You Only Have 11 Months, Not 12

What if I told you, you're short changing yourself from living a full calendar year? That's right, instead of 12 months, you really only have 11. For most of us, this is a scary truth. #LaCrudaRealidad

I've been doing quite a bit of personal development lately, and in reading The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy, I found myself in utter shock at uncovering several time wasters I didn't even know I had. The biggest time suck? Spending too much time on social media. 

Now, before I go further let me clarify that I am a social media specialist in my current position. The mind-numbing activity I refer to falls completely outside of my day-to-day work. 

Let's say, for the sake of this post, your time spent on social media - (posting, commenting, sharing or silently stalking)- goes something like this: 

30 min in the morning 

30 min in the afternoon

30 min in the evening 

30 min before going to bed

This is equivalent to 2 hours out of your 24. No biggie, right? Now look take a look at this: 

In just one week, those 2 little hours have turned into 14, and in one year, those 14 spiral into seven hundred and twenty eight hours - the equivalent of 30 days!!  Let that sink in for a second. 

That means, if you find yourself with a similar schedule - you are literally living 11 months out of 12. I think its safe to say 2 hours a day on social media is quite conservative for the masses. Now think of the other time wasters in your life; sitcoms, extra naps, netflix binging, worrying, regretting, deciding and not DOING... 

Is wasting a whole month out of your life worth it? Ask yourself the next time you reach for your phone or complain to someone "there aren't enough hours in a day". #guilty

Since becoming aware of this, I've made it a strong point to spend as little time on social media as possible. It's crazy how I catch myself (without even thinking) reaching for my phone to check email, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest...  the first time I became aware, I did this like clock-work, every 15 min in one hour!! I was sick to my stomach to realized this. 

It's been one whole week since I nipped this awful habit in the bud, and am happy to report, I have successfully created a new, healthier habit; I now only spend 15 minutes in the morning (after my morning routine, not as soon as I wake up), 15 minutes mid-day, and 15 minutes in the evening (not while in bed). It's more than enough time to "catch up" on things and people that are important to me, without neglecting things that really deserve my undivided attention.

45 min a day still comes out to 11 days out of the year that I'm wasting. And yea, you could argue that knowing what family and friends are up to isn't too bad of a habit -- but often we find ourselves in a tailspin of gossip, news, "10 tips for_________" whatever you want, vines, clips, etc, etc, etc, Or worse, deliberately ignoring those we love. How many times have you gone to a park/restaurant/bar/cafe and found most everyone with their nose in their smartphones? Are you one of these people? Next time you go somewhere, try forgetting your phone. 

I challenge you to check your mind numbing activities and redirect that energy to things that really matter, like your goals, family or self development.

And on that note, I'm out ((throws peace sign)) 

xxo Dais