‘get it’.
Today, I write to fuel my curiosity and creativity. Life isn’t a zero-sum game. No matter how many writers exist online today, there is room for more.
It’s not about you — it never was. Think beyond and see the big picture.
When I zoom out and see why people who pursue certain passions are successful, it’s mainly because their curiosity got them obsessed with it.
When you do things to fuel your growth, you don’t feel like you are racing against time. You are more invested in the process and fully present.
Set weekly goals + monthly audits
Leading busy lives filled with numerous obligations and commitments can make time feel scarce. We are always playing catch up with this and that.
The constant rush to meet deadlines and fulfill responsibilities can leave us feeling like time is slipping away faster than we can keep up.
One of the best ways to make goals more achievable is to set weekly goals and do monthly audits. I need to train 20 times a month = 4 times/week.
A monthly audit puts things in perspective just the way companies have sales targets for each month or quarter.
Pick an immersive activity
I have become a huge fan of Lego and 500+ piece puzzles.
Immersing in these activities allows me to:
- Increase my attention span
- Focus on ‘task completion’
- Reduce any stress or anxiety
Often, simply thinking about the fact that time flies makes us feel overwhelmed, anxious, and as though we are not in control.
Immersive activities flip that paradoxical nature of time and put you in charge. Instead of losing precious time ruminating, you focus on the task.
When in doubt, go for it
Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring.
We lose so much more time thinking about doing than actually doing.
When in doubt, it’s best to go for that thing you want to do so that you can see for yourself how it worked out. Preparing for the perfect time is no use.
We are so much more miserable because we waste a lot of time sitting on the fence about trying something.
By the time we realize we want to do it, time has ‘flown’ by.
Don’t wait for permission to start, please!
Do first, complain later
I wish I listened to my advice much earlier.
When I needed to get my driving license, I resisted and found 32493 excuses. Most were lame, some were just scheduling conflicts.
But, it took all of 2 weeks to go for 5 lessons and take one driving test.
This applies to almost every mundane task we have to accomplish. It could be to fold that pile of laundry, reply to work emails, or go for that run.
Spending meaningless time resisting tasks makes a fight an uphill battle.
When you know you have to get that thing done, heads down, get it done.
Do first, complain later because once it's done, you won’t care, anyway.
The feeling of time flying by can be attributed to various factors, including our perception of time, our busy lifestyles, and the monotony of routine.
These are just a few ways I am learning to feel more in control of that time.
Because it will pass by, whether I like it or not!
I am the founder of Geeks and Experts, and I write about PR for startups, founder wellness, immigrant founders, and writerpreneurship!
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