Valuing time over money leads to increased happiness, aligning time use with intrinsic value for overall well-being.
Younger individuals burdened with financial instability prioritize productivity, recognizing and addressing the disconnect between perceived leisure activities and actual enjoyment.
Deep dives
Valuing Time Over Money and Happiness
Valuing time over money is linked to increased happiness and life satisfaction, especially as people age and become more financially secure. Younger individuals, burdened with financial instability, often prioritize productivity to fill every moment, falling into time traps like busyness as a status symbol. The key is aligning time use with intrinsic value, reflecting on activities that bring joy to make intentional time choices, bridging the gap between how time is spent and how one wants to utilize it for overall well-being.
Struggling with Time Scarcity and Extrinsic Motivation
Many individuals struggle with time scarcity, constantly seeking extrinsic motivation in activities like work that may not align with intrinsic enjoyment. Recognizing and addressing the disconnect between perceived leisure activities and actual enjoyment can improve life satisfaction. Familiarizing with self-awareness, engaging in time audits, and aligning time choices with personal values can enhance overall happiness.
Creating Boundaries for Work-life Balance
Establishing boundaries between work and personal life is crucial for balance and well-being. Implementing strategies like setting aside dedicated personal time, reevaluating ideal self-images, and redefining success metrics can lead to a more fulfilling life. Prioritizing activities based on intrinsic motivation, nurturing relationships, and integrating leisure into daily routines fosters happiness.
Smart Time Use towards a Happier Life
Being time smart involves intentional scheduling of activities that bring joy and satisfaction. Balancing productivity with leisure, avoiding over-scheduling leisure time, and focusing on activities that promote positive mood contribute to overall well-being. Building habits around intrinsic value, reflecting on gratitude, and setting specific goals for enjoyable activities can lead to a more fulfilling and satisfying life.
We try to use our time wisely—both at work and in leisure—but we often waste it. We may blame work for stripping us of recreation, but when valuable free time comes around, we can often revert back to more work.
What explains the gap between how we use our time and how we want to use our time? A conversation with Harvard Business School professor Ashley Whillans helps us analyze our complex relationship with time and how to orient our time use around what we value.
This episode was produced by Rebecca Rashid and is hosted by Arthur Brooks. Editing by A.C. Valdez and Claudine Ebeid. Fact-check by Ena Alvarado. Engineering by Matthew Simonson.
Be part of How to Build a Happy Life. Write to us at howtopodcast@theatlantic.com. To support this podcast, and get unlimited access to all of The Atlantic’s journalism, become a subscriber. Music by the Fix (“Saturdays”), Mindme (“Anxiety”), Gregory David (“Under the Tides”), and Yomoti ("Nebula").
