As we leave the festive period of Christmas trees and fake snow, we head towards New Year, and I find my focus is now more on “Time”.
TIME has been on my mind these last couple of weeks. Mainly because life has been very busy with work and Christmas. There has been a lot more “What time do we need to be there for?” conversations and then too many glances at the clock in the car knowing I’m going to be late due to the traffic and not planning things properly, or I’ve spent the extra minute at home by “just quickly sorting the washing out,” which is never a quick minute and then get stressed when we are on the minutes. It’s safe to say the word “Time” has been highlighted to me a lot more recently and my ears prick when someone else mentions the word. Why?
I think its due to my anxiety over New Year.
I’m personally not a lover of New Year, the 10-1 countdown is the impending DOOM of time running out. The guilt and failure of not eating enough quinoa and broccoli that maybe I should have done, the failure of not completing the News Years resolutions that were set 12 months ago, or even just feeling another year older, and time is just passing too quickly. I look at photographs of the year and honestly feel sad about how fast it is all going! I don’t want to start a new year. I just want it all to slow down!
My dad once said, when I was a child, “As you get older, time goes faster.” At the time, I didn’t understand. He said a lot of things that I didn’t relate to, but I find myself repeating his phrases to my own child now (and laugh when she pulls the same face that I probably did!). He couldn’t have been more correct.
Time does seem to go faster as you get older. I know this by just looking at photos of my daughter and realising she is growing up.
In 2019 I made a very big decision to stop teaching. I was a primary School Teacher and loved my job, but I realised I wasn’t seeing much of my toddler. 3.30PM became my favourite time of day as I knew I would have 30 less children in my class and it would be one step closer to seeing my own child. As the realisation kicked in that I no longer had a passion for teaching- I knew I had to leave. 3.30PM is still my favourite time of day, but that’s because I get to pick up my daughter from school. I love being there at the end of her day (Even though now, she doesn’t run up to me for a cuddle, I just get handed the water bottle and book bag and she goes off with her friends!)
3.30 also means that its one step closer to the average working day being over, meaning it’s one step closer to family time around the table. These are the little things that I cherish and want to hang onto for as long as I can.
THIS HAS TO STOP! Every hour should be my favourite hour, there should be lots of things to look forward to in the day, and I need to stop wishing my day/life away.
- I want to build a life that I don’t get Sunday Sadness on the thought of starting a Monday Morning and everything that I will have to face in work.
- I want to build a life where I don’t wish days of my life away because of an awkward meeting, or I just don’t want to face an office of staff that are relying on me to give them answers to their challenging questions.
- I want to get to a New Year’s Eve without the wrenching feeling of me wasting another year- I need to get off the Hamster Wheel of life
Does anyone else feel like this? Does anyone love New Year? I’d love to know your stories and why? I need to change this feeling start enjoying them!
- I want be to able to work from anywhere in the world and not rely on my 28 days of annual leave to explore the world
and finally…..
I don’t want to wait for retirement to start living, The last couple of years has taught me that retirement isn’t guaranteed. We’re not all that lucky
This leads me to Change Number 3.
I am going to firstly plan my day a lot better, so I don’t become anxious in the car knowing I am going to be late for something. This doesn’t do anyone any good! A diary will certainly be in place, so I have a more structured day (Tip- DON’T fill up your day too much as meetings WILL over-run. DO Plan time for YOU)
Here is the one I am going to use!!
I love stationary so any excuse to buy more – I’m in.
Secondly- Make changes to live my life to the full- and certainly not wish it away!
I have decided to give Affiliate marketing a go! I’m sure you have all heard of it, and maybe like me have been slightly dubious!
Well, let me take the first plunge- watch my failure and successes so that you know what and what NOT to do.
I am currently in training with Dean Holland. I am loving it so far and I really think it is the right thing for me to do to live the life I want. Gaining back more time and getting off the hamster wheel! I will share everything I have learnt with you and show you what I have done to succeed- So please follow me and get in touch if needed.
This year, I am determined more than ever to build the life I want. Time is going far too quickly, and I don’t want another New Year, feeling like the gift of time has been wasted. I want to be able to list all my achievements, places I’ve travelled, what I have done with my time and all the memories I have built with my family.
