10 TIME WASTERS THAT ARE ROBBING YOU OF JOY.

Time is one of our most valuable resources.

We only get so much (in this lifetime anyway) and once you use it, it’s gone.

You can’t go to the time bank and take more out or save some extra time for a rainy day, you only get what you get and you don’t even get to know how much that is!

Yet, we use it so carelessly.

I know people who won’t spend a dime without serious thought and speculation, but when it comes to time, it’s like a fucking free for all.

You may have thought this article was going to be about Facebook and cellphones and yes they can most definitely be considered time wasters, but what we don’t realize is how many things we do unconsciously that waste our precious time.

They drop our vibrations, suck out our energy, which makes us feel tired and takes us further away from everything that we really want, but with a little self awareness you can turn them around.

Below are my top 10 time wasters that are robbing you of joy.

1. WORRY

“Worrying is like praying for what you don’t want.” (not sure who said this, but it’s true.)

There is zero, ZERO, benefit to worrying.

It won’t prevent something bad from happening. It won’t prepare you for something bad happening. All it does is give a LOT of attention to what you don’t want to happen.

ANTIDOTE:

Start picturing what you DO want to happen or even just focus on something that feels good. Like a favorite memory or visualization for the future. Gratitude works here too.

2. FEAR

Fear is not going anywhere and it definitely has a place, but it can really put a damper on things when you’re going for what you want.

Trying to “overcome” or dissolve it is an even bigger time waster than feeling it. The best (most sane) thing to do is to learn how to manage it.

You’re the boss.

ANTIDOTE(S):

You can let it pass through you, feel it and then do it anyway, it only lasts about 90 seconds physiologically unless you keep it going by focusing on it.

OR

You can get over yourself.

Take your focus off of YOU and what ‘might’ happen and redirect it to the task at hand or what you want to happen. The outcome, the person you’re helping or the reason why you’re doing whatever it is you’re doing in the first place.

3. REGRET

Regretting a choice doesn’t get it back and it doesn’t make it different.

The only thing it does is increase feelings of missing out or messing up, but it doesn’t change a damn thing. Not doing it again or going for it next time, does.

ANTIDOTE:

Chalk it up to a learning experience. Realize you can make a different choice next time and move on.

4. TRYING TO PLEASE OTHERS OR GAIN THEIR APPROVAL.

You will NEVER please everyone and trying to has the power to suck any and all joy from the core of your being.

Please you and be you. That’s the only way you’ll attract the right peeps and relationships into your life and biz and it’s the only way you’ll ever truly be happy.

ANTIDOTE:

Get clear on your intention.

Whenever I’m about to make a move or make a decision in my biz or my life, I always check in with my intention. The why behind whatever it is I’m doing.

I make sure it’s what I want to do and that I will feel good about it.

There is no greater sense of freedom than not caring what others think.

5. BLAME.

Aka = THE most disempowering thing you can do for yourself.

When you blame someone, or an outside circumstance for something that is going on in your life, you literally give away all of your power and give up all control to create the life that you want.

Things will happen throughout life that are beyond your control, but your reaction and response to those things, how you handle them, how you behave, is ALWAYS a choice and always in your control.

ANTIDOTE:

Taking responsibility for your actions and the role you played. Owning your response or reaction to the situation. What you did or didn’t do or say.

This is the first and absolutely crucial step to intentionally and deliberately creating your life.

6. THE NEED TO BE RIGHT.

I read a lot and I love to learn. It’s probably my favorite thing to do on earth, besides tanning.

But I frequently find myself in situations where someone argues a topic with me that I’m well versed in based solely on their opinion or theory instead of factual information.

This used to drive me CRAZY… (which was precisely why I kept finding myself there.)

Trying to convince someone who is not open or not ready to receive what I want to say or teach causes ME unnecessary stress and I’ve come to the conclusion that being right is not worth the extra belly fat.

ANTIDOTE:

Choose kindness instead. (thank you Dr. Wayne Dyer)

Instead of trying to stop myself from feeling the need to be right or trying to convince them that I am, I now consciously ask how can I be kind or compassionate and I turn my attention toward them.

I focus on how they’re feeling, try to empathize and see it from their perspective and I let go.

None of it really matters anyway.

7. DOING THINGS YOU REALLY DON’T WANT TO DO.

Yes. Occasionally there are things in life we need to do that wouldn’t be our first choice, I get that, but you’re more in control than you think and you can dramatically decrease them if you want to.

I rarely do things I don’t want to do. If I’m doing something I don’t want to do it’s because a loved one is in need or it involves the IRS.

ANTIDOTE:

Stopping.

Seriously, just stop.

If that freaks you out and you’re not sure about whether or not you should do it, again, get clear on the intention behind what you’re doing.

WHY are you doing it? What is the underlying result, outcome or emotion that you want? Does it make you feel less or different than how you’d like to feel?

If it’s to please someone else, gain approval or has nothing to do with what you want in life, work or how you want to spend the weekend, Just. Don’t. Do it.

Delete, say no, cross it off your list.

Yes, it can be this easy and look, you just made space for more of what you DO want to do.

 8. HANGING W/ PEEPS WHO SUCK THE LIFE OUT OF YOU

Negative energy sucking vampires will drag you down and keep you there.

Consciously surround yourself with people who appreciate you and uplift you.

The toxicity of keeping negative people around is just not worth it.

It’s like trading your morning green juice for a big glass of high fructose corn syrup sprinkled with aspartame and MSG.

ANTIDOTE:

Ditch ‘em.

That may sound extreme, but you gotta look after you FIRST.  No one else is and if they are tell them to read #4.

I do realize there are instances when it’s not always possible to toss them aside. Like family or your boss or a co-worker, but you can do your best to keep your distance or at the VERY least, don’t engage with them.

If they go off on a negative rant, ignore or refuse to give the reaction they’re looking for. This makes it less fun for them and WAY less exhausting for you.

Before you know it they’ll either change (unlikely) or find someone else who gives the reaction they want.

9 . RESENTMENT

“Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” Nelson Mandela

BOOM. Enough said.

ANTIDOTE:

Compassion and empathy.

Forgiveness is the ultimate goal, but trying to see and understand things from the other perspective will make forgiveness a lot easier.

10. GUILT

One of the most toxic of them all. It’s like slow suicide.

Guilt (ie. self punishment) will never change what happened or what you did or didn’t do and it does nothing to make things better for the other parties involved.

It is 1000% pointless.

All it does it wreak havoc on your own system. Physically, mentally, emotionally and energetically.

It’s one of the heaviest emotions and if you’ve been carrying it around for a while you will feel like a new person if you let it go.

ANTIDOTE:

Compassion and empathy for YOURSELF. Forgiving YOURSELF.

Now it’s your turn…

Anything look familiar or ring a bell? Which vibe-killing joy robber are you going to abolish?

Share in the comments below.