Too Much Time…

When I was in grade school, one of my first record albums was Paradise Theatre, by Styx. It includes the song Too Much Time on My Hands.

Often, I catch myself thinking that I don’t have enough time to do all of the things I want to do. The reality is I have 24 hours in each day, like anyone else.

What I love about the song Too Much Time on My Hands is that it flips this feeling upside down. Sometimes, I’ve been bored. I’ve had the blahs when nothing sounds particularly interesting. It’s rare, but it’s happened.

Several people have talked about energy management being more important than time management. We can make time for the things that are important to us. We struggle when our energy is constantly being drained by the things we choose to do.

Sometimes I do better dealing with stress when I add more to my plate. Sometimes, the activities I think I have to do deplete my energy, and I feel exhausted. The solution is to do something extra, not on the agenda, to get the energy flowing again.

While in college, I would sometimes play piano during study breaks, not because I needed to perform for anyone, but just because I enjoyed playing piano. It gave me a break from the stress of studying, took me away from feeling overwhelmed, and boosted my energy. Then, I could go back to studying and be more effective.

So, if you find yourself thinking you don’t have enough time on your hands, do something you love just for you. Remind yourself that it’s possible to have too much time on your hands!