Foolish distractions are all around us. It’s easy to allow these minor interruptions to turn from minutes into hours of wasted time. In an online forum, people discussed things we all do to waste time. These are 11 of our favorite choices that should encourage us to use more critical thinking.
Table of Contents
1. Worrying About What Others Think
It’s time we all spent less time worrying about how others view us. People are near-unanimous in feeling that one of the dumbest ways to spend time is caring about the thoughts of strangers and what they think. After all, it’s okay to be a little selfish sometimes. The sooner we can start living without feeling like a jury of our peers constantly judges us, the happier we will all be.
2. Turning Something You Love Into a Job
While many people think parlaying a passion into a full-time job is a dream come true, according to many people, it’s the dumbest way to extinguish your enthusiasm! “With rare exceptions, once you turn something you love into a job, it will become something you hate,” reveals one man, clearly speaking from experience.
Nothing’s worse than turning a passion project into a soul-crushing occupation.
3. Listening to Podcasts at Normal Speed
Countless people confess that listening to podcasts at a playback speed of less than 1.5x is a waste of time. The numbers don’t lie: You can ingest 50 percent more information by listening at 1.5x speed in the same amount of time.
Naturally, this leads to more podcasts being listened to and more information being taken in. It’s a win-win proposition.
4. Looking Busy
Not every boss is good at looking at the possibilities of what you can do in a role. If that describes you, it’s likely you’re wasting your time and the time of your employee.
One person explains why, saying “I hate when I’m at work, and I’ve finished all my tasks for the day, or hit the quota, and my supervisor tells me to ‘look busy.'”
What a waste. Just think of the possibilities available to you. Seek to develop your employees, not tell them to simply look like they’re doing something.
5. Doing Something You Don’t Like During Leisure Time
It’s incredible how many people spend their time doing things they don’t even like. If we all focused on only doing things in our free time that we genuinely enjoy, wouldn’t we all be much happier? “Forget all the other answers; let’s be honest,” declares one woman. “If you enjoy your time, it’s not a waste. I can’t believe how many people get peer-pressured or convinced to do something they hate. So conversely, if you don’t enjoy your time, you’re wasting it.”
6. Doom Scrolling
The advent of the internet has turned millions of users into mindless doom scrollings, constantly searching for the next hit of dopamine. It’s a dumb way to live! “Compulsive social media scrolling and smartphone usage is something I know is a massive waste of time,” laments one man. “I know this because I’m addicted to social media and spend approximately three to four hours every day endlessly doom scrolling.”
7. Working off the Clock
The internet has a message for employees who work off the clock: Stop. Why are you giving free labor away?
Your time is a valuable commodity, and giving it away to someone who most likely won’t even appreciate it is a terrible proposition. If you’re not getting paid for your work, go home and enjoy some much-deserved time off.
8. Debating With Others
Engaging with others in a heartfelt debate (or argument) is common, but it’s a dumb way to spend time. Remember, most people aren’t willing to see another’s views, rendering any compelling point or argument moot.
According to many people, you’re wasting your time debating others – especially strangers over the internet!
9. Choosing Screens Over Friends
Let’s be honest with ourselves: One of the rudest things a person can do is whip out their phone while spending time with friends. Not only is this practice self-centered, but it also makes you look like a phone-obsessed maniac.
Trust me; your phone will be there long after your friends leave you for being glued to it.
10. Watching TV
There’s nothing wrong at all with having a favorite show or team you enjoy watching. That only adds to your enjoyment of life.
However, mindlessly watching television often leads to wasted time. Decompressing is one thing. Turning it into two or three hours of wasted time is something else. Instead, have a standby show you go to and watch one episode. You get to unwind without wasting a lot of time.
11. Complaining Only to Do Nothing
We all complain. It’s the complaining that leads to complete inaction that can be a waste of time.
One commenter agrees, saying “Complaining about something and doing nothing to fix it.
People make it their life to be a victim of circumstance. It’s fine to try and fail, not so much to never try.”
If you feel strongly about something try to fix it.
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This thread inspired this post.
I’m John Schmoll, a former stockbroker, MBA-grad, published finance writer, and founder of Frugal Rules.
As a veteran of the financial services industry, I’ve worked as a mutual fund administrator, banker, and stockbroker and was Series 7 and 63-licensed, but I left all that behind in 2012 to help people learn how to manage their money.
My goal is to help you gain the knowledge you need to become financially independent with personally-tested financial tools and money-saving solutions.
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