Tomorrow is not guaranteed. So while I have a heartbeat, I am going to make the most of it.
Smartie G xx
Great that you have plans for the new year… and a new business on the go.
I can relate to your comment about taking an extra minute to do something, I constantly ‘just take a minute’ to do something only to discover that it is now 20 minutes later!
I also share you love of stationary, from the smell of the paper to the rows of coloured pens and post-its!
I hope that time slows down for you as you get to spend more and more time on the thinks you hold dear.
Thank you Tony.
Fingers crossed the plan works!
I am on the brink of retirement, in fact my last day is tomorrow. My favorite time of day is 330 am when I arise and do spiritual practice. I will soon be adding daily journaling to the mix.
My only addition to your post is to say living in the now is the only sustainable practice because it stretches time to feel the beauty in life. Living in a state of awe is an example of making time feel worthwhile. All perception, of course, but perception is everything!
Best of luck with you last day!
Living in the now is very important. I do need to do this more, life is just too busy to appreciate what is going on now. This is what I do need to change.
Thank you
I know what you mean about time. Only yesterday I to someone that I needed to pay for something at the end of December only to realise that it is the end of December now, Where did December go? Anyway wish you well with your business venture and hope to check your progress from time to time,
I do that all the time too- I’m glad it’s not just me.
Sarah, I really enjoyed your post! You are not alone! I can see the same reactions when I passed down the same saying to my kids… Life runs so fast that you don’t even realize it when your young, but as you get older, your Priorities shift and you realize that “TIME” is the most presious gift we have. Once it’s gone… It’s GONE.. I can some some of that excitement coming back in your life with this new ADVENTURE! Cherish every moment and remember Success is just one step ahead 😁
Time is the most valuable resource we have. We can make more money, but we can’t make more time!
Thank you David
Hello Sarah,
OMG… My parents told me the same thing. And yes I see the same look in my kids eyes as well. You sound so much like me. I’m going to be 60 in June.. I want to retire now! And looking at Dean’s program, I think I can do it too. Your posts are so wonderful to read. I look forward to your next post..
Get me past the new year as well… I’m usually in bed by 10pm… Ball dropping what ball! hahah..
Sandy
We seem very similar!
I’ve seen a video of a parent moving the clock on so the the child thinks they have stayed up late to the New Year… I may steal this idea! It’s so over rated.
Have fun with whatever you do!
I used to say that too : “As you get older, time goes faster.”
Time runs so fast. Someday we all face a point where we start thinking back of what we did so far and where we want to go next. I wonder why we feel the Sunday blues? Because tomorrow we’ll get back to a life we would like to change? Or because we are just afraid of seeing another week going behind us? Nevertheless, either way we’re up for a change! Taking the challenge that will bring us to live the life of our dreams, this is cool!
Best regards,
Martin
Thank you!
A New year may bring us some change! I’m certainly going to try
Sarah,
Over the last several years New Years has been bitter sweet so I can relate to your feels about New Years. I like New Years because it provides a new starting point to move forward. On the flip side it reminds me of the things I promised myself I’d accomplish but failed to bring the to fruition. It has felt like I’ve been living the same year over and over again with the same goals that I haven’t managed to concur.
But this year is different, I have found my path forward to reaching those goals and I’m well on my way.
I believe you can accomplish what you set out to do!
CJ
I completely agree.
I’ve recognised I need to change things and setting about to actually do it which I’m proud of…. I’ve got a long way to go but I’ll get there.
Oh yes, I certainly relate about time going too fast. We want it to slow down but that is not going to happen. We therefore must make this best of our time and not waste it away. I love that you are not waiting for retirement to start living. Live now. I look forward to following your journey.
Thank you.
Just starting this journey but I’m looking forward to what it will bring,
I also think the year went by too fast, and wish time could slow down a little. I love this post, and I am so impressed that you had the courage to quit your teaching job and venture into the online world of affiliate marketing so that you can spend more time with your daughter. It is the people in our life that truly make a life filled with wealth! May 2024 bring you much success!
