Top 10 Things Wasting Your Time & Life

“Don't waste time on what's not important. Don't get sucked into the drama. Get on with it: don't dwell on the past. Be a big person; be generous of spirit; be the person you'd admire.” - Allegra Huston

We all have goals, dreams and ambitions that require focus and there is never enough time in the day. Which is why you need to stop wasting time on RIGHT NOW.

Here are 10 things you need to eliminate from life as soon as possible:

1) Drama - Whether it’s your friend’s, your family’s or the co-worker conundrums, you can start minimizing your involvement right now. You can listen calmly, empathize and then walk away.  No advice, no dwelling or complaining along, just let things be and move on.

Now, if you’re the one making the drama, step back and get some perspective. The problems you face and your feelings about them are not permanent. It’s time to be honest with yourself and ask why you attract wild emotional swings and excitement.  Are you bored?  Is this just what you do for entertainment or attention? Can you create a better, more productive adventure for your life?

2) Perfection -  You’re not perfect and you’re never going to be.  Many are obsessed with perfection in execution, or more commonly the “all or nothing” cliché, which stands in the way of actual progress. Others are obsessed with perfection in result and this leads to constant disappointment.  As Voltaire said, “Perfect is the enemy of good,” so don’t let perfection stall your good progress.  Progress is what really matters. Shift your focus to the means and not the ends for a more fulfilling life.

3) Takers - Toxic people are everywhere and you don’t have to fall prey to their ways. Some particularly selfish ones will charm the life right out of you by stealing copious amounts of your time.  They need you -- to listen, to lend them $10 bucks, to do them one more small favor - but you never seem to need them. Or, when you do, they’re suddenly busy.

4) Imagined Urgency - We’re all so busy, but too often we clog our schedules with the stuff that doesn’t really matter and neglect what does. We live in a culture that values productivity, so being busy often validates our existence, or so we think, in the eyes of others. If you have free time, you must be lazy right? The sooner you learn that busy is a disease, the sooner you can make time for what really matters.

5) Micromanaging Everything (see Perfection / Busy) -  So you think you’re the only person at home who can load the dishwasher? Come on now. The world is filled with competent people.  You live with them, you work with them and they’re here to help.  Empower those around you so that you can stop focusing on the small stuff, get a deeper perspective, and (again) make time for what matters.  Let your standards slide a bit. You don’t have to do it all.  And, in fact, your world will be a better place if you don’t do it all.  

6) Negativity / Complaining - Are you addicted to negativity or hanging out with people who are? Break the cycle. Become aware of when you’re overly negative, acknowledge your negative thoughts and then let them go.  After these steps, layer in more positive thinking, and your complaining days will stay in check. And if the negative people around you keep bombarding you with their bad energy, we recommend learning the art of emotional jujitsu.

7) Dwelling in the Past (aka: Regrets) - It’s over now and no amount of rehashing it all will make the regrets feel less weighty.  Your only job in the present is to live now and help define the future. We’re all broken, but many of us get stronger in those broken places. You don’t have to be a victim of your past. It really is that simple.

8) Dwelling in the Future (aka: Worrying)  - How often do you say, “What if?” You know what you want, but . . . what if…?  Well, what if failure is not a reflection of your self worth? Because it’s not. Failure is just a sign that you tried something.  It’s the First Attempt In Learning.  

Not worried about failure?  Then make sure your worries are at least within your sphere of control. You can think of it in this way:

“Can I influence this issue in some way by my actions?”

No. Then it is only in a Circle of Concern. Stop worrying and wasting energy.

“Can I influence this issue in some way by my actions?”

Yes. Then it is in your Circle of Influence. Go DO something about it.

9) Giving Our Power to Others -- As Eleanor Roosevelt famously said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” We give people power over us all the time when we feel envy, worry about what others think, or experience guilt after saying no. The others can own their feelings and you own yours. Don’t compare yourself to anyone, but who you were yesterday.  And make it a priority to know your values, so you can feel confident in who you are and what decisions you make.

10) The Internet - I know, I know, you’re reading this on the internet right now. And the internet is a magical place filled with great ideas, wisdom and inspiration.  But if you spend 3 hours a day on Reddit, check Facebook every 10 minutes, or fall down a cat .gif rabbit hole, that means you’re not doing something else that would actually benefit your life.