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Is Your Time Being Wasted?

In today’s fast-paced world, people often overlook the most precious resource they possess: time. While money can be earned, saved, or spent, time is finite; once lost, it’s gone forever. Yet, how often do we factor time into the equation when making decisions? Many of us unconsciously waste hours on tasks that don’t align with our values or goals, unknowingly trading time for little to no return. But what if we started valuing our time like money?


Imagine this scenario: you need to pick up an item from the other side of town, and it will take you an hour to get there. If you value yourself at ₹1000 per hour, that trip essentially costs you ₹1000. When we look at decisions purely in terms of money, it’s easy to see what a waste it could be, but time isn’t factored in because it feels less tangible. People often find themselves in situations where they prioritize saving a small amount of money but end up losing precious hours. What they don’t realize is that the time lost could have been invested in something more meaningful—like learning a new skill, spending time with loved ones, or working on a personal project.


Time is an invisible currency, but it’s the most important one. Successful people understand that their time is valuable and treat it that way. When we start factoring time into every decision, it changes how we approach daily activities. That hour spent travelling across town could instead be used to advance your career, work on your fitness, or invest in your personal growth. This mindset shift makes every decision clearer: Is this worth my time?


Here are a few ways to factor time into your decision-making:

  1. Calculate your hourly worth: If you’re unsure how to start, assign yourself an hourly rate based on your income or your perceived value. This will give you a tangible number to weigh against each decision.

  2. Outsource where possible: If a task is going to take you two hours but costs less than your hourly rate to have someone else do it, consider outsourcing. Your time can be spent more productively elsewhere.

  3. Batch tasks together: If you must travel across town, try to combine multiple errands into that trip to maximize your time.

  4. Think before saying ‘yes’: Ask yourself if it’s worth your time investment before committing to something. This simple pause can save you from draining your resources on unimportant tasks.


Reflection: What would change in your life if you treated time as valuable as money?

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