How much time do you waste a day?

[DodosAreDead]

The OP is so sincere, and you guys are such jokesters...    I'm gonna give a genuine answer, because seriously, poor OP.  

 But I hate questions like this because it implies life is a script, and it is not.

Life is a script, just not pre written. And you're the author of your own script, I guess. I don't think the OP is implying anything different. 

Personally, I define wasting as doing something that's giving me that distinct 'I really should stop this now and do something productive instead' feeling. That doesn't mean I think scrolling through social media, watching TV, or other such usual answers to activities that are considered wasting time, are always wasting time. Anything, even watching a great documentary, is wasting time, in my opinion, when I get that feeling. 

So I'd say currently it's about 4 hours per day. I'm homeschooled, have been for the past year and a half, and it's far too easy to get distracted at home. One of the reasons why I hate homeschooling so much. (But hey only a month to go )))) I miss the structure and activity of regular school. Back when I was in regular school it was maybe an hour of wasted time. 

Oh, also, I haven't considered the time spent sleeping in this, because without that we tend to feel like shit after a few days. But I would've loved it if humans didn't need to sleep, we could've done so much more.

[no one]

PRJA93:
That's why the point is to ask yourself how much time you think you waste depending on your definition of waste. It's an intuitive thing... how much time do you feel you waste a day?


I encourage people to look at themselves honesty and avoid using humor to answer the question or trying to intellectualize why their time isn't "technically wasted." I understand it can be an uncomfortable thing to examine but I don't think any of us here are judging one another.

I posted this out of curiosity and encourage people to examine how they can improve themselves and their situations in life. We are all pretty smart people, I'd say, but it doesn't mean we're perfect.

Don't any of you guys have that moment where you're scrolling through facebook knowing there's some thing you need to get done or don't you ever feel guilty watching tv when you know you should be exercising? I suppose some people don't feel as much conflict about lounging around, which is understandable and probably speaks to different personality types. But I'd be surprised to hear anyone say they feel they waste NO time at all.


I get what you're getting at. But as others have stated, if I am doing something I enjoy, even if it's just loafing around, the time is not wasted.

[EgoDeath]

The OP is so sincere, and you guys are such jokesters...    I'm gonna give a genuine answer, because seriously, poor OP.  

 But I hate questions like this because it implies life is a script, and it is not.

Life is a script, just not pre written. And you're the author of your own script, I guess. I don't think the OP is implying anything different. 

Personally, I define wasting as doing something that's giving me that distinct 'I really should stop this now and do something productive instead' feeling. That doesn't mean I think scrolling through social media, watching TV, or other such usual answers to activities that are considered wasting time, are always wasting time. Anything, even watching a great documentary, is wasting time, in my opinion, when I get that feeling. 

So I'd say currently it's about 4 hours per day. I'm homeschooled, have been for the past year and a half, and it's far too easy to get distracted at home. One of the reasons why I hate homeschooling so much. (But hey only a month to go )))) I miss the structure and activity of regular school. Back when I was in regular school it was maybe an hour of wasted time. 

Oh, also, I haven't considered the time spent sleeping in this, because without that we tend to feel like shit after a few days. But I would've loved it if humans didn't need to sleep, we could've done so much more.

LOL it's fine. I usually expect humor and other types of avoidance when asking these types of questions. I think it's totally normal! And it is abnormal to actually examine what's going on in our lives and think about how we can improve. I don't think it's something most people take the time to do, though that's just a personal hunch.

Thanks for your answer! I also feel like your definition of wasted time is aligned with mine pretty much. That nagging feeling of, "Ugh, I know I have this thing I need to get done," or "I have watched seven hours of tv today and I was bored the whole time I really should've got something done." 

Once again I think it speaks to different personalities types where some people can simply go with the flow and not worry about "being productive," as that simply isn't something of value to them. I think our society (at least here in the States) tells us to be productive, "get something done," be a go-getter. And so often even when people don't really personally value these things they fall into the trap of needless conformity. 

Personally, no matter how much I get done during the day, I feel I could've always accomplished more or done something more efficiently. I tend to have that kind of work ethic though, that's why I am often pragmatic in jobs that I work. If I dove as deep as I wanted into some positions, I'd be working overtime every night and would take my work home with me. Sometimes I find myself doing the bare minimum to get by because I don't want to fall into that trap of always feeling like I could've accomplished more because, unfortunately, over-achievers are rarely recognized at work. Your company will happily watch you work 70 hour weeks and will do nothing to stop you, so long as you're production or performance is on par with how much time you're spending there. 

So I strive to work more on my personal life and would love to work for myself one day maybe as a writer.

[julep]

There are certainly times where you do shit you don't want to do, and wonder if you can or should be doing something different, or wonder if you don't do something you could miss something. But I hate questions like this because it implies life is a script, and it is not.

No, not really. The question is meant to get you to think about how you're spending your time, as uncomfortable as that examination may be. I'm not asking anyone to adhere to one specific idea of what wasted time is, nor am I expecting everyone who wastes time to be doing so on the same activities. It's about what YOU want your life to be. No script.

I exercise and watch TV at the same time.  I believe that entitles me to double-bonus time wasting.  

Seriously (a bit), if I have something important coming up, I decide in advance how much time I'm going to spend working toward that goal and commit to that...and I stay on top of everyday obligations, keep the house relatively straight and gas in the car...and try to get some sleep.  

I don't consider anything I enjoy doing a waste of time.

So do you ever do anything you don't enjoy? If not your life must be pretty awesome!

Well, in my second paragraph I note that I spend a bunch of time handling obligations and preparing for jobs/projects, not all of which are fun.  Because I'm a grownup and have responsibilities and bills, etc.  Can't say I enjoy doing all of it, but it's worthwhile and important to me so I don't find those activities all that disagreeable.   

It's just that if I enjoy doing something, I don't define it as a waste of time, even when that something is watching Mama June: From Not to Hot (which I did most Fridays this summer after I got home from work).  

I'm lucky to have a profession that I love and an interesting hobby or two, so much of the time I am doing things I very much enjoy.  It's "awesome" enough for me.