We all have things we enjoy doing in our free time. Some people have hobbies like sports, painting, or computer programming, while others spend their downtime watching television or scrolling through social media. Time always gets filled with something. How you choose to fill that time is entirely up to you.
When you don’t have clear priorities, your time often gets filled with whatever is most convenient in the moment. With our smartphones offering a multitude of apps and being constantly within reach, many people default to social media or mindless games to kill time and boredom.
But time is a precious resource.
My Three Priority Areas
To avoid falling into the trap of mindless scrolling and time-wasting, I divide my life into three focus areas: work, personal, and family. These are my pillars, and each contains specific goals I want to achieve. For every goal, I create a plan that outlines how and when I’ll work toward it.
Setting goals is one thing—but knowing when and where to work on them is just as important.
Personal Priorities: Mornings and Evenings
I dedicate weekday evenings and early weekend mornings to personal growth. These time blocks don’t interfere with my family or work commitments. My personal priorities include exercising, reading, and writing.
I know what each one requires, the environment I need, and the time I’ve carved out for them. I don’t wrestle with indecision anymore—TV or reading? Scrolling or working out? I go with the things that bring me closer to my goals. These actions make me feel good, productive, and aligned with the life I want to live.
Family Priorities: Presence Over Distraction
My family priority is to be present. That means putting away distractions and giving my time and attention fully. In the mornings, I help my kids get ready for school. In the evenings, I’m there to support them with homework, talk to them, play, teach, and listen. I do the same with my wife—spending quality time together, talking about our days, and getting to know her better every day.
Real-Life Challenges
Even with a clear mission and vision, it’s not always easy. Some days, watching TV sounds more appealing than writing. At times, life areas overlap and create tension. Unexpected events throw off plans. That’s when communication with my wife becomes essential. When we discuss priorities and she understands my intentions, we’re able to create boundaries for personal time and shared time. That helps prevent guilt and misunderstanding.
Progress, Not Perfection
My system isn’t perfect—and it never will be. It’s a constant process of rebalancing. But scheduling helps. As James Clear shares in Atomic Habits, defining when, where, and how you’ll follow through on your habits increases your chances of success—and protects your energy.
Your Turn: Take Control of Your Time
If you keep telling yourself you don’t have time to take care of yourself, maybe it’s not truly a priority. But if it is—schedule it. Follow through. Your calendar should reflect what’s truly important to you.
Take a moment to reflect. What are your top three life priorities? Write them down. Set a time for each one this week—and protect that time.
Take care.