Wasting Your Time is Not...

What constitutes a waste of time? Let's consider the flip side though, what wasting your time is not...

There are many things we do that on the surface may appear to be a waste of time. But they are worth it. Let's talk about a few things that fall into this category:

1. Going through the learning process / failure

Learning is never a waste of time. And that's actually a common theme between point 1, 2 and 3. It can feel like a waste of time when you're going slow...learning, making mistakes, but seemingly not making progress because you haven't yet met your goal. But learning and making mistakes is not a waste of time.

Many successful people have mentioned how there is no success without failure, because when you trace it back, success actually springs from failure.

You might have to put in hours, months and years, before you finally feel like you are getting the payback from all your hard work. But the time you spent learning and failing was not a waste of time because everything adds up to bring you to the end result.

And guess what? Sometimes you will work forever on something and it will still fall through. I've had projects that I put months of work into that practically failed. But when I look back, I don't consider them a waste of time at all. Because the amount of knowledge I gained from putting in the work is something I absoutely could not have gained from doing nothing.

I'm satisfied with the valiant effort I put in and the lessons learned along the way. I trust the process and know that I'm constantly improving myself.

2. Loving people who don't reciprocate

I guess this one could be a little controversial. But I genuinely believe that loving people is not a waste of time, even if they don't reciprocate. Neither is doing good things for people who cannot or will not thank you. It's not about what you get.

I've said it before, but I think there's something extremely beautiful about putting yourself out there and being vulnerable. Also, as humans we are designed to love and we feel good when we show love. If someone chooses to reject your love and/or kindness, it's indicative of an issue within them, but you shouldn't let it affect you.

There's also a profound sense of virtue that comes with loving people who end up not reciprocating. Like that stuff really builds character if you own it. Because at the end of the day, it's rising above and showing principled, deliberate love (the ancient greek phrase agapē) that's based on your values as a person, not how you expect to be received.

Loving people who might not love you back helps you understand rejection. It can be a very valuable lesson that teaches you about human nature more than anything else.

3. Having the occasional day where you do almost nothing

We all have days where it feels like we did nothing but breathe. And some of us can feel really guilty on our days off. But these are so important. Life is not an emergency, and not only is it ok to have days like these, it's necessary for your mental health.

Recharging your batteries is not a waste of time. It's about balance, right? You shouldn't make a lazy lifestyle a habit, but at the same time it is good to actually rest and have time free from both recreational activities and work. These days often end up being days where you are left to spend time with your thoughts. Such time can be used to reflect and recalibrate.

Use this time to figure out where you are and where you want to go, this empowers you to eventually go back to work and be better than ever.

Wasting Your Time is Not...

1. Going through the learning process / failure

2. Loving people who don't reciprocate

3. Having the occasional day where you do almost nothing

Thanks for reading! What are your thoughts on what is not a waste of time?

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