“Happy Friday,” the woman at the checkout counter says, “We finally made it.”
In the corporate world, my friends are excited it is the weekend, clients end emails with “Have a nice weekend” or “Happy Friday”, and everyone starts talking about their weekend plans by Thursday morning. The weekend can’t come soon enough for those who work in the corporate world. The cycle is here. The cycle begins again once it is complete.
I could tell that the woman at the pharmacy counter really meant it when she said it. I felt a warmth in my heart that I hadn’t experienced in a while. She looked tired. Her eyes were tired and her face was drawn.
That’s one of the things I notice a lot more these days – just how tired so many people look on a Friday. I could tell she desperately meant it when she said: “we finally made it.”
The weekend is when most people live their lives. Weekends provide a break from the monotony of work and are often filled with exciting activities. We have been conditioned to do whatever we want on the weekend since we were kids. In 3rd grade, I was in a school musical about the best week of the year. I had fun learning the songs and practicing with my classmates for the performance.
When you have weddings to attend, date nights, chores and laundry, how much of yourself can you pack into 2 days? It’s a challenge to fit everything in, but the memories and moments spent with loved ones make it worth it.
It seems like there isn’t enough time to read a book, practice a guitar, or take a last-minute trip. Sometimes it can be rewarding to just relax and enjoy the moment, even though there is a lot of pressure to maximize every minute of the day.
Now we slog through the week so we can go out hard Friday night, hit up the Saturday recovery brunch, a Sunday football is on the couch. I’m looking forward to spending time with my family. The Sunday night is when you start to think about the upcoming week. It can be difficult to remain positive, but focusing on the good things that the week will bring can help.
80% of American workers say they get the Sunday blues. It is a real thing. You can find a lot of information on the internet. I used to feel it all the time. I only work until 6 pm every day and I have evenings to hang out with my family and friends.
Data shows that most people are too tired to work.
On average Americans are watching over 3 hours of TV every day! A vast majority of Americans are disengaged at work and come home to watch a new show. This lack of engagement can lead to feelings of unhappiness which can have a negative effect on their home life. I also struggle with this. We can figure it out together if we don’t have all the answers. Like most people, I run pretty hard and often struggle to chill as hard as I hustle. When it comes to money, time is not always the same. It’s worth considering how we choose to spend time.
Not All Time is the Same
The study of time is as old as time itself and its relationship to money is very different. The passing of time is both a priceless asset and an ever-diminishing resource, making it one of the most intriguing and perplexing topics to explore.
Time is more valuable when you are young and less so when you are old. Depending on your goals and circumstances, you tend to appreciate time in different ways as you age.
Financial independence has always been about time. Financial independence allows me to use my time in ways that best serve me and my goals. I wanted to make work optional so I could have more options with my time. I used every opportunity that came my way to create more freedom in my life. You miss the point if you view money as the goal. Money isn’t an end in and of itself.
Money is infinite, but time is not.
1. When You Work You Are Trading Your “Premium” Time
How many times have you felt energetic, inspired, and awesome at 11 am on a It was only to be called into a meeting in a windowless conference room. It felt like a long time before the day ended. Even though you don’t have enough work to do, you’re stuck at your desk. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, take a break and enjoy the nice weather. When you feel most inspired, creative, and alive, this is your premium time. Make sure your energy is focused on the things that matter most to you by taking advantage of this time.
While those moments can happen at any time, if you work 5 days a week from 9-5, you will get 28% off. You have limited time for other activities because most of your week is taken up by work. Based on the simple math, you are likely spending most of your time working at your job. It makes sense to be in an environment where you feel supported.
Of course, this is great if you love your job, but if you don’t, and most people don’t, then you are selling your “premium” hours for your salary or an hourly wage.
According to Gallup’s annual survey of the American Workforce, 70 percent of employees in the United States are disengaged at work. They are getting by. Their income isn’t enough to cover their basic needs.
This just makes me so sad – that people resign to a job that they don’t like and spend the best hours, the “premium” hours of the best years of their lives, “just getting by.”
In an office building where I used to work, there was an investment firm where the partners almost always were traveling, but they needed to ensure someone was in the office during the day to take callsand receive packages. They relied on a team of dedicated administrative staff to keep things running when they weren’t present.
A woman in her 20s sat behind a glass door at a receptionists desk. I walked by almost daily for 3 years and never saw her move or another person in the office. I was always curious about what was happening inside, but never had the courage to investigate. She was sitting behind a desk waiting for packages to arrive. She wanted to make something of her life and break out of her routine. She looked so boring. She had a dull expression on her face and never seemed excited about anything.
You spend more time with your co-workers than with your family. Make sure your work-life balance is healthy and that you make time for your family. I don’t know about you, but I’ve definitely heard the joke a few times in a professional setting, always with a laugh: “I feel like I know you better than I know my own wife and kids.”
