Freedom of Choice — How You Build Your Time

Have you ever stopped to think about how much freedom and control you really have over your time? We all get the same 24 hours in a day — 1,440 minutes to spend sleeping, eating, working, and hopefully doing something fun. But here is the catch: not everyone gets the same freedom to enjoy those hours. Where you live, how much money you make, and even your gender can impact how your day plays out as well as the choices you make. According to Our World in Data, a research data base project from the University of Oxford, most people across the world follow a similar rhythm: work, rest, and repeat. In fact, just a few basic activities — paid work, housework, sleeping, eating, and downtime — eat up 80–90% of your day.

Ever feel like you have too much on your plate… or not enough? Turns out, how much free time you have can seriously impact how satisfied you feel with life. Too little time? People report higher stress levels — no surprise there. Constantly rushing, juggling responsibilities, and never getting a break? That kind of pressure drains your joy and zaps your well-being. Too much time? Weirdly enough, that can be just as frustrating. When people have loads of free hours with nothing meaningful to do, they report feeling unproductive and like they are lacking a sense of purpose. It is not laziness — it is human nature. We are wired to want to do something that matters. Being “busy” actually tells both ourselves and others that we are accomplishing something. It gives us a sense of value. 

But here’s the real insight: it is not just about how much time you have — it is about how you spend it.  Not all free time is created equal. People who spend their downtime doing things they view as productive or enriching — like playing sports, creating art, learning something new, or getting outside — do not experience that same drop in life satisfaction. In fact, they often feel better and more energized. Social time stands out, too. Whether it is catching up with friends, spending time with family, or building community — connecting with people lifts our spirits. Researchers found that there's really no such thing as “too much” when it comes to time spent socially connecting. On the flip side, passive leisure — like endless scrolling, binge-watching TV for hours, or zoning out with no purpose — tends to bring that “too much time” effect. It is not refreshing; it is draining.

So what is the takeaway?
True freedom with your time is not about cramming your calendar to appear productive — it is about intentionally choosing how you spend your hours in ways that nourish your purpose. It is about time that helps you grow, create, connect, rest, or simply feel more alive. Too often, we treat time like a transaction: you give an hour, you expect a result. If that time does not produce something measurable — a paycheck, a polished outcome, a better title — we call it wasted. But what if the real value of time is in the experience itself? What if being present — not producing — is what makes it worthwhile? Maybe time spent laughing, resting, exploring, or being still is not time lost, but time well lived.

Ask yourself:

• Am I using my time in ways that feel meaningful?
• Do I make space for joy, connection, and growth in my days?
• Am I spending my time intentionally?
  Do I plan my day, or does my day plan me?
• What would it take to shift even a little more time toward what matters most?

 I am excited to invite you to Time Wizardry: Transforming Chaos into Order — a Stacked Intent course designed to help you stay true to yourself by aligning how you spend your time with what truly matters. You will learn how to build a rhythm that actually fits your life — not someone else’s version of success. Along the way, you will gain clarity, confidence, and tools to transform stress into structure and overwhelm into opportunity.