Pick of the Month, Wellness

July 2023: Time Affluence | “It’s a matter of time”

Time affluence is a concept that’s as much about having more time as it is about how you use your time; how the use of your time can lead to greater happiness. 

The term coined by Dr. Laurie Santos, a professor of psychology at Yale University and host of the podcast The Happiness Lab, refers to the feeling of having enough free time to do things that are important to you. It’s the idea that you can have the time to spend a day relaxing and simply enjoying a beautiful day. It’s the opposite of time famine, another concept, which is the feeling of not having enough time to do everything you need or want to do.

Santos cites studies by Cassie Mogilner Holmes, Ph.D., professor of marketing and behavioral decision-making at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, which show that time affluence is more important for happiness than money. In one study, Holmes found that people who felt like they had enough free time reported being happier, satisfied with their lives, and connected to others. Even when they were making less money. A 2016 study by Hal E. Hershfield et al., on why people valued money over time and vice versa found that more people valued money (69%) over time (31%). Those who valued time are happier (4.89%) than those who value money. “…What we’re finding is prioritizing getting extra time and doing less stuff but having more time is better than the happiness associated with money.” (Santos, The Science of Well-Being).

Understandably, some people are not in a financial situation to often take a day off for the sake of enjoying a beautiful day or even take a week off to vacation and not worry about their to-do list. Remember, there are still only 24 hours in a day and how you use them is what determines your time affluence. It can be as simple as spending an hour a couple of times a week to work on your blog versus doing laundry (or some other task that does not make you happy).

Below are a few strategies to consider when implementing time affluence into your life.

  • Set realistic expectations. Don’t expect to have all the free time in the world. But if you can make small changes to your daily routine, you can start to create more time for yourself.
  • Be mindful of your time. Make a conscious effort to use your time wisely. Don’t let your free time slip away!
  • Take care of yourself. When you’re well-rested and healthy, you have more energy and focus, which can help you make the most of your time.
  • Set boundaries between work and personal time. This means not checking work emails or taking work calls outside of work hours.
  • Don’t be afraid to say no. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay to say no to commitments that will take up your free time.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends, family, or a professional organizer.
  • Take breaks. Get up and move around, or step outside for some fresh air. Taking breaks will help you to stay focused and productive. This will help you stay refreshed and focused.
  • Avoid multitasking. Multitasking can make you less productive. Instead, focus on one task at a time and give it your full attention.
  • Delegate tasks to others. If you have the resources, you can hire someone to help you with tasks that are taking up too much of your time.
  • Automate tasks. Many online tools can help you to automate tasks, such as scheduling social media posts or sending out email newsletters

So, what are the pros and cons of having too much time on your hands?

Pros of Time Affluence

  • More time for leisure activities. When you have more free time, you can spend it doing things that you enjoy, such as spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, or simply relaxing.
  • More time for personal growth. You can use your free time to learn new things, develop new skills, or simply reflect on your life.
  • More time for giving back to others. You can use your free time to volunteer to a cause that you care about.

Cons of Time Affluence

  • Boredom. If you don’t have anything to fill your free time with, you may start to feel bored or restless.
  • Procrastination. If you have too much time to do something, you may be more likely to put it off until later.
  • Feelings of guilt. If you feel like you’re not using your free time productively, you may start to feel guilty.

Strategies: How to Use Time Affluence to Achieve Greater Happiness

  • Spend your time on activities that you enjoy. This is probably the most important tip. If you’re not enjoying your free time, you’re not going to be happy.
  • Set goals for yourself. Having something to work towards will help you stay motivated and make the most of your free time.
  • Block out time in your schedule for leisure activities. This could be anything from reading a book to going for a walk.
  • Set aside time each week for personal growth. This could be used for learning a new skill, volunteering, or simply reflecting on your life.
  • Find ways to give back to others. This could be volunteering your time to a cause that you care about or simply helping out a neighbor.

Time affluence is not something that happens overnight, but if you’re intentional about it, you can start to create more time for yourself and the things that matter most to you. You’ll be able to do the things that make you feel fulfilled. And that’s the ultimate goal of happiness.  Give it a try, it’s worth it.

To learn more about time affluence and other science-based theories on happiness, I recommend Dr. Santos’s course, The Science of Happiness. It has been a catalyst for me to delve deeper into what makes me happy and feel a better sense of wellness.

References: 

#motivation #selfimprovement #personalgrowth #Wellness #selfdiscipline #Goals #PersonalGoals #Happiness

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