Maximizing time in a hurried culture

Ask someone how they are doing today, and you already know what the answer. Busy. We’re all busy. Who really works 40 hours a week anymore? Most full-time professionals are clocking much more, and add the mental and emotional spend on top of the actual work, and you’ll find we’re all pulling overtime. So, how do we carve out time for what matters most?

As I spent October reflecting on how to make time for myself though mindfulness, it’s led me to consider what intentional shifts I can make to connect more deeply in my personal relationships without having to overhaul my schedule. Because again, busy! In thinking how I can reframe within my current time constraints, I’ve come up with a few ideas.

🛒 Grocery shopping: My husband and I live in a rural area, so a trip to the grocery store is just that - a trip! And yes it’s a chore, but we’ve repurposed it as a time for us to collaborate on how to save money, make healthy meal choices, and plan out what we’re eating and cooking the following week.

🚶🏽‍♂️🚶🏽‍♀️Mindful walking: I mentioned this in a previous writing. A simple walk can do wonders for conversation and connection. Making time with a partner, family member, or friend is a great way to breathe, reflect, and be present.

🎄 Holiday decorating: With the upcoming holidays, you might be sprucing up your spaces for the season. Whether it’s stringing lights for Christmas, creating a blue and white centerpiece for Hanukkah, or demonstrating the seven symbols of Kwanzaa, decorating can be a more meaningful task when it becomes a shared experience. So, subtract from your task time by multiplying the impact of connection with your loved ones.

These aren’t grand gestures. They’re everyday moments that are repurposed with intention to help make the most of the time I have. And the longer you live, the more you’ll realize time is so fleeting. Time is not something we spend, it’s something we shape. Here’s to making the most of yours this season!

How are you making time in your calendar for the people on your front row?