But I Don’t Have The Time

by JimRaffel on August 7, 2010

The most common complaint I get when sitting down with would be bloggers is “but I don’t have the time” to write a post every day like you do. It’s OK, neither did I until this year. What has changed is my perception of the importance blogging has in my life.

Turn off the TV to find more time.I don’t goof around much anymore. I’m not 100% sure where the time came from but here’s a short list of things I don’t do at all or do a great deal less than I did a year ago. I’m seldom in front of the TV unless I have a plan to watch a specific show and then it’s normally on DVR to save time. I basically don’t play games on-line or otherwise. As a general rule I don’t visit bars on week nights.

Plenty of time for fun. I still have plenty of time for fun and actually enjoy it more knowing I’m making better use of the rest of my time. Most of my fun time is spent with other people. Exercising, hiking or riding bikes with my wife. Watching recorded shows or movies with my entire family. Attending meetups or just dining out with friends.

“But I don’t have the time” is a choice. It’s about choosing to do some thing less, so you can do the things you believe you want to do, more. Another thing I do less over the last few weeks is spend time on Twitter. A few weeks ago I was writing posts for this blog on the day I published them. Now, I am four to five days ahead and gaining ground as I move towards being ten to fourteen days ahead. In my opinion, until you make choices like that, “but I don’t have time” is a weak and somewhat lame excuse.

Time is the most precious item you have and you have total control over how you spend it. Please leave a comment but no funny stuff like “but I don’t have time.” *smile*

Photo Credit

Tagged as: blogging, human interest, lame excuse, play games, productive, Twitter

  • http://www.joshuagarity.com/ Joshua Garity

    Well said. But what if I don't have the time because I'm swamped with projects? :)

    For those that do sit in front of the tv without a plan, they would be amazed at how much time can be wasted. It's great to have your weekly shows to catch as part of a routine. On schedule. But turning on the tv and spacing out with Shark Week for even an hour a night for 7 days is a full work day they missed out on. It adds up.

    Keep up the great blog posts Jim!

  • http://Www.spaighttalk.com Sue Spaight

    True, Jim. Very true. I don't have time is 100% a choice. Which is why I usually stay away from those words. But you already know where
    I stand on this; as important as the blog is to me, if I have to choose on a given day between exercise and spending some time with my little man, or blogging, there is no contest. But, yes, anyone who really WANTS to can find the time, even if in small increments as you have written about before. Thanks for the reminder.

  • http://JimRaffel.com/ Jim Raffel

    Well, then maybe you said “yes” too many times ;) (like I've never done that).

    As for TV, I'm with you. The shows we like we really like and try to watch every week (or catchup later with DVR). It's the turning the TV because there's nothing else to do…..really? That's what I take issue with in my own life and not doing it anymore has been a huge “time find” in my life. When I travel for business I almost never turn the TV on in a hotel room. (unless I'm out of the room and want people to think there is someone in there).

  • http://twitter.com/julz156 Julie Larsen

    I feel like that was written just for me! My ife is crazy busy but yes, there are things I could definitely cut out and probably be much healthier for it. :)

  • http://JimRaffel.com/ Jim Raffel

    Of course I wrote it for you Julz. :)

  • http://JimRaffel.com/ Jim Raffel

    Sue,

    You are the one of the last people in the world I worry about having priorities straight :) I'd say you are already finding time for those things that are important to you in your life right now. You know, a certain little G-man who was at Alterra with you in Jammies this morning. When my kids were 4ish I didn't blog every day either. He'll be a teenager before you know it and you'll have all this time you spent with him to reallocate :)

  • Cm2090

    Priority setting is what comes to mind here. Those settings change as we age, our children age, and what we find important shifts. Some activities I thought I would save for when the rhythm of my days changed aren't important to me anymore. I've found new passions and live life with intensity each day.

  • http://twitter.com/Spiffster Raymond

    Great post…. And I am a television junkie, but I always multitasking when I watch tv either also reading something or writing something especially during the commercials since I am without a dvr.
    For me its more about not wanting to write the blog post when I don't feel like it and still do it my posts suffer so when I am in the mood and inspired by something I will be blogging. Also for me its more about not having or being able to decide on a subject for a blog post, would look forward for one of your blog posts on how to decide what to blog on or how you choose one item from your notebook.
    Ray

  • http://bananza.tumblr.com/ Bananza

    Great thoughts as usual Jim! Reminds me of this article by Penelope Trunk: http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/06/10/how-to…

  • http://JimRaffel.com/ Jim Raffel

    I like that post Anne and sometimes she totally rubs me the wrong way. Thanks. Come to think of it sometimes I probably rub people the wrong way too I guess that's what happens when you share your opinions online :)

  • http://JimRaffel.com/ Jim Raffel

    I have written about it in several posts Ray. What really turned it around me was writing 31 posts in 31 days back in March. I learned how to see ideas everywhere and I had made a personal commitment to myself to write a minimum of 31 posts that month (I didn't commit myself to one a day so some days I skipped and others I did two). Just today I wrote one post that was difficult to write and one that just flew off the fingertips. I actually take more pride in the ones that are “hard” to write. OK, I'm rambling. Hope it makes some sense.

  • http://JimRaffel.com/ Jim Raffel

    Part of growing up is realizing your sister is smart and wise :)

  • http://twitter.com/the_beth beth

    I've heard of you, seen you at a tweetup or two, yet never met you. I just started reading your blog from something someone posted a day or two ago, and I'm thinking it's something that came at the right time for me. I'm looking forward to reading more and picking up the parts that I can apply to my life and my situation. Oh, and maybe meeting you one of these days too. :p

  • http://twitter.com/MkeNerd Alicia

    I also found that stepping away from the television has added to my free time tremendously. Aside from Shark Week, I might watch one or two hours of television per week. Like Cm2090 said, it's all about priority setting.

    Thanks so much for another great blog post! Now if I can get over my “blogger's block,” I KNOW I won't be able to use “I don't have time!” as an excuse to start writing again. :)

  • http://JimRaffel.com/ Jim Raffel

    Thanks for taking a look and if you find the content helpful even better. …and please come say hello next time we are at a the same tweetup. It would be a pleasure to meet you.

  • http://JimRaffel.com/ Jim Raffel

    There's just so much life to live not in front of the TV (or the computer/mobile device screen for that matter…ah but we'll hit that topic another time).

    Thanks for the compliment on the post. I just observe the world around me and comment on what I see….that method, by the way, is how I broke my bloggers block earlier this year.

  • Sue

    Prioritizing what's important is the hardest thing. I used to be so consumed with “tasks” that I wasn't taking the time to set goals or think about the big picture. I recently read a good book , “168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think” by Laura Vanderkam. Every person has the same 168 hours in a week. It's how we use them that makes a difference. She asks readers to chart by the hour what they do every day for a week. I did it for two weeks and discovered that I tend to do the easy “task” like things and waste literally hours a day. And, almost none of it was time for “me”.
    Now, I read email two or three times a day, look at Hootsuite much less often, I make time to eat lunch, I don't answer the phone all the time, I write 20 minutes a day, read for 30, and exercise for 20.

    Best part, my mind is now clearer and more focused on my work, family, friends and home.

  • http://JimRaffel.com/ Jim Raffel

    Sue, That's a amazing discipline to record two weeks of you life hour by hour. Not sure I'm up for that task but you have me thinking about it. I am with you about ignoring email most of the time. I clean it up once or twice a day myself as well. Lost of good stuff to think about in your comment, thanks for sharing.

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