There are infinitely more ways to waste our time than there is time to waste on them.
No matter where we look, countless dead ends, paths better left unexplored, and wild goose chases beckon.
To the undiscerning traveller, all roads might appear equally appealing. Each offers something unique – something worth considering, and perhaps even worth pursuing in its own right.
But the reward waiting for us at the end of any journey is far from certain. And even when it is (or even if we successfully reach that quest’s conclusion), the value of that reward is largely dependent on what we value.
Two paths might lead to the same destination, but whether that destination is the same for those who reach it is another matter entirely…
Because all who set out on the path are seeking something for their own ends.
Our desires propel us forwards. And beyond this – they inform the texture of our experience.
They determine the course we chart.
They produce perceptions which influence how we feel and how we see the world once we reach our goal.
Unless we’ve taken the time to think through what we want – and crucially, how we want to get there – there’s every chance we could arrive and realise we’d rather be somewhere else.
We see this all the time: in our own lives, and the lives of those we encounter.
Careers that don’t live up to our expectations.
A home that we’re not happy in.
Projects where we lose sight of the value we originally wanted to create, ending up with something completely different by the time we’re done.
These things don’t stem from a single source. But more often than not, our failure to understand what we want & why we do the things we do take us places we don’t want to be.
If our goal is merely to wander, any path will help us do that.
If our goal is to end up somewhere specific, we need to be careful where we walk.
Our time is finite. So is our energy. So is our focus, our commitment, and all the other resources we bring to bear in fulfillment of our purpose.
Sometimes, these resources are renewable: money is a prime example (even if we treat it like the opposite).
But for the things that matter, efficient allocation is key.
We don’t get more time. Once it passes, it’s gone.
Likewise, we only have so much energy in a day.
There are only so many plates we can spin as we juggle day-to-day responsibility & long-term progress.
Misallocation of our limited resources has two consequences:
- It slows our progress today.
- It diminishes our ability to make progress in future.
We shouldn’t expect ourselves to be perfect when it comes to spending our time wisely.
What we should expect is that we’ll do the best we can – whatever that looks like.
The solution, if there is one, is to clarify our purpose.
If we don’t know where we’re going, or why we’re doing the things we do, it’s worth asking:
Is this worth doing?
Is this bringing us closer our goals?
Is there a better way?
If the answer to these questions is “yes”, we know what we need to do.
Even if it’s not easy, the path is clear…
Clarify.
Recommit.
Chart a better course – one where our scarcest resources are put to work in pursuit of the things we care about (rather than being accidentally squandered in ways we’d never consciously choose).