My passion allows me to be around all sorts of people; individuals from different backgrounds, different generations, and different mindsets. One of the biggest differences I take note of is how people choose to value and spend their “time currency.” Think about that for a moment. There are only 24 hours each day; what if you started seeing your time as a form of currency? You spend money, right? (If you are sitting in a house right now, wearing clothes and reading this on a computer, the answer is YES.) Some things are worth a dollar, while others are worth thousands…and how we decide to spend our money is a direct reflection of how much we value what we are spending our money on. It is also very personal. We have the right to place value on things in our life based on our preferences and interests. Give two different people a crisp one hundred dollar bill, and I bet you that those individuals will choose to spend (or save) their money on something very different from each other.
In much the same way, I am amazed by how differently people choose to spend their time, especially when it comes to health and fitness goals. When speaking to others about their goals, hands down the number one reason I am given for that individual not being able to achieve their goal comes down to these five words: I don’t have the time. Really. Because I know people working two jobs, who have children and who are still able to make healthy meals at home and exercise. Or train for that marathon. Or lose the weight in the battle against high blood pressure or type II diabetes. And no, these are not celebrities. I am talking about regular people – you and me – who don’t have a personal chef or a live in nanny. (What I wouldn’t give for a live in cook, though. Or a house cleaner.)
Whenever I get the response (excuse) “I don’t have time” I immediately think, “Ok, well, how bad do you want it?” Because if achieving your health and fitness goals are a priority to you, I assure you, you will MAKE the time. As the old saying goes – you will either find a way or you will find an excuse. Let me repeat that: you will either find a way or you will find an excuse. We ALL have the same 24 hours in a day. How is it, then, that some people are able to get so much accomplished, while others can only read about what those people are getting done? The answer is pretty simple: you have to make it happen. You have to decide that your desire to be healthier exceeds your desire to surf the web for one more hour. Or watch another mindless hour of reality TV. That you want the feeling of crossing that finish line at your next race more than you want to spend an extra half hour in bed. That you are going to spend your time wisely and based on your goals. Much in the way that a savvy financial planner can look at a client’s budget and find ways for them to cut their costs, I can usually look at a client’s schedule and see where they can “find” the time to do what needs to be done. Try it. You’ll be amazed how much time adds up when you keep track of all the sessions spent keeping up with what’s going on on Facebook, zoning out on TV, or on activities that you feel obligated to do rather than want to do.
You have the right to spend your time (or your money) on whatever and however you like. But if you tell me (or yourself) that you *really* want to achieve your goal, but you simply can’t because “you don’t have the time”, I will respond with how bad do you want it? You have to make these things happen; getting healthier or race ready doesn’t just happen. It’s time to start thinking of you time as the precious currency that it is. Spend it wisely.
