Time to answer

Do you feel you've spent time well in 2025 - What do you define as well-spent time and why?

The first quarter of this year was not ideal, I felt like I was wasting time working for an organisation whose values, methods and mission was contrary to my own...so I spent time wisely and made a change into an organisation that has transformed the year and made me feel like the time I spend at work is spent well; this spills over(favourably) into my personal life as the previous situation was impacting negatively.

Time well spent, in my estimation, is time that enriches my life, matches my ethos, ethics, code and sense of honour and it's spent with the two most important people to me, (my girlfriend and Cleo, my cat). It also delivers enjoyment, life-engagement, happiness, mindfulness and meaningfulness.

Have you wasted time in 2025 and how has that affected your year and life? What changes can you make?

See above and other than that my time has been spent wisely.

Are you mindful of the passing of time (getting older) and do you live better each day because you know time won't come back around - and you'll die eventually?

I like knowing that my ultimate destination is death...and burning up on funeral pyre built upon a small wooden boat and lit by a flaming arrow fired from the shore before I finally ascend to Valhalla. Ok, maybe not all of that.

But knowing I'll die, (it could happen any time), is motivation to me and I embrace it. No, I don't dwell on it, the dying part; rather, I focus on the living part, on living well, with passion and vigor, within my code of honour and ethics, with ownership, discipline and a sense of responsibility. I work to end every single day thinking I found value, had meaningful thoughts and followed them up with attitudes and actions commensurate to that meaningfulness.

Have you taken the time to appreciate those around you who you love and value and if so how? If not why?

I absolutely do this every day. I wake and take a moment to be grateful I'm alive, that I have love and happiness in my life, and then rise having the intention to show the people I respect and value that I truly "see" them and appreciate what I see. I have a small friends group and repel people who are negative and bad influences which leaves me more free to truly appreciate those who are left.

How do you focus on squeezing the most productivity and value from your time and why?

I'm going to assume this question relates to my professional life, not personal.

I use to-do lists, set goals around the SMART concept: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time based. I evaluate my work days at three hour intervals which means if I happen to be wasting time it's only for a maximum three hour period; the evaluation discovers the wastage and I re-set for the next push. Waiting all day to evaluate the day means it's not changeable. I plan things out, perform the big or unpleasant things first ("move the big rocks"), have focus time for things I need to do, turn my phone on silent...I'm an expert delegator, have always built a team around me I've trained to think autonomously but with the ultimate goal or mission in mind, I've empowered them...in my professional life there's many things that help me stay productive and I could write multiple posts about the subject.

How do other people and life's complexities steal time away from you and how do you combat that?

People love wasting time. They scroll on their phones, watch the news services, bitch, gossip and moan about others, worry about things they can't control, get involved when they have no business getting involved. They think and talk about stupid things like which wine is the best or how drunk they're going to get on the weekend, or being vegan or why others should conform to their way of thinking. They talk about politics or the result of an earthquake that occurred in a country they didn't even know existed, or what that cunt Kim Kardashian is wearing. They waste time gaming or talking about gaming...people waste time in many ways...I don't do any of that shit.

So, when people try to engage with me about stuff like that I shut it down. I disconnect (usually politely) and just move on. I have a small friends group for this reason, we're all on the same, or similar, page which means I'm less likely to get involved in time-stealer's nutbaggery.

As for life's complexities? It's a little more challenging to tune-out because some of them are vitally important so I guess I just deal with them with the mindset of seeking solutions and resolutions without building up stress; being results-focused helps there.

Anyway, that's it I guess, just a few responses to what really is a large topic and one I could talk on for a while.

It all boils down to me valuing my time because I know it's not endless and consistently applying strategies and concepts that help me save time and gain the most I can from what life (time) I have remaining.