3140: Managing Time Like Money by Tynan on A Balanced Approach for Present Joy & Future Satisfaction

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[00:00:30] This is Optimal Living Daily, Episode 3140.

[00:00:34] Managing Time Like Money by Tynan of Tynan.com

[00:00:38] Name your narrator Justin Malik reading you articles every single day of the year including holidays.

[00:00:43] All in an effort to make your day and mine even a tiny bit better.

[00:00:48] So with that let's get right to it as we optimize your life.

[00:00:53] Managing Time Like Money by Tynan of Tynan.com

[00:00:58] I've really been thinking a lot about future versus present ever since reading the time paradox.

[00:01:04] Do you live every day like it's your last? Do you save everything for the future?

[00:01:09] Or do you find a happy medium?

[00:01:11] One of the conclusions that I've come to which might be blatantly obvious to everyone but me

[00:01:16] is that time management should be exactly like a time-management.

[00:01:21] It's the same problem. How do you use a finite resource throughout your whole life for maximum benefit?

[00:01:27] Thinking of time like money rules out the extreme ends of the spectrum.

[00:01:31] We all know what it looks like when someone spends every dollar they get as soon as it's dropped into their hands

[00:01:37] and none of us envy that person although some imitate him.

[00:01:41] Saving everything and never spending any money isn't that great of an idea either.

[00:01:45] What's the point of having money if it gets buried next to you?

[00:01:48] So the question then is where the balance is between now and the future?

[00:01:52] To answer I think about how I manage my money.

[00:01:56] Here's some point by point analogies.

[00:01:59] Number one, I save most of my money.

[00:02:02] I don't have a set percentage but a habit I've developed is to save money

[00:02:06] unless there's something that really deserves to be purchased.

[00:02:10] In terms of time, most of the things I do are geared towards the future.

[00:02:15] Number two, but I don't save all of it.

[00:02:18] I know that the money is going to be spent eventually

[00:02:21] so I spend some of my money on things that make my life better now.

[00:02:25] Like everything this is a habit.

[00:02:27] If I'm not in the habit of spending money on things to make my life better

[00:02:31] will I really ever break that habit and enjoy the benefits of my money?

[00:02:35] The same goes for time.

[00:02:37] I know that I'm spending most of my time working towards the future

[00:02:40] so I happily set aside time now for traveling, seeing friends, or just indulging random whims.

[00:02:46] Number three, I primarily spend my money and time on high quality things.

[00:02:51] I feel obligated to say primarily because while in Tokyo

[00:02:54] I bought a pair of underwear just because the brand was Black Man Superstar.

[00:02:58] I don't spend money on big TVs or jewelry or first class plane tickets.

[00:03:03] I value my money so I spend it on things I've ever done.

[00:03:07] My time is the same.

[00:03:09] I don't channel serve or go to many movies or argue with people

[00:03:13] because none of that is a good use of time by my standards.

[00:03:17] Number four, I spend money when there's a reason to, not when I have it.

[00:03:22] If you gave me $100,000 today I wouldn't buy anything with it.

[00:03:25] There's nothing I need and a windfall doesn't change that.

[00:03:29] The same goes for time.

[00:03:31] I'm on a 10 hour flight right now which could easily be belong to a person

[00:03:35] on a flight right now which could easily be blown on movies and sleeping

[00:03:39] but instead I'm working.

[00:03:41] Going in the opposite direction is the same.

[00:03:44] If I want to go on a trip and I can afford to do it, both time and money wise

[00:03:48] I just go.

[00:03:50] No need for it to be a reward for anything.

[00:03:53] This seems like the obvious balance to me.

[00:03:56] Enjoy life to the fullest now because 50 years from now

[00:03:59] is just going to be another now and if you aren't doing it today

[00:04:02] you won't be doing it then.

[00:04:04] Habits only get stronger as time goes on

[00:04:06] so if you deprive yourself now with the idea that it will all pay off someday

[00:04:11] you might find that that day doesn't come in your lifetime.

[00:04:14] Happiness today begets happiness tomorrow.

[00:04:18] At the same time realize that there's no point in enjoying now

[00:04:21] if it comes at the expense of later.

[00:04:24] Allocate your time and pleasure so that the next now is better than today's

[00:04:29] but that both are great.

[00:04:31] Don't spend so much time on recreation that you have none left to spend later on.

[00:04:35] That's not any more sustainable than working all the time.

[00:04:39] Treat your time like it's valuable because it is.

[00:04:43] There's time for investment in the future and there's time for enjoying today

[00:04:47] but there's no time for wasting.

[00:04:50] Make time for work even when your immediate happiness doesn't depend on it

[00:04:54] and make time for pleasure even when you're busy.

[00:04:57] Combine productivity and play whenever you can.

[00:05:00] I sometimes forget that I work because I enjoy it so much.

[00:05:04] Don't commute if you can help it.

[00:05:06] If you can't help it listen to audiobooks or language tapes.

[00:05:09] Push for every moment to be worth something.

[00:05:12] Don't worry, argue, fight or plot revenge.

[00:05:16] These things make today worse and usually tomorrow too.

[00:05:24] You just listened to the post titled

[00:05:26] Managing Time Like Money by Tynan of tynan.com

[00:05:31] and I'll be right back with my commentary.

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[00:06:39] Take it a tine in.

[00:06:40] The combination of productivity with play is a great point

[00:06:44] because with things like fitness for example

[00:06:47] for many of us we do see the long-term value

[00:06:50] but is at the expense of having fun today

[00:06:53] because we can see exercise as something we're not particularly interested in doing

[00:06:58] or something that's not very fun.

[00:07:00] But if we're able to pair it with things we do enjoy

[00:07:03] or the actual fitness itself is enjoyable

[00:07:07] then we get the best of both worlds.

[00:07:09] An example might be listening to your favorite podcast while you exercise

[00:07:13] kind of like you said about driving

[00:07:15] or maybe exercise is play for you.

[00:07:17] My friends that love soccer and basketball

[00:07:20] and playing once a week gets their heart rate up,

[00:07:22] it's exercise and it's enjoyable at the same time.

[00:07:26] Even virtual reality nowadays can provide a high level of fitness.

[00:07:30] In VR you'll be out in some random beautiful location

[00:07:34] and you have to squat down, lunge and swing your arms around to hit things

[00:07:39] or even boxing in virtual reality which has an element of competitiveness

[00:07:43] and trying to beat the game.

[00:07:45] All these things are potential ideas of how to combine play and productivity

[00:07:49] or play and something else that we want to do but struggle with

[00:07:53] so hopefully there are some ideas that could work for you

[00:07:57] or at least get your wheels spinning.

[00:07:59] So with that have a great rest of your day,

[00:08:01] thank you for being here and listening to me

[00:08:03] and I'll be back tomorrow where your optimal life awaits.