#50 Time is finite

Trigger warning: I discuss mortality in this post.

Hi friends,

I’d like to start with a question: If you had just one more week to live, would you spend it the same way you did this week?

It’s a no for me, and I’d be willing to bet it's the same for many of you. It’s a simple but powerful question because it typically leads to a realisation that if our time were limited, we’d reprioritise it. If I asked you how exactly you’d allocate the time, you’d have the answer to what you most value in life.

Now, here’s the thing: our time on this earth is indeed finite. Once spent, it cannot be reclaimed. It should be our most highly valued asset, protected and exchanged only for what truly matters to us. Yet, many of us are guilty of knowingly squandering it on activities that we don’t truly value or, even worse, know are harmful.

Breaking out of this is easier said than done

All the variations of the questions I asked at the outset that I’ve seen are impactful (another is ‘If you were reading your obituary, what would you want it to say?’). Still, beyond their immediate impact, it can be difficult for them to induce lasting behaviour change.

Firstly, it is not a pleasant thought, and starting our day with a question like that would be uncomfortable for many. Secondly, we struggle to envisage our future selves because of how our brains are wired. Tombstones and obituaries become more difficult to imagine the further away we perceive them to be.

So let’s think about days

Think back to a time you had a delayed flight. You were probably not too happy with the wasted time at the airport. Yet, many of us waste more than that amount of time every week in one way or another. Think about how many days per month that equates to.

Now look at the below table. It shows for various ages, days lived, and (very) approximate number of days left to live (Based on the current UK life expectancy of 81 years). Consider not only the number of days you have left but also the number of days left with older loved ones. Remember that you’ll spend approximately a third of those asleep.

It's a sobering read, so why cover this in a newsletter about decision-making and productivity? To lead a successful life, we need to eliminate what hinders us. I hope this message encourages you to be more intentional with your time in the week ahead.

Implementation idea

The days we have are finite. This week, reflect on whether you are using your time intentionally and in alignment with your goals.

Wishing you a purposeful week ahead.

Best, Alex Joshi.

On my bedside table:

• Website: Goodreads (link) - I spent time this week reading reviews about books I’ve recently read and writing my own. I’m trying to engage more deeply with the books I’m reading as a way of extracting more value from each. I wrote about my new reading approach here.

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