Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.
– Theophrastus.”
I did something that I rarely do.
I said no to an opportunity.
To say I dislike saying no to someone is an understatement. This comes from both my love of being able to help others, as well as a deep-seated fear that I might miss out. However, I’ve recently had a realization that may be obvious to everyone else.
There is not enough time.
How is it possible that it’s the end of May? I’m pretty sure my brain is still back in February. My to-do list is long. My want-to-do list is even longer. Then you add in the list of things I should do, but often, avoid like clean out the fridge, and I’m out of time. (Why do they call that part of the fridge the “crisper” when in reality it is where veggies go to die an ugly limp and soggy death?)
The author James Clear (Atomic Habits) had a quote in his newsletter today that made me sit up at take notice.
“Saying no saves you time in the future. Saying yes costs you time in the future.
No is like a time credit. You can spend that block of time in the future.
Yes is like a time debt. You have to repay that commitment at some point.
No is a decision. Yes is a responsibility.”
Every time I say yes to something that isn’t my focus, I’m stealing time from the projects that matter the most. As someone who is a bit debt phobic (you can thank my very fiscally responsible dad for that) with money, the idea of having a time debt hit me.
I can still help others by sharing resources or recommending other people for the opportunity. If I can’t take on an edit project, I know people who are looking for work. Not only am I helping the person who needs an editor find a great one, I’m helping someone else fill their focus. Talk about win-win.
And as for my fear of missing out? It’s only missing- if I decide it’s missing. There are thousands, millions, of ways I could spend my time. I don’t feel like I “miss out” when I don’t clean the fridge. I can choose to see turning something down as missing an opportunity, or gaining an opportunity to do what I say is my priority. I get to decide where I spend my focus and my most valuable resource- time.
What is taking your time? Is it being spent where you most value it or are you taking on time debt that you can’t afford?