I’ve always been someone who likes to make the most out of the day. You know the type—every hour counts, and time sat still feels like time wasted.
Or at least, that’s how it used to feel.
A Shift in Perspective
Recently, something changed. After reading Meditations for Mortals, I came across a perspective that completely reframed how I approach my time.
It spoke about how we often feel indebted to our to-do lists—constantly racing to complete the tasks we’ve set ourselves, yet never quite getting there. The result? A lingering feeling of failure, even on the busiest days.
But what if we flipped it?
Instead of obsessing over what we haven’t done, we shift our focus to what we have achieved. A “done list,” if you like. Simple in theory, but deeply satisfying in practice. You start to see your efforts more clearly—and that overwhelming sense of not enough begins to ease.
Letting Go of the ‘Shoulds’
Another important shift has been letting go of the things I feel I should do. You know the ones—workouts, chores, self-improvement tasks that are “good for us,” but often start to feel like a grind.
Instead of forcing them, I’ve started tuning into what I actually feel like doing in the moment.
Surprisingly, that small act of self-permission makes each task more enjoyable—and yet, everything still gets done. Housework becomes lighter. Exercise feels less like punishment. Even the dull bits of life don’t feel so heavy.
Sometimes, you end up wanting to do the very things you used to dread.
What Really Matters?
One of the most powerful reminders came from The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer. It asks a simple but confronting question:
“If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would today’s problems still matter?”
Probably not.
It puts everything into perspective. Most of the things we stress over—deadlines, expectations, plans—aren’t that important in the grand scheme of things. It invites you to reconsider: Are you spending your time in ways that feel meaningful? Or just ticking boxes?
Working Smart, Not Hard
Tim Ferriss’s The 4-Hour Body touches on something similar. His philosophy? Be strategic. Do what’s necessary for maximum impact, but don’t exhaust yourself trying to perfect it all.
A decent method you stick to will always beat the perfect one you abandon.
It reminded me that being productive doesn’t mean being constantly busy or overwhelmed. It’s about taking purposeful action at the right time. That’s where real progress lives.
Catching the Tipping Point
What ties it all together for me is this: we all have moments—small, quiet tipping points—when something shifts inside. That little spark that says, “Right, now I’m ready.”
Acting on those moments, when the energy is there and motivation feels natural, creates a rhythm that’s less forced, more flowing. More human.
Final Thoughts
It’s not about creating the perfect day where every task is ticked off. It’s about finding a sustainable rhythm—one that lets you enjoy what you do and feel proud of what you’ve already done.
So no, I don’t live by the clock quite like I used to. I still care about using my time well—but now, it’s more about how I spend it, not just how much I get through.
And that subtle shift? It’s made all the difference
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