Fast-paced life: What to do if you're always running out of time?

Are you always short on time? Time is precious, so a healthy relationship with time is essential to a fulfilling life. Time is all too often taken for granted. And many times we have the feeling that it is never enough. We rush through our days trying to do as much as possible in as little time as possible, which leads to stress, anxiety and burnout. Still other times, we waste time surfing the web and playing video games.

Thirdly, we devote ourselves completely to work and later regret that we did not devote more time to more important things, such as friends and family. Because we often experience a lack of time—whether in the present or looking back—we feel that we have no control over it. In reality, this is not the case.

Are you short on time?

Be aware of how you spend your time

The first step to a healthy relationship is being aware of how we spend it. Track your time for a week or two to see what you're spending your hours and minutes on. Only when we know where our time goes can we begin to change our habits.

Clearly define your values and priorities

Be honest with yourself about your priorities. We all have time - we just need to prioritize because time is not unlimited. We decide how to spend our time based on what is important to us, but many do this unconsciously instead of making conscious decisions. Make a list of the most important things you want to spend your time on. If it helps, imagine you only have a month left to live. What would you like to do in the last year of your life? Perhaps this very question will help you with future decisions and the feeling that you have time for what is most important.

Set boundaries

Once we know how we spend our time and what our time priorities are, we can begin to make adjustments and set boundaries. This means saying "no" or giving up on things that are less important. And at the same time take time for those who are.

What is relaxing for you is not a waste of time

We often condemn activities such as relaxation, entertainment or rest as a waste of time. But many of these activities allow you to enjoy life and recharge for all the other things you do.

Don't let yourself sink into a routine

Most of us feel that time passes faster and faster over the years. This is probably why we slowly sink into a routine. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this, but for the sake of routine, we rarely pay attention to mindfulness and conscious action. It also helps if we break the routine - e.g. we take a different route home, sit in a different place at the table, rearrange the furniture. If we are creative, even the smallest innovations can slow down time and make us more present.

Learn to enjoy the present moment

One of the best ways to have a healthy relationship with time is to learn to enjoy the present moment. It means making time for the little things in life. To notice the beauty in everyday things like a sunset or a conversation with friends. It also means making time for things we enjoy, such as reading, listening to music, or spending time in nature.