Act Now: Your Valuable Time Is Not an Infinite Resource

You have a limited number of days to make an impact before the opportunity ends. Stop waiting for the right moment and start living your mission right now

By Your Bro · Wed Jan 30 2019 · Self Improvement

You are running out of time right now. Every second you spend scanning this screen is a heartbeat you will never get back, and the clock doesn't care if you're ready for it to stop or not.

The Myth of the Infinite Tomorrow

The trouble is, you think you have time. You assume there will always be another weekend to start that project, another summer to get in shape, or another decade to tell the people in your life what they actually mean to you. For some, death will be eighty years from now. For others, eighteen. The less fortunate will only have eight years. Tragically for many, it may only be eight months, weeks, days, or hours. Acknowledge that your time here is not guaranteed.

Deep down, you likely accept that you are not completely fulfilled. There are things you desperately want to do in this world that you're just not getting around to. You owe it to yourself to maximize your life experience. With each day that passes, you have less runway. This isn't meant to be depressing; it's meant to be a wake-up call. According to Pew Research, the average American spends over two and a half hours a day watching television. That’s nearly 40 days a year spent staring at a glowing box while your own life sits on the shelf.

The Heavy Weight of Deathbed Regrets

The number one regret people have on their deathbed is that they wish they had spent more time with the people they love. They don't wish they had worked more overtime or finally achieved a perfect ratio in their fantasy football league. Worrying less and forgiving more usually round out the top three regrets. Once life is over, your opportunity to make an impact on this planet ends. If you're currently holding a grudge over something that happened three years ago, ask yourself if that bitterness is worth the limited hours you have left.

I remember a guy I worked with years ago named Miller. He was 58, always talking about the woodworking shop he was going to build when he retired at 60. He had the brochures, the floor plans, and a stack of expensive lumber sitting in his garage. He died of a heart attack at his desk three months before his 59th birthday. That lumber probably ended up in a landfill or sold for pennies at an estate sale. He spent forty years waiting for a "start" button that never got pushed. Don't be Miller.

Audit Your Meaningless Behaviors

To see your full potential, you have to ditch meaningless, time-wasting people and activities. Stop them from distracting you from your most important goals. Would you leave your money in stocks that continuously lose value, weakening your collective portfolio? If you monitor and optimize your money responsibly, why wouldn't you treat your time the same way? Time and health are the two most valuable assets for all humans; without either, you're doomed. I have written before about habits and conversations to avoid if you want to keep your sanity intact.

Consider your propensity to engage in the following:

• Scrolling through social media feeds for hours to see people you don't even like.
• Arguing with strangers on the internet about things you cannot change.
• Searching for the "perfect" gif for the group chat.
• Fighting over trivial things like celebrity news or sports stats.
• Worrying about what other people think of your choices.
• Looking up your ex and her new guy on Instagram.

Sure, some of these things are occasionally enjoyable. But be honest with yourself. You are spending too much time on the trivial because the meaningful stuff—the stuff that actually defines a man—is harder to do. It takes work to become the leader you were created to be. It's much easier to refresh a feed than it is to build a legacy.

Establish a Mission Framework

Learn how to take control of your time by focusing and optimizing your twenty-four hours. Ideally, this starts with having a mission every day, week, month, and year. The mission should be your purpose for living. It is your entire framework. Once you establish your mission, build goals that act as stepping stones. If an activity doesn't serve the goal, it is noise. Cut the noise.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that we spend a massive chunk of our lives just "processing"—commuting, answering emails, and doing administrative chores. If you don't have a mission to act as a filter, these chores will become your life by default. You have to be the one who decides what stays and what goes. If you don't need it, eliminate it. Anything bringing negativity or stagnant energy should be cut immediately. This includes the "friends" who only call when they need a favor or a drink.

The Urgency of Maturity

As you get older, the years seem to accelerate. It’s like a roll of toilet paper; the closer you get to the end, the faster it spins. This isn't a reason to panic, but it is a reason to be selective. In my guide on skills every man should have by 30, I talk about the importance of being able to handle yourself. A man who can handle himself understands the value of his own presence. He doesn't give it away for free to people or activities that drain him.

Never stop creating your legacy. Don't settle for a life of quiet desperation unless settling is what you ultimately want. Prioritize the most important aspects of your life. Live your life while you still have the breath to do it. The world doesn't need more people who are just waiting for the weekend. It needs men who understand that the clock is ticking and act accordingly.

—Your Bro