Chapter Content
Okay, so let's talk about something kind of cool, called "Time Wealth." I mean, we always hear about, you know, financial wealth, but what about time, right? It's, like, arguably way more important.
So, the big question, the thing that really gets you thinking is: how many moments do you actually have left with the people you care about? Like, really think about that. It's a bit of a gut punch, I know.
But, Time Wealth, it's built on three main things, three pillars if you will. First, there's *awareness*. It's all about understanding that time is, well, finite, you know? It's not sticking around forever, and it's *definitely* your most precious resource, right? Everything is temporary.
Then you've got *attention*. And this is about, like, really directing your focus. Being able to, you know, ignore all the noise and just put your energy into the things that actually matter to you, the things that light you up.
And finally, there's *control*. Which is, you know, pretty self-explanatory. It's about having the freedom to actually *own* your time. To choose exactly how you want to spend it. That's a big one, right?
Now, to kind of figure out where you're at with your Time Wealth, there's this little assessment you can do. It's pretty simple, actually. Basically, you just respond to a few statements with a score from zero to four. Zero means you strongly disagree and four means you strongly agree.
So, here are the statements:
First: I have a deep awareness of the finite, impermanent nature of my time and its importance as my most precious asset.
Second: I have a clear understanding of the two to three most important priorities in my personal and professional lives. Like, really dial it down to the essentials.
Third: I am able to consistently direct attention and focus to the important priorities that I have identified. Can you *actually* stay on task?
Fourth: I rarely feel too busy or scattered to spend time on the most important priorities. Are you constantly feeling overwhelmed?
And finally: I am in control of my calendar and priorities. Who's really running the show here?
Okay, so add up all those numbers. Your score, from zero to twenty, that's kind of your baseline. It's where you're starting from.
So, now that you have your baseline, it’s time to think about goals, right? Use what’s called a goal-setting framework to, like, calibrate your Time Wealth compass. Where do you wanna be in a year?
Think about what Time Wealth score you’d *like* to achieve within the next year. And then what are two or three checkpoints you need to hit along the way to get there? Like, smaller, more manageable steps.
Then, think about your anti-goals. These are the outcomes you absolutely want to avoid on this journey, right? What are the things that will derail you? Aim to have two or three of these.
And finally, what are two or three things that you can do to make progress toward your goal score?
Okay, here’s a way to jump start all of this. This is a cool little exercise you can do for just one week. It’s called the Energy Calendar. And the point is to really become aware of how you’re *currently* spending your time and to figure out which activities give you energy and which ones drain it.
So, grab a sheet of paper. On one side, write down all the activities that give you energy. The things you love doing, the things that make you feel alive. And on the other side, write down all the activities that drain your energy. The things you dread, the things that leave you feeling exhausted.
Then, below your energy-creating list, write down ways you can spend *more* time on those activities in the future. How can you prioritize them? And below your energy-draining list, write down ways you can spend *less* time on those activities in the future. What can you delegate? What can you eliminate?
Basically, more attention on the energy-creating activities and less on the energy-draining ones, that's the key to building a wealthier life. And not just financially, but in a way that actually *matters*, right? It's a process, but it's worth it. Trust me.