spending time with?

Hello peeps!

Happy Monday Morning. It’s bit gloomy today. It has been drizzling in my area since 4am this morning. I am now wrapped with blanket going through some work emails and planning for this week activities.

Peeps, do you know who you’re spending the most time with?
Even though time is our most valuable resource, we rarely stop to think closely about who we’re sharing it with. 
You might assume it’s a blend of friends, family, co-workers, and the occasional dating apps date. And you’d be right, but…it’s also a bit more complicated than that. 

In 2019, the American Time Use Survey released data on who the average American spends their time with across their lifespan — and there’s a lot to unpack here. 

Luckily, creator Sahil Bloom did the majority of the heavy lifting for us. Bloom analyzed the six categories of data, dissecting how our time with others shifts over the years — and how we can make the most of our minutes. 

Family: After age 20, time spent with parents, siblings, etc. sharply declines. As you gain independence and begin to build your own life, remember to make time for family (there’s not as much left as you might think). 

Friends: At 18, time with friends peaks before retiring to a low baseline. Friends come and go — cherish (and invest in) those who are with you through thick and thin. 

Partner: Time with your partner trends upwards until death. This means that finding someone you enjoy spending time with is one of your most important life decisions. Don’t settle!

Children: If you have kids, your time with them peaks around 30 and declines sharply after. Time with children is short, so be present with them or those “Magic Years” will fly by.

Co-Workers: Time spent with co-workers remains steady from ages 20-60. Knowing you’ll spend a lot of time at work, make an effort to find a career that’s enjoyable and meaningful. 

Alone: Time alone steadily increases until death. This means it’s important to learn to enjoy your own company, embrace solitude, and love yourself. 

It can be disheartening to realize we spend more time with our co-workers than with loved ones or that our time is increasingly spent alone as we get older. But it’s worth remembering that this data is a reflection of our choices — which we’re in control of. 

Knowing who we spend the most time with — and where that time may be limited — empowers us to make wiser investments in our relationships (and in ourselves!).

With a few boundaries (such as not answering emails on weekends), a simple FaceTime to catch up, or a dinner without phones, we can carve out quality time for those that matter most, when it matters most. 

While becoming aware of our finite time is challenging, it’s a small price to pay for the ultimate reward — an intentional life spent with loved ones (and not with Kak Kiah from HR).

Selamat berpuasa! Talk to you soon!
Emir S.