How your time is spent every day can add or take away from your self-worth. Understanding how to make the best of your time is significant. When neglecting to give time to things that need your attention such as spending time with family, it can be a sign you’re undervaluing your time. The same is true if you spend a lot of time doing work that displeases you or compensates less than what you feel deserve. Using your time wisely helps your life in different ways. You’re able to keep things in check and ensure you are living your life the best way possible.
Two Significant Components of Time
There are two ways your time can be used in a productive manner that benefits your self-worth. The first includes giving time to others in need through community service or volunteering. The second is through personal contribution in the form of using skills and talent for compensation. These elements seem typical but there are actions that are in between that could put a strain on your self-worth.
Helping those through volunteering or guiding someone that looks to you for assistance is part of being human. It is a noble act of selflessness that helps us all learn and grow. On the other hand, you can do things for people without expecting something in return, but not realize it is taking up a considerable chunk of your time.
The same situation can occur on the job; you are being paid to carry out duties, but when you feel overworked and underpaid you feel like your time and efforts could be utilized better elsewhere. At this point, your paycheck doesn’t feel like a reward and each time you get paid you feel entitled to more compensation.
What Happens When Time Isn’t Used Wisely
You may have good intentions to help others but when you lack money, time, and energy it brings unwanted tension once you realize you’re caught up in an exhausting cycle. Each aspect of time, in this case, is competing against each other. Feelings of being stressed and burned out along with feeling undervalued or not appreciated can be a huge blow against your self-worth.
Juggling many things at once with negative feelings doesn’t look or feel good. Carrying so much stress can make you sick, turn to unhealthy habits, regret lost time, make you lash out at others in anger, and have a negative effect on people around you including those who look to you for guidance. The same is true when you undervalue or downplay your abilities. When doing work for little or no compensation and you know you’re happy about it, it’s a sign you need to do a reality check and stop underestimating yourself.
Evaluate How Your Time Is Used
Assess how you use your time. Look at who you spend it with and what activities consume or dictate how it is utilized. Do you have a balance between sharing with those who need you, versus personal things you want to accomplish? Do you see where you could be spending more time with loved ones or on yourself? Are you just giving away your time? You can recognize this when you feel underappreciated or overworked. When you realize how your time is divided and make improvements to use it better, it increases your self-worth. Evaluation of your time is putting your efforts into better perspective to ensure your actions matter.
There are only so many hours in a day. It is pointless trying to push yourself to do more than your capabilities. Make the most of your time doing things you enjoy but be realistic about what you can do each day. Time management is something many of us struggle with, but you can work on it over time by learning techniques and tips to help you value and utilize your time. Your self-worth depends on it.