Nguyet Yen Tran
Are you tired of feeling unfulfilled and wasting valuable time on activities that drain your energy and focus?
As someone who values their time and strives for an elegant and fulfilling life, I can confidently say that I have learned to avoid certain time-wasting activities like the plague.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that you should never indulge in some leisurely activities or take a break from your responsibilities – we all need a little bit of rest and relaxation from time to time.
However, when it comes to activities that drain our energy, steal our focus, and ultimately leave us feeling unfulfilled, it’s important to recognize them for what they are and make a conscious effort to avoid them.
Without further ado, here are the top 10 time-wasting activities that I personally make a point to avoid in order to live my best, most elegant life:
1. Social media scrolling
I know, I know – it’s tempting to mindlessly scroll through your social media feed when you’re feeling bored or procrastinating.
But let’s be real, how often do you actually feel satisfied after an hour (or more!) of scrolling?
Not to mention, all of that time spent staring at a screen is probably not doing wonders for your mental health.
Instead, try limiting your social media consumption to specific times of the day, or consider taking a break from it altogether.
I once spent an entire afternoon scrolling through Instagram, and when I finally looked up, I realized I had wasted hours of my day looking at pictures of people’s vacations and perfectly curated meals.
Talk about unfulfilling!
In a study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, researchers found that individuals who limited their social media usage to 30 minutes per day experienced significantly lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to those who spent more time on social media.
2. Gossiping
Gossip can be tempting, especially when it feels like everyone else is doing it.
But let’s be honest – how often does indulging in gossip actually leave you feeling good about yourself?
Not to mention, it’s just not a classy or respectful way to spend your time.
Do you remember a time when you were at a party and found yourself getting caught up in a conversation about someone you barely knew?
I did. It wasn’t until I left the party that I realized I had spent a significant portion of my evening talking about someone else’s life instead of enjoying my own.
And that is when I realized the true cost of indulging in gossip – not only does it waste valuable time and energy, but it also leaves us feeling empty and unfulfilled.
From that point on, I made a conscious effort to avoid gossiping and instead focus on more fulfilling and positive ways to spend my time.
It wasn’t always easy – gossip can be a hard habit to break – but the more I focused on uplifting and supporting those around me, the more fulfilled and satisfied I felt.
So next time you find yourself tempted to indulge in gossip, try to take a step back and ask yourself if it’s really worth the time and energy.
Chances are, you’ll find that there are much more fulfilling and positive ways to spend your time.
3. Not studying
As someone who values education and personal growth, I make a conscious effort to avoid procrastinating on my studies.
While it can be tempting to put off those pesky assignments or readings, the longer you put it off, the more stressful and overwhelming it can become.
Trust me, it’s much easier (and more fulfilling) to stay on top of your work from the start.
I know friends who put off studying for a final exam until the last minute, and as a result, they ended up pulling an all-nighter and barely scraping by with a passing grade.
It was a huge waste of time and energy that could have been avoided if they had just stayed on top of their studies from the beginning.
4. Watching shows
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good TV show or movie as much as the next person.
But let’s face it – it’s all too easy to get sucked into a marathon of our favorite show and before we know it, hours have passed by.
While there’s nothing wrong with indulging in a little bit of TV from time to time, it’s important to be mindful of how much time we’re spending in front of the screen.
Instead of wasting hours of your day on TV, try setting limits for yourself or finding other, more fulfilling activities to fill your time.
Have you ever found yourself settling in for a “quick” episode of your favorite show, only to look up and realize that hours have passed by?
It happens to the best of us, but the reality is that excessive TV consumption can be a major time-waster.
But why is it so easy to get sucked into the TV marathon trap, and what can we do to avoid it?
One possibility is that TV shows and movies provide a sense of escapism – they allow us to forget about our daily problems and get lost in someone else’s story.
While there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of escapism from time to time, it’s important to be mindful of how much time we’re spending on it.
Instead of wasting hours of your day on TV, try setting limits for yourself or finding other, more fulfilling activities to fill your time.
Maybe it’s taking up a new hobby, spending quality time with loved ones, or volunteering in your community.
Whatever it is, make a conscious effort to fill your time with activities that nourish your mind and body, rather than just mindlessly consuming media.
5. Comparing yourself to others
Whether it’s on social media or in real life, it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others.
But here’s the thing – everyone has their own unique journey and set of circumstances, and comparing yourself to others is a surefire way to waste time and energy that could be better spent focusing on your own goals and aspirations.
To be honest, I used to be guilty of this myself. I would spend hours scrolling through social media, comparing myself to all of the “perfect” lives that people were portraying online.
It wasn’t until I realized that most of what I was seeing was just a carefully curated highlight reel that I was able to stop wasting my time on this toxic activity.
But even beyond social media, it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others in real life.
Maybe it’s comparing our career achievements, our relationships, or our material possessions.
Whatever it is, it’s important to remember that everyone has their own unique journey and set of circumstances, and comparing ourselves to others is a surefire way to waste time and energy that could be better spent focusing on our own goals and aspirations.
Next time you catch yourself scrolling through social media and comparing yourself to others, just remember – everyone’s got their own unique journey and set of circumstances.
And let’s face it – most of what you see online is just a carefully curated highlight reel anyway.
So instead of wasting your precious time and energy on comparison, why not focus on your own goals and aspirations?
After all, your journey is one-of-a-kind, so you might as well embrace it!
6. Complaining
We all have those days when everything seems to be going wrong, and it can be tempting to vent to anyone who will listen.
However, constantly complaining not only takes up valuable time and energy, but it can also be a major drain on those around you.
