Are you using your time wisely?

Two Valuable Lessons I’ve Learned Recently

In the last couple of weeks, I’ve learned two very interesting and valuable things. Looking back now, they seem obvious, but let me tell you—when things weren’t working, they were far from clear.

I’ve always seen myself as the Queen of Planning. I completed my PhD in four years flat, balanced 10 km swim training with a demanding job, made time for friends and family, and built a business on the side. I had no problem starting my days at 5 AM, with a structure that allowed me to achieve my goals without burning out.

For years, I’ve dreamed of having a job that would give me plenty of free time. So when I started my polar guiding job, I thought I’d hit the jackpot: six months on, six months off? Hell yeah! I could work hard and then use my free time to build even more things.

But here’s the truth: I’ve been struggling big time to achieve anything. I have all the time in the world, yet when the day ends, I ask myself, What have I done with my time? And the harsh reality? Not that much.

I brought this issue up in my weekly coaching session because I was feeling frustrated, upset, and frankly, angry with myself. After all, I’d been dreaming of a job like this for years, and now I was worried that I’d end up resenting the very gift it was giving me.

Through a couple of coaching sessions, I discovered two key things:

1. Crystal-clear goals are essential.​
   When there’s no structure in your day, you need to create one—and you need to be even more disciplined than when your schedule was packed. If your goal isn’t specific enough, like “I want to get fit,” you can’t plan for it, measure it, or track your progress. When I set a vague goal like “getting fit,” I set myself up for failure because, well, I’m already fit. My brain would tell me, “If we skip the gym today, it’s no big deal—we’re already fit!”

2. Too much flexibility can be a trap.​
   When I was training for my 10 km swim, working, and side-hustling, I had to be at the pool at 0600 h. There was no question—there was simply no other time in the day. Now? I can go to the pool at 0600, or 0900, or 1500 h… and what’s happening? I’m getting to the end of the day, and I haven’t made it to the pool.

This whole experience has made me reflect on time—how it can be a mystery, and how without structure, it can feel like you’re getting lost in a desert you can’t even see.

Here’s a quote that really resonates with me:

“Time is a mystery, and not even a thing, and no one has ever solved the puzzle of what time is, exactly. And so, if you get lost in time it is like being lost in a desert, except that you can’t see the desert because it is not a thing.

And that is why I like timetables, because they make sure you don’t get lost in time.”

— Mark Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

What are your biggest challenges when it comes to managing your time?

Hit reply, and let’s start the conversation!

Thanks for reading! 🖤

Aitana