American Resurgence Blog

How Do You Spend the Currency Life?

November 6, 2009 at 1:38 PM (Productivity) (4 hour work week, 4 hour workweek, earn money, ferriss, four hour workweek, invest, life, make money, on the shortness of life, part time work, Seneca, tim ferriss, timothy ferriss, work week)

I was just reading a post from Timothy Ferriss’ 4-Hour Workweek Blog titled: On the Shortness of Life: An Introduction to Seneca.  As I was reading this concept came to mind.  There are basically three ways that you can spend your life, and my question to you is this: which one comprises the majority of your life?

How much of your life is being invested?  To invest your life means to spend time learning, or earning (for some that means both).  It is a good thing to spend your time learning about your craft, or various crafts.  For example I spend at least a few hours every week learning more about diet, nutrition, and exercise because that is my chosen career (I’m a Personal Trainer and Nutritionist).  I also try to spend some time learning about my God, and how to be a good husband (getting married two weeks).  I also spend probably 25-30 hours per week earning money and providing for my life and future spouse.

How much of your life is being enjoyed?  Life is meant to be enjoyed, not just lived and waded through.  How much time do you spend with your friends, with your family, with your husband or wife?  How much time do you spend doing the things you enjoy?  This doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy your work or investing in yourself, but you need time away where you have this thing called “Fun”.  Fun is about relaxing, sitting back and enjoying the time and company of those around you.

How much of your life is being wasted?  This, for many people, is a far bigger piece of the pie than it should be.  Many times that wasted time can be thought of as necessary, but it almost never is.  For example, what do you do while in your commute to work?  Many people commute to work, 20 minutes, some an hour or two.  What are you doing during your commute.  There are many ways that you could redeem that commute and either, invest during it, or enjoy it.  Podcasts are a great way to redeem your commute, by going to Drive-Time University, put an audio on that will engage your mind and invest in your life while you drive, instead of spending the whole 40 minutes getting pissed at the other drivers.  Other times we just get caught up in the inefficiencies of life like email, facebook, youtube, the phone, etc.  Not that those things are bad, but it can take you 20 minutes or more to regain focus after an interruption or distraction.  Try to minimize those interruptions by scheduling time for them, and not letting them out of that box.  For example, only read and return email at 11am and 5pm for 30 minutes at a time.  That way you won’t be interrupted by an email every 30 minutes.

The point of these three questions is to as how balanced your life is.  Life is to be invested and enjoyed, and never wasted.  Many waste too much of their life, and never get ahead.  Some invest too much and get too far ahead, and thus invest too little in other areas like family and friends.  You need to take a sober look at how you’re spending your life.  Are you wasting too much?  Investing too much?  Too little?  Are you enjoying too little?  Answer these questions honestly, and rebalanced your life as needed.

If you want more information on how to be more efficient in your life and work then read the 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss.  Click the link below to see it on Amazon.

The 4-Hour Workweek – Original Edition

The 4-Hour Workweek – Expanded Edition (Pre-order)

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