Leadership Viewpoint

Asking friends what wastes their time revealed that we really do have control over the biggest offenders. The responses I got from them were the computer and the television. Clearly this is a choice to lose time! Here are some ideas about how to enjoy them without wasting time.

Computer
Intended to be a tool and occasional source of entertainment, people become addicted to the games, or sometimes get caught up with fixing irrelevant details of various publications. Hours pass, and the next thing they know they’re behind schedule. If you’re like me, you get into whatever you’re doing and don’t notice the time. My solution is simple; set an alarm. On the computer, I use Outlook to notify me. This way, I spend a planned amount of time, whether for work or for fun, and my time is used consciously. Recreational use is fine, so long as it is done in moderation. This is a simple way to ensure that it doesn’t get out of hand.

Television
This is perhaps the biggest time waster in the U.S. today. I know, you only watch PBS and one other show; yeah right! Americans spend an unbelievable amount of time in front of the television, most of it recreational. It seems like a good idea at the time, yet if you were on your death bed, there would be so many things that you didn’t do because of the time spent in front of the TV. With that in mind, decide consciously how much time you are willing to devote to TV, and also decide what else you really want to do. Plan your time consciously, and the end result will be far superior to the mindless hours that many people spend with their TV. Learn a hobby, visit with family and friends, travel, build a second income; the list is endless, and you can do it!

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