How I'm Learning to Stop Wasting Time

Jan 08, 2025

At the start of this year, I set an intention: to be more mindful of how I use my time.

My first thought?

Say "no" to more things.

Why? So I could focus on what really matters.

Simple enough. Or so I thought.

This led me down a path of trying to create better boundaries:

But then, something clicked. Setting boundaries isn’t just about priorities or rules.

It’s about judgment.

The Fear of Getting It Wrong

Here’s what I’ve realised: My biggest challenge isn’t just prioritising. It’s my fear of getting things wrong.

This fear clouds my decisions. It makes me hesitate. Second-guess. Overthink.

Oliver Burkeman, in Four Thousand Weeks, says:

"The task of making the most of your finite time isn’t about becoming more efficient but about deciding what to neglect."

And neglect—well, that’s not easy when your inner critic is shouting.

Making Friends with My Inner Critic

Before I could figure out how to prioritise, I had to make peace with my inner critic.

I’m not saying I’ve silenced it. That would be nice.

But I’m learning to sit with it. Hear it out.

And then carry on anyway.

This is what Burkeman calls “ceasing to struggle against the inevitable.”

It’s not about perfection. It’s about letting go of the pressure to always make the "right" choices.

And weirdly, that’s where freedom comes in.

A New Kind of Freedom

Letting go has given me a sense of freedom.

Because here’s the thing: Deciding what matters is my choice.

And that’s what I’m learning. The path to a more fulfilling life isn’t about doing more.

It’s about being kinder to myself.

Still Learning, Still Growing

I’m still on this journey.

I’m still figuring it out.

But each step in letting go of judgment—of myself, of others—brings me closer.

And as Burkeman says: "The real measure of any time-management technique is whether or not it helps you neglect the right things."

So here’s to letting go.

And trusting that I’m neglecting the right things.