Use Time Perspectives to Lead a Better Life

Note: This article is based on the work of Darius Foroux, in which he discusses the use of time perspectives.

Your answer outlines how you spend your time, which got me wondering: Why do we often give spending our money too much thought but overlook how we spend our time? Do we value money more than time? If you look at all the inspirational quotes on social media, everyone knows their time. You often hear things like, "Time is the most important asset" and "Money can be earned, but time cannot."

I actually agree. On the flip side, people burn daylight while on their electronics every year, so that the average time they spent consuming digital content was about seven hours a day in 2020. Of course, since the Corona pandemic was spreading that year, the numbers were higher than usual.

But even so, we waste too much time. While we can't always avoid wasting time doing things to recharge and have a good laugh, we can make better use of the time we have at our disposal.

A while back, I read The Time Paradox by the very well-known psychologists Philip Zimbardo and John Boyd, in which they talked about using time perspectives to change how we live, a topic that most of us don't give much thought to. We frequently act on impulse when spending our time, and so we end up overthinking, dwelling on the past, and feeling miserable about our days.

Three Time Perspectives in the Human Mind

Typically, when we think about time, we focus on the following cases and how they influence our behavior:

1. The Past

When you brood over the past, what happened to you often gets in the way, either wishing for the good old days or wishing that certain things never happened, and people who have too many "whys" tend to dwell on the past.

2. The Present

Living in the present means that you either seek instant satisfaction of your needs or enjoy the moment at hand, putting very little thought into the past or the future. Your motto is "live each day at a time."

3. The Future

The person who thinks about the future is someone with a healthy diet, a record of straight A's, is a nonsmoker, and one who always works towards future gains.

Most people get the hint that it's unrealistic to live in a single-time perspective. Even though it may seem ideal to live in the moment, if you give it more thought, there's no deeper significance. If you lived only today, you would probably spend all your money and eat as much as possible. On the flip side, if you only think about the future, you won't take any action to be happy today.

The 1/9/90 Principle of Time Perspectives

Awareness of the time perspective helps you lead a better life because you'll break the clock, which will help you live each day to the fullest, take lessons from the past, and build a better future. This calls for a balance.

It was well stated in The Time Paradox by Zimbardo and Boyd that you shouldn't hold a single-time perspective: "Depending on the demands of a particular situation, one-time perspective must take precedence, while the others may temporarily recede." I was heartened to think about what it would be like in my day-to-day existence, and I reached the following balance:

1. 1% of my focus is on the past

I spend about 15 minutes daily journaling, but I don't just dwell on the past; I also try to draw lessons from it.

2. 9% of my focus is on the future

It's the time I devote to making plans and thinking about the future. I want to be conscious of the fact that I might live long. For instance, I develop a fitness routine and shop for wholesome foods because I know what's in it for me in the long run.

3. 90% of my focus is on the present

This is when I run with the ball and have a good time. I only plan 9% of the time, but the actual work is happening now, such as exercising, writing, reading, doing chores, eating, traveling, etc. I don't want to let my thoughts wander when I do these things.

This distribution is just something that I take into account but don't stick to. It serves as a compass in my daily life. I tell myself that I'm not going anywhere with this if I get caught up in the past a couple of times a day.

When I over plan for the future, I get my thoughts back on track as well. I don't want to spend my whole time planning for the future because we can't control everything, and plans are just that—plans. Nothing is guaranteed beyond the moment you live right now.

Be resilient and present

The value of resilience is what The Time Paradox emphasizes to me most. According to Zimbardo and Boyd, focusing solely on the present or the future does not lead to a balanced, fulfilling life.

Diversity is key: “Work hard when it’s time to work. Play hard when it’s time to play. Enjoy listening to Grandma’s old stories while she is still alive. Meaningfully connect with your friends. View children through the eyes of wonder with which they see the world. Laugh at jokes and life’s absurdities. Indulge your desires and passions. Save for a rainy day, and save enough to spend when it is sunny.”

So, the way we behave depends on the situation. When we mix up time perspectives, we become so done with life. For instance, the day before, I had dinner with my family and was thinking about paying taxes simultaneously. I thought about the future while the situation called for being present, and I had to take 10 minutes to pay my taxes, or at least start early in the day, but because I didn't, I kept thinking about it during dinner.

Winding it Up

During these moments, we need to keep our eyes peeled. Adjusting our perspective helps us make the most of each moment. Ultimately, we all want to make the most of our time. So, no matter what you do, don't wait for life to bring you joy, clarity, or purpose.

Embrace your past and think about the future, but remember that you must be present. The past is gone, and tomorrow hasn't come yet, so make today count.