Vered’s Blog

If time is money than what would you rather do? Spend or invest time?

Most of us spend time much more than invest time. We spend time with our friends rather than invest time in our friends. We spend time with our kids rather than invest time in them. We spend time reading the newspaper rather than invest time reading a fiction book or a non-fiction book that helps us to develop and grow.

When it comes to money we all know that we can spend, save or invest money. It is accepted that the wisest thing to do is investing our money, even in these difficult financial times. Saving is just accumulating and going to sleep on top of it. The money does not grow on its own and does not work for you. You work (hard) in order to hoard it. Spending of course is the least desirable thing to do with your money.

However, most of us spend much more than we save and certainly much more than invest it. In a consuming culture like ours where all media promote consumption and spending, there is no escape from spending money. We became a culture that is addicted to spending money.

The problem is that this habit of spending money has reached other areas of our life where we tend much more to spend than to save or even invest.

When it comes to time we are willing to save time on those things that we dislike and we want to get rid. We will find ways to become more efficient and effective with our time, especially when it comes to work issues that we want to accomplish  in order to move on and get with the things that we like. We are willing to go to length in order to become masters of time management only to save 5 more minutes in a day. We became excellent in being multi tasking to save time.

Spending time is what we truly want to do. But that is still spending time. How about changing it to investing time?

When was the last time you invested time in your child? Not spend time, just being with them half listening to them or half playing with them while all the time your mind is still occupied with work issues? But truly investing in them. Reading to them, teaching them a new skill, listening to them with your whole heart and mind to what they say, and even more importantly, to what they don’t say.

When was the last time you invested in your relationship?  Not just spending time – going out for a movie and a restaurant where most of the time you are just two bodies occupying the same space? But really investing time in your partner – talking about your dreams, sharing your values, fears and hopes. Making plans how to achieve your dreams and wishes, helping each other achieving those dreams.

When was the last time you invested in yourself? I don’t mean just giving time for yourself by reading a fiction book or a magazine. But investing in your growth by reading a non-fiction book that would allow you to grow and develop and teach you something new. When the last time you took a course that could develop your skills or your talents just for the fun of it not for work?

That’s the difference between spending time and investing time.

Think about it – when it comes to money – money that was spent could come back. Money comes and goes.

Time on the other hand is the most valuable resource you would ever have. Every minute that you spend is a minute that would never come back.

Choose wisely – whether to spend or invest your time!