Rubens’ Blog: The Value Of Time

Published on: 22 Mar, 2022
Updated on: 22 Mar, 2022

Rubens King works for Surrey Choices as an employment support specialist, helping people find work experience, volunteering and paid work. He also writes giving advice on mental health issues to tackle stigma and make conversations about mental health normal. Here, he gives some suggestions on how you can use your time to help your wellbeing.

Time is a relative term. For some time could mean money, for others time could be a philosophical question. What’s worth our time or portion of our life? It may help to exercise caution when saying yes to people, because this may mean inevitably saying no to something else.

Saying yes can help build experience but may jeopardise the time needed to reach other goals. This links to our priorities.

For example, if we say yes to overtime, we may be saying no to quality time with family and friends. If we way yes to time with friends and family, we may be saying no to sports training/vocational hobbies.

There is usually an unseen ‘consequence’ of our choices. Subsequently, being aware of the decision we make, what our intentions and preferences are may be useful in relation to time worthiness.

We can’t get time back and this applies to relationships too. Some people may wish to develop relationships with likeminded people whether that’s similar interests in activities, thought processes, priorities, or geographic area. It may be helpful to reflect on if you genuinely enjoy spending time with that person or group of people.

Consequently, having friends is great, and it may be good to have people you can confide in too for some of the more difficult conversations.

Naturally, our interests change so it’s ok if our friends change too. Building a support network could be a good use of your time and relationships.

Time may be discussed in conjunction with vocation. Since we work for a lot of the time we are awake, it would make sense to do what we want with this time.

For example, work towards the goal of earning lots of money, finding meaning, or doing a role that provides the flexibility needed to pursue other passions. Notably, doing a job we enjoy may be valuable.

The quote “find a job you like and you will not have to work a day in your life,” may be relevant. Similarly, this Ted Talk can be a useful tool for ideas on time.

Everyone has limited time. Time is a finite, un-renewable resource. It may help to spend it wisely, time can’t be gifted, replenished, or borrowed.

Time may be extended through delayed gratification like eating and drinking healthy, exercising, and staying stress free where possible, but the reality is life can be challenging so living in the moment can help to stay motivated.

For more support locally for free clothes, community fridge and housing support pop into The Hive at Park Barn and speak to the Community Wellbeing Team. Call The Hive on 01483 458055 and the Community Wellbeing Team on 01483 444150.

The value of time is something that differs depending on someone’s situation, goals and priorities. Time is a non-renewable resource that raises philosophical questions about how to best spend our time whether building relationships, building a career, and/or living a life worthwhile.

Even though there may not be a right and wrong answer on how to spend time, it can help to be mindful of how valuable our time is.

Rubens King has his own blog site Stay Fruity.