I don't have time!

This last year has been a time trip, don’t you think?

Routines have been disrupted, schedules keep changing and planning is uncertain. We are limited in our choices for how we spend our time. And whether for work, school or socializing, we are tethered to the almighty screen that was beguiling us even before the pandemic.

It’s a pickle.

But you know what? Finding time and possibility to focus on activities that enhance our well-being or happiness isn’t a new challenge.

Get a load of this pre-pandemic data. A study from 2019 revealed American adults average more than 5 hours of free time per day. And by “free time,”we mean truly discretionary leisure time. WOO HOO!

Want to take a guess what was consuming the greatest proportion of everyone’s free time? If you guessed SCREEN TIME, you are correct. BOO HOO!

American adults spend at least half, or 58%, of their free time on a screen. And work-related screen time doesn’t count toward the total, so that’s not an excuse. In contrast, they spend less than 7% of free time on physical activity.

While there are differences between men and women, more or less education or income, and race, the overall availability of free time and proportion allocated to screen time isn’t that different. We’re all in this together.

There is time.

How can we spend some time on activities that will enhance our well-being or happiness? If you could reallocate a few extra minutes every day, how might you do it?

We’ve got a worksheet to kick-start your thinking. Write down some ideas. Guesstimate how much time each would take you, and when you plan to give it a whirl. Prioritize activities in a way that’s meaningful to you.

And then put down your phone and get started.