Each and every time we look at our phones or computers for a text, e-mail, or Facebook notification, we are pulling the lever of a slot machine that floods the mind and body with dopamine and other feel-good neurotransmitters that hardwire our addictions to these devices.
In a 2016 study, researchers used an app to capture every engagement we have with our phones in one day. The results showed that we tap, type, swipe, or click our phones an average of 2,617 times a day. That’s over four hours a day spent on our phones!
We need to realize that every click, swipe, or tap equals time, and we are giving away much more of it than we realize. Knowledge is power when it comes to our time, and technology and advertisers have been focused on influencing our buying decisions for decades. This is nothing new — but we also weren’t walking into a store at all hours of the day and night.
Today, with unlimited connectivity, we are constantly open to the influence of advertisers 24 hours a day. So how do we make better choices and stop allowing time-wasters like our phones to take over so much of our time?
I believe the answer is mindfulness — which is being fully aware and present in the moment.
MINDFULNESS
Live the actual moment. Only this actual moment is life.
—Thích Nhâ’t Ha
In today’s world, “mindfulness” has become a new buzzword that you hear from your local yoga studio to the latest political speech. But I’m here to simplify and demystify this often-misunderstood concept and show you exactly how it applies to you and the Time Cleanse process.
When I talk about mindfulness, I am referring to being in the moment where you are fully aware of your thoughts, your physical presence, your emotions, your senses, and all that is around you — without judgment and with a sense of curiosity. But there’s more…
In The Time Cleanse, we expand and build on the traditional viewpoint and definition of mindfulness from the perspective of how to perform with time, which I call “Timefulness” — being fully present in the moment improving the quality, experience, and performance with your time.
This doesn’t replace mindfulness. Instead, think of Timefulness as a specialized version of it focusing on being present with time and creating the results you want with it — being mindful with time.
With this definition in mind, let’s explore the question of why being in the moment is not just important, it’s everything! It enriches every experience and allows you to connect more deeply with life and others — getting you back in the driver’s seat of making conscious choices that help you activate and realize your full potential. It allows you to be present to what matters most, when it matters most, which is always right now.
By being present, you can expand and direct your use of time. It is the ultimate secret weapon in doing, being, and having more. It’s your key to creating meaningful relationships, overall happiness, ultimate purpose, and greater achievement in the areas of life that matter the most to you.
In today’s hyperconnected world, most people are in a constant battle throughout their day, which is usually worrying about the future or reflecting on the past and how it could have been different. All this back-and-forth between the past and future can eat up your time and distract
you. Not being present is one of the biggest stealers of your time.
By being mindful — or Timeful — you give yourself the gift of being able to come back to the present moment after you’ve been distracted. Being present allows you to alter your quality, experience, and performance with time.
When it comes to business, Timefulness helps multitaskers be more focused, salespeople close more deals, managers be more efficient and effective, and leaders be more motivating, creative, and inspiring. It gives you the opportunity to stop and take a step back to gain a bigger perspective on your sense of self and surroundings. It also provides you with a clearer picture of how you are using your time.
When you train yourself to be fully present in the moment, you take charge of time in a new way and are able to call on your talents, intuition, creativity, and highest self. The more present you are, the higher you perform. I have seen this over and over with executives, CEOs, entrepreneurs, military leaders, pro athletes, and celebrities that I have trained in mindfulness, meditation, and Timefulness.
Excerpt from The Time Cleanse: A