We live in a fast-paced world and without our noticing time often seem to slip by. It gives us more reason to pay attention on things that are important to us and avoid spending time on shallow things that are senseless, negative or just plain stupid.
If you are driven, motivated and committed to get things done then wasting time is not an option for you. You have to keep track where your time goes. Below is a comprehensive list of things you shouldn’t be wasting your time on, and pay attention if you find anything on this list that you can avoid.
01. Distractions that keep you from special moments with special people.
Pay attention to the little things, because when you really miss someone you miss the little things the most, like just laughing together. Go for long walks. Indulge in great conversations. Count your mutual blessings. Let go for a little while and just BE together.
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02. The needless drama around you.
Be wise enough to walk away from the nonsense around you. Focus on the positives, and soon the negatives will be harder to see.
03. Negative thinking about your current situation.
Life is like a mirror; we get the best results when we smile. So talk about your blessings more than you talk about your problems. Just because you’re struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. Every great success requires some type of worthy struggle to get there.
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04. Thinking the perfect time will come.
You can’t always wait for the perfect moment. Sometimes you must dare to do it because life is too short to wonder what could have been.
05. Band-Aids and temporary fixes.
You can’t change what you refuse to confront. You can’t find peace by avoiding things. Deal with problems directly before they deal with your happiness.
06. The desire for everything you don’t have.
No, you won’t always get exactly what you want, but remember this: There are lots of people who will never have what you have right now. The things you take for granted, someone else is praying for. Happiness never comes to those who don’t appreciate what they already have.
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07. Worrying about the mistakes you’ve made.
It’s OK if you mess up; that’s how you get wiser. Give yourself a break. Don’t give up. Great things take time, and you’re getting there. Let your mistakes be your motivation, not your excuses. Decide right now that negative experiences from your past won’t predict your future.
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08. Any hateful thoughts at all.
Set an example. Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you – not because they are nice, but because you are. Make kindness a daily ritual; it’s what makes life happier and more fulfilling in the long run.
09. Regrets of any kind.
You don’t have to be defined by the things you once did or didn’t do. Don’t let yourself be controlled by regret. Maybe there’s something you could have done differently, or maybe not. Either way, it’s merely something that has already happened. Leave the unchangeable past behind you as you give yourself to the present moment.
10. Worrying about what everyone thinks and says about you.
Don’t take things too personally, even if it seems personal. Rarely do people do things because of you; they do things because of them. You honestly can’t change how people treat you or what they say about you. All you can do is change how you react and who you choose to be around.
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11. Self-deception.
Your life will improve only when you take small chances. And the first and most difficult chance you can take is to be honest with yourself.
12. Comparing yourself to everyone else.
Social comparison is the thief of happiness. You could spend a lifetime worrying about what others have, but it wouldn’t get you anything.
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13. Compulsive busyness.
Schedule time every day to not be busy. Have dedicated downtime – clear points in the day to reflect, rest, and recharge. Don’t fool yourself; you’re not so busy that you can’t afford a few minutes of sanity.
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14. Thinking about who you were or what you had in the past.
You’re not the same person you were a year ago, a month ago, or a week ago. You’re always growing. Experiences don’t stop. That’s life.
15. A life path that doesn’t feel right.
Life is to be enjoyed, not endured. When you truly believe in what you’re doing, it shows, and it pays. Success in life is for those who are excited about where they are going. It’s about walking comfortably in your own shoes, in the direction of YOUR dreams.
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16. Trying to impress everyone.
One of the most freeing things we learn in life is that we don’t have to like everyone, everyone doesn’t have to like us, and that’s perfectly OK. No matter how you live, someone will be disappointed. So just live your truth and be sure YOU aren’t the one who is disappointed in the end.
17. Everyone else’s definition of success and happiness.
You simply can’t base your idea of success and happiness on other people’s opinions and expectations.
18. Those who insist on using and manipulating you.
What you allow is what will continue. Give as much as you can, but don’t allow yourself to be used. Listen to others closely, but don’t lose your own voice in the process.
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19. All the fears holding you back.
Fear is a feeling, not a fact. The best way to gain strength and self-confidence is to do what you’re afraid to do. Dare to change and grow. In the end, there is only one thing that makes a dream completely impossible to achieve: Lack of action based on the fear of failure.
20. Doubting and second-guessing yourself.
When in doubt just take the next small step. Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life.
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21. People who continuously dump on your dreams.
It’s better to be lonely than allow negative people and their opinions derail you from your destiny. Don’t let others crush your dreams. Do just once what they say you can’t do, and you will never pay attention to their negativity again.
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22. Close-minded judgments.
Open your mind before you open your mouth. Don’t hate what you don’t know. The mind is like a parachute; it doesn’t work when it’s closed.
23. Other people’s mistakes and oversights.
Today, be tolerant of people’s mistakes and oversights. Sometimes good people make bad choices. It doesn’t mean they’re bad; it simply means they are human.
24. Resentment.
Kindness is not to be mistaken for weakness, nor forgiveness for acceptance. It’s about knowing that resentment is not on the path to happiness. Remember, you don’t forgive people because you’re weak. You forgive them because you’re strong enough to know that people make mistakes.
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25. Every point in time other than right now.
Don’t cry over the past, it’s gone. Don’t stress too much about the future, it hasn’t arrived. Do your best to live NOW and make this moment worth living.
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Your turn…
Truth be told, the most important decision you will ever make is what you do with the time that is given to you. So let me ask you this question: What do you need to stop wasting time on?
Tell us in comments.
Credit: Marc and Angel
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