Thank you so much. It was the right move. I only have 1 child and I don’t want to miss it
Time is the most precious thing we get
Thank you
I agree with you that time passes really fast.
To make the best use of time, I think it is important not to allow yourself to fall into autopilot mode, which I am very guilty of for many years.
I wish you the most efficient use of your time so that you can accomplish your goal in 2024. All the best!
You definitely have the right idea about time , it’s a commodity . Best of luck and look forward to your next blog.
Hi Sarah
Great focus an determination. Your persistence is great and can only lead to success.
Good luck and i will follow your future blogs with interest
Fabulous post.
I can’t enjoy my 3:30 pm as I work afternoons, and my lovely wife picks the kids up from school.
New Year has this good feeling, filled with high expectations, because is NEW.
I am reading now a book The 12-Week Year, on how to better manage your time and get more done in less time.
I am a Monday lover, and when most people moan about the start of the week, I am excited as I have all week to follow my dream.
All the best.
Tom
Hi
Thank you for your reply.
That’s a really good way to look at things. I will look at next Monday the same and turn the mindset around. Thank you for that.
HI Sarah,
I enjoyed your post a lot. After reading it, I realized that I also had similar emotions as you did whenever the countdown towards new years reached cero. I always masked that negative feeling with the hope of doing better in life the next year.
But your right, lots of times we don’t do what we need to do in order to have a more fulfilling life. We accept the mundane routine and then on December 31st we feel bad for not improving.
Your post turned a lightbulb on me and its motivating me even more to reach my goals this year.
I can’t wait to read more on your blog.
I wish you the best,
-Albert
I can so relate to what you said about time going faster as you get older. I remember my parents and grandparents telling me the same thing. When you are young, a year seems like an eternity, but as you get older it goes by so quickly! I wish you much success on your journey!
Kelli
Goodness! My heart was wrenched by your story. A little too close to home….yes, life is going WAY too fast and we spend far too much time missing the moments while we constantly watch the clock for the next “to do” item!
You have wonderful goals set for the New Year and very achievable, but they will take commitment and repetition of reminding yourself of the new schedule…it’s so worth it though! I did something similar a couple years back and it was life changing! I wish you all the success in 2024. May it be your slowest year in recent history 😉
Love your post! Wanting to have a life that you can enjoy now as you live it, whether you’re working, at home, with family… Not having the “It’s Monday tomorrow” feeling… I’m right there too!
Wish you all the best success in 2024, that you build the life you dream of!!
Great post! I, too, feel the dread of time running out and that time goes faster as you age. I feel some anxiety about this because I know I haven’t fulfilled everything in life that I stated I wanted to do when I was in my 20s. My focus was all over the place, and I always felt I had the time, yet I procrastinated to where I am now. Time is of the essence. I am close to retirement age yet still not living the desired life. My goals for 2024 involve a lot of soul-searching from within to find peace and happiness for myself and my family. You have a wonderful grasp on what to do with your time, and I applaud you. Keep up the excellent work.
Sarah, thanks, you are absolutely right about TIME. It’s the most important thing we have after family. We waste it and run out of it. The life styles we have don’t allow us to use time how we want to. So, I love your reasons for why and getting time with your daughter and planning your day how you want is the dream. Affiliate Marketing will allow you that. I wish you all the success and the way you write is very real and makes me want to read more. I look board to your next post. Thanks Atif
Thank you for commenting. We can make more money, but nobody is making more time. It’s too precious to waste. Thank you for your kind words
Sarah, I enjoyed your post a lot. You declaring your goals for the year, especially life-changing goals and taking control of time, have made me rethink my goals for the year. Time is so precious and can be hard to manage to take care of all things in life that need our attention. You seem to have a natural grasp of this, something I wish I had more of! I can sense you are in a good mindset and ready to accomplish huge things in 2024! I look forward to seeing your journey unfold!
Thank you so much, that means a lot. Life is too precious to waste. We can all make money, but we cant make time so I’m hoping this change will free a bit more. I don’t know about natural, its tough, but it will be worth it!
Your a delight!