I’m not sure if the term really applies to this blog post, but I’m going to go with it anyway. One of the things I’ve really strived for later in life is figuring out ways to better use my time. Time is really our biggest luxury. Money’s great and all, but time is what it’s all about. Time with people you love, time to do the things you enjoy, just having extra time in general.
One of the biggest satisfactions I have right now is when I drive to work. For the first 18 years or so of my professional life, I easily averaged at least a 45-60 minute commute to and from work. That’s roughly 2 hours a day just traveling to my job. I’ve been fortunate enough to find an opportunity where my commute is now 20 minutes each way because I’m going in the opposite direction of traffic. I peer over to the other side of the freeway and see a parking lot and I absolutely revel in happiness that I am not stuck in that anymore. I literally have an extra day of the week to work with. I took less money for sure, but the added time is worth it.
I have an EXTRA day each week to work with. That blows my mind, and I never really grasped how impactful that can be. I know that most people don’t have the option to avoid traffic, but if you even slightly have an opportunity to do so, I highly recommend it. It changes everything. Time is money, and it’s worth looking a little harder for the opportunities that may exist that give you more.
That whole revelation has me always looking at ways to live against the grain as I’m calling it. Finding creative ways to add more time to my life by avoiding time sucks like traffic, long lines, crowds, etc. It’s incredibly liberating to find ways to do so, and add more time and enjoyment into your life.
Some of the ways I’ve found that extra time have been:
- Finding a career/job in places that allow you to avoid traffic.
- Vacationing during off peak times to score better deals and avoid crowds.
- Only eating at restaurants that take reservations and/or eating earlier/later.
- Avoiding lines by purchasing tickets that can be printed.
What say you? What ways do you live life against the grain?
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