This is why mini-retirements are so compelling because you can keep your job, but start reclaiming some of your premium time to do what you love. It’s also why it’s worth trying to retire as quickly as possible, so you can reclaim your own premium time for yourself.
2. When it Comes to Money, Time is More Valuable When You Are Young Because Your Money Has More Time To Grow
When it comes to investing, time is not equal and a lot of people are wasting it. The earlier you start investing, the more time your money has to grow so the larger it can grow. It is possible to make a huge difference to your financial security by investing early.
One dollar saved at 25 will be worth more when you are 65 than when you are 35. The dollar saved at 25 has had more time to benefit from the power of compounding interest. Every year earlier than you start makes a huge difference when it comes to investing. Your money has to grow and compound over time if you start investing early.
This is why ideas like the Baby IRA are so compelling – if you open a Your child will be able to retire when they are 30 if you max out the IRA contributions at $5,500 a year for 30 years. The opportunity to pursue their dreams without worrying about money will be given by this. Talk about a gift. A gift that shows how much you care is the best.
This was one of the primary reasons I started saving as much money as possible when I was 24 and began to fast-track financial independence because I knew I had time on my side. Today is a better day to start investing than tomorrow, no matter when you start or how old you are. The power of compounding returns can help you grow your investments over time, so starting sooner rather than later is important.
You are wasting time if you wait to invest and leave money on the table.
3. Time is more valuable the older you get because you have less of it
As we get older, we feel like time is moving faster and we have less of it. It is important to use our time wisely and make the most of it.
Cognitive psychologists say we feel like time goes by faster as we get older because we don’t have as many firsts in our lives. As a result, our memories of these experiences aren’t as vivid or long- lasting, leading us to feel like time is passing faster than it actually is.
Half of the experiences we will experience in life will be experienced by the age of 7. The experiences we have in our formative years will shape the rest of our lives. Travel time seems to move slower when we are experiencing new things. It’s important to try new things and push yourself out of your comfort zone because doing so will allow you to savor each moment and experience life to its fullest.
The weeks feel like they are flying by when we eat, sleep, work, and repeat because they are so comfortable. We can make the most of every day if we adjust to our routines quickly and find comfort in them.
Time is moving faster as we get older, but we also have less of it. As we age, our lives are usually filled with more responsibilities. Time, becoming more valuable as we get older, is a simple concept, but unfortunately, it doesn’t align with how people value their own time or think about money in their lives. The way time is valued and money is thought of can affect how people prioritize their lives.
There isn’t a “I only have 20 more years to live” pay jump, bonus, or premium. It’s important to remember that life is a journey and shouldn’t be rushed through. In the corporate world, your compensation is based on how much experience you have and how valuable you are to the company. The potential for growth within the company is a factor in determining your compensation. You are paid based on how valuable you are. You will become valuable to the market if you stay informed about industry trends and develop your skills. The market doesn’t care about you. No one else can help you succeed, it’s up to you.
If you don’t value your own time, no one else will.
Money Is Not the Goal, Time Is!
With the recent passing of my great-grandmother, I have been thinking a lot about my own time left on this earth. I want to leave a lasting legacy for future generations and make the most of my time here. I was able to spend some time with her on her 100th birthday, and her mind was as sharp as ever. She had experienced wisdom and joy throughout her life.
When I asked my great-grandmother what she thought about money, she said, “What about it?” She smiled and said, “It’s not nearly as important as the things you can’t buy with money.” I haven’t thought about money in over 5o years.”
What will you remember at the end of your life? The memories that you have created will stay with you the rest of your life. What are you going to regret? It’s important to take risks in life so that you don’t regret what you didn’t do. Your dreams and how you see the world will change as you get older. It is important to remember that no matter how old you are, anything is possible. You might lose your dreams of the past, leaving trails of “what ifs” and “in only” If you look closely, you can see that dreams can still be used to create the future you want.
In her reflective book The Top Five Regrets of the Dying
“I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me”
“I wish I didn’t work so hard”
“I wish I had let myself be happier.”
She says that most of her patients never accomplished half of their dreams because they kept working instead of following their dreams. They regretted their decisions when it came to their goals, even though they may have made financial gains. Here’s Bronnie Ware’s The talk is worth 15 minutes of your time. It will make you feel ready to take on the world.
It is important to question whether the time we are giving up for the money is worth it when we are in the trenches. Taking a few moments to appreciate the small joys in life can help provide perspective on what truly matters and give us the strength to power through the daily struggles.
To remind ourselves that what we want, need, and love will continue to evolve. It’s important to keep in touch with ourselves, so that we can stay connected to our true desires. You can always find ways to make more money, but you won’t get back the time you spent trading for it.
This is why investing is the OG passive income because you make money without trading your time. We should maximize our money for time. We can spend more time on the things that matter.
Money and time are not the same.
