The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.

This Henry David Thoreau quote is one of my favorites when we think about our most precious commodity – time. You see, we are perishable items. There’s nothing like a global pandemic unfolding in front of us that reminds us that all of our time here is limited. We have no idea how long we will be able to breathe in the crisp air, watch a beautiful sunset or hold our loved ones. Our greatest asset is our time. Everything we do and don’t do costs us time. Time is what we want the most, yet we use the worst. What you need to determine is whether or not the price of something, be it a relationship, job or pursuit, is worth the time you will never get back.

Here are some ways you can stop going through life aimlessly and align the things that are important to you with the amount of time you spend on it.

1.) Be intentional with the things that are truly important to you. Creating a list that you look at every day that can keep you focused on what you want will help you plan your time better.

2.) Plan out your day. It is our daily habits that defines who we are. What we do with our time says a lot about what’s important to us. When writing out your plan for the day, check to make sure it aligns well with the things that really matter to you.

3.) Know what is likely to get you off track. Know your triggers and what is likely to cause you to waste the day. For me, it’s typically a weekend day where I enter what I call “sloth mode”, which is just having a lazy day. Sometimes those are important to have, but if I find myself in sloth mode for too many weekends, I have to make a change.

4.) Be proactive versus reactive. Be mindful of the things that might take up a lot of time and think about whether or not you feel good about using your time that way. Some things are out of our control, but if you know that spending an afternoon with a friend often turns into a late night and you wish you came home earlier, anticipate that the next time. Then decide if you feel okay utilizing your time that way. If not, set appropriate expectations with yourself and them.

5.) Limit time on the internet and social media. As much as I love Instagram and YouTube, I have to limit it. Because you know how it is! You jump down one rabbit hole after another and before you know it, three hours have gone by. You can still enjoy social media, just set limits with yourself.