The Difference Between Having Time and Making Time

Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash

We often say, “I don’t have time.” It’s one of the easiest explanations for why we haven’t started something we care about. We say it when we want to read more, when we want to exercise, learn something new, spend time with family, or simply take a break. However, sometimes, it’s not a lack of time. We have not taken time for what’s important to us.

We all have 24 hours in our day, but we do not all spend them in the same fashion.

We have so much to do, duties to fulfill, messages to send, errands to run, and surprises to handle in our daily lives. When all is done, it may seem like we have nothing left to do.

You need to make time then. Time implies that you are waiting for a break in the schedule. Making time requires you to make a choice to include something in your day that is important.

Consider a long, long-sought-after activity. Perhaps it’s reading a book, going for a walk, working on a personal project, or picking up a new skill. If you wait for a totally free afternoon, you might wait a long, long time. Something’s always something else to attend to.

Time doesn’t always have to be an additional hour. Sometimes it’s a matter of changing how you use the time you already have. Reading for 10 minutes before sleep can be a routine.

Walking after work can become a habit after a short time. A good 30 minutes working on your own project can be worth more than a whole free day.

I have also found out that sometimes you need to be able to say no in order to make time. All commitments demand a slice of your attention. Saying “yes” to everything can leave you with little time to devote to what really matters to you.

This doesn’t mean neglecting duties or turning a blind eye to others. It’s about knowing your time is finite. There are choices to be made around where your attention goes.

A valuable component of time management is understanding that not every moment is ideal.

There will be days that are full, and activities and schedules may change. You may be given only 15 minutes, instead of an hour. That still counts.

We don’t realize how much we can achieve by devoting a little time every day. A few minutes a day might not seem to be much, but over weeks and months, they can make a difference.

Having time is about waiting for an opportunity. Time is about making time.

Don’t have a full calendar to do something important. It’s just a matter of making the decision that it’s important enough to fit in your plans.

Things we value seldom get a perfect slot in our calendars all by themselves. At other times, we need to make space for ourselves.