Instead of complaining, try to focus on finding solutions to your problems or finding the silver lining in a difficult situation.
I have an aunt who is an expert at complaining.
It doesn’t matter what the situation is – if there’s an opportunity to complain, she’ll find it.
And let me tell you, it can be exhausting to be around her.
I remember one time when we were on a family vacation and it rained the entire week. Instead of finding ways to make the best of the situation, my aunt spent the entire week complaining about the weather, the food, the accommodations – you name it.
It was like a never-ending stream of complaints, and it really put a damper on the vacation for all of us.
But it’s not just my aunt who falls into the complaining trap – we’ve all been guilty of it at some point or another.
It’s easy to get caught up in our own problems and vent to anyone who will listen, but constantly complaining not only takes up valuable time and energy, but it can also be a major drain on those around us.
Instead of complaining, try to focus on finding solutions to your problems or finding the silver lining in a difficult situation.
It might not always be easy, but trust me – the more you focus on positivity and finding ways to make the best of a situation, the more fulfilled and satisfied you’ll feel.
7. Indulging in unhealthy habits
Whether it’s smoking, drinking excessively, or overindulging in unhealthy foods, these types of habits not only waste time and money, but they can also have negative impacts on our physical and mental health.
Instead of indulging in unhealthy habits, try to focus on nourishing your body and mind with healthy habits like exercise, meditation, and a balanced diet.
It’s one thing to know that indulging in unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking excessively, or overindulging in unhealthy foods is not good for us, but it can be another thing entirely to actually break those habits and adopt healthy ones.
So why do we continue to indulge in these unhealthy behaviors, even when we know the negative consequences they can have on our health and well-being?
There can be many reasons why people continue to engage in unhealthy habits, despite knowing the risks.
Some may do it out of habit or as a way to cope with stress or negative emotions.
Others may do it to fit in with a certain social group or because they feel like they have no other options.
But whatever the reason, it’s important to remember that it is possible to break these unhealthy habits and adopt healthier ones.
It may take time and effort, but the benefits of nourishing your body and mind with healthy habits like exercise, meditation, and a balanced diet are well worth it.
So if you’re struggling to break an unhealthy habit, don’t be afraid to seek out the support of friends, family, or a healthcare professional.
Together, you can work towards a healthier, more fulfilling life.
And your future self will thank you!
8. Procrastinating on tasks
Whether it’s a work project, a household chore, or something as simple as answering emails, procrastination is a time-wasting habit that we’ve all been guilty of at some point or another.
I’ll be the first to admit it – I’m not immune to the allure of procrastination. There have been plenty of times when I’ve found myself putting off a task, whether it’s a work project, a household chore, or something as simple as answering emails.
And let me tell you, the longer I put off a task, the more overwhelming and stressful it can become.
Until I saw a post from Justin Brown on his Instagram about overwhelming tasks and the importance of breaking them down into smaller chunks.
It was like a lightbulb moment for me – I realized that I had been falling into the trap of procrastination because I was overwhelmed by the sheer size and scope of the tasks I had to complete.
So, I decided to take Justin’s advice and start breaking my tasks down into smaller, more manageable chunks. And let me tell you, it made a world of difference.
Suddenly, tasks that had seemed insurmountable before felt much more manageable, and I was able to make real progress on them.
So next time you find yourself putting off a task, try breaking it down into smaller chunks and tackling it one step at a time – you might be surprised at how much more manageable it becomes.
9. Participating in toxic relationships
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not telling you to cut ties with everyone who doesn’t meet your standards or has a disagreement with you.
We all have conflicts and disagreements from time to time, and that’s perfectly normal.
But when it comes to toxic relationships – whether they’re romantic, platonic, or professional – it’s important to recognize them for what they are and make a conscious effort to distance yourself from them.
These types of relationships can be a major time-waster, draining your energy and emotional well-being and taking up valuable time that could be spent on more fulfilling and positive relationships.
Take the famous relationship between Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio, for example.
Despite being married for only nine months, their tumultuous relationship was marked by fights, separations, and reconciliations.
In the end, their toxic relationship ended up consuming a significant amount of time and energy that could have been spent on more positive and fulfilling endeavors.
So instead of wasting your time on toxic relationships, make a conscious effort to surround yourself with people who uplift and support you.
It may not always be easy, but the rewards of positive, healthy relationships are well worth it.
10. Failing to prioritize
Last but not least, one of the biggest time-wasting activities that I personally try to avoid is failing to prioritize my tasks and responsibilities.
When we don’t prioritize, we tend to waste time on unimportant tasks and activities, leaving little time for the things that truly matter to us.
Instead of letting your days slip away without purpose, try setting clear goals and priorities to make the most of your time.
And let me tell you, I’ve learned this lesson the hard way.
There have been plenty of times when I’ve let my days slip away without purpose, wasting time on unimportant tasks and activities and leaving little time for the things that truly matter to me.
It’s not a great feeling, let me tell you.
But over time, I’ve learned the importance of setting clear goals and priorities to make the most of my time.
And I’m not just talking about work-related tasks – I’m talking about all aspects of my life.
Whether it’s making time for my hobbies, spending quality time with loved ones, or simply taking care of myself, I try to make sure that I prioritize the things that are most important to me.
And here’s a little secret – prioritizing doesn’t have to be all work and no play.
In fact, I’ve found that incorporating some fun and leisurely activities into my schedule can actually help me feel more focused and productive when it comes to tackling my more serious responsibilities.
So go ahead – give yourself permission to have a little fun while you’re at it!
