How To Reclaim Your Free Time

If you're like most people, you probably wish you had more free time. But maybe you have enough - it's just that you're not using it the right way. Psychologist Lynne Friedman tells CNN.com exactly how you can maximize your free time - and the benefits you can reap from it.

So how is it that so many Americans seem to lose track of their free time?

Some of these people may not be losing track of their time at all. They may simply be pursuing their own priorities and not yielding to those that others have attempted to externally impose.

For example, their spouse may think that they should come home and "be productive" but they may prefer to spend free time at the local watering hole with friends or colleagues.

Also, people may lose track of free time because they're unconsciously trying to slow down and relax in a fast-paced society that doesn't always appreciate, "stopping and smelling the roses."

Or then there are those people who just can't seem to relax. According to Friedman, "the person who's always moving might want to consider what they are avoiding by being too busy."

Here are Friedman's tips on getting the most out of your precious free time.

Examine your priorities. Identify what and who is most important to you. Ask yourself if the way you manage your time reflects your priorities. If it doesn't, consider how you might shift your schedule so that it's consistent with your priorities.

On a pragmatic level, if you have a long commute, figure out how you might shorten it or at least make it more pleasant. Consider trying to cut commuting time by telecommuting one or two days a week.

If you enjoy the social aspects of the workplace, consider carpooling with a friend or colleague as a way of enjoying the commute or at least spending time more efficiently.

Consider walking to work or parking at a distance and walking part way. Consider what steps you might take to relax and enjoy the people and things that are most important to you.

And lastly, if you're so lost you don't even know how much free time you have - try out their Work vs. Personal Time calculator.

Comments

[recless]

That cat is my hero...

[KillgoreTrout43]

That is a great photo. I added it to my favorites. I wonder if the cat learned by example.

[syryn22]

People have to choose to make time for the things they want to do. I am now starting to choose not to work fifty hour work weeks anymore. I am choosing to take more vacations and to spend time doing what I want to do and the universe seems to be accomodating. Sometimes you gotta take what you want. I used to oversleep every day, now I wake up faithfully to meditate and pray in the mornings before I wake the kids and head off to work. I make time to attend school. I make time to spend time with my family. And yes, I make time to just simply just lay around the house on my weekends. I used to say. "I never have time to do the things I want to do." I have huge responsibilities but I grew tired of being a slave to the madness.

[ShawnMichel]

The fallacy of the consumptican mindset is that they have free time. But consumpticans don't have free time; the time they get away from work is merely the machine resting them, cogs that they are. The machine dictates what time is for them, and how it will be used. Therefore it isn't free at all. But 99 percent of your readers will love this fluff piece, and not think anything more of it.

Cogs, the lot of you.

[KillgoreTrout43]

Hey, some of us are sprockets!

[fiberoptimist]

"You don't have the time. Time has you!" - Prem Rawat

[robiform]

Dear Kitty,
Don't waste your taste buds drinking Budweiser (great Super Bowl commercials--lousy beer!). Try Foster's or Harp--and if you really want to get adventurous, try Guinness!

Meow!

[KillgoreTrout43]

Harp lager is what beer is "supposed," to taste like. Liquid bread.

[gahoggafugga]

i've tried foster's and harp (black and tan i thik it was) out of everything i like guiness. it's a meal in a bottle ! ! ! . . .lol

[avraamjack]

.
THE POOR KITTY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.

[roc100]

People who want to telecommute, but are unable to work effectively from their own home have the option of working in a Remote Office Center. Remote Office Centers lease individual offices, phone systems and internet access to workers from multiple companies in shared centers that are usually located around suburbs. Remote Office Centers allow people to skip the long commute, but still work in a professional office facility.
Telecommuting is analogous to an exercise program. Some people have the facilities and discipline to work out in the home. Others will tell you that they can not maintain a good work out routine unless they go to the gym. It is the same for telecommuters. Some people are very efficient working out of their home. Others need a place to go to.
Remote Office Centers provide structure and infrastructure. There is a web site where people can search for Remote Office Centers: http://www.remoteofficecenters.com
If you always wanted to telecommute, but have never been comfortable with the idead of working from your own home, you should check to see if there is a Remote Office Center facility near where you live.

[MadOzbo]

It is amazing how much free time is available if you unplug your PC...Everytime we have an outage of more than 1/2 and hour, things get done while we wait for the Internet to come back up...

Of course, after a couple hours of being so damn productive, the Internet Withdrawal sets in, and productivity starts to decline as you check the PC every couple of minutes or so, whining, "Is it back YET????"

[Soundofthunder]

Ooh, poor kitty, swilling watery American beer! Did he run out of catnip blunts?

SOT

[jayburd]

You mean Belgian beer...

[wilburr0g]

The company is belgian but the 'beer' is still watery domestic swill. Belgian beer is some of the best in the world.

[peterg76]

At least the cat's awake- he's reclaiming his free time better than my cat.

[nellie]

Love the cat photo, but this article is absolutely worthless.

[lisakaz2]

Who cares about the article with a picture that cute and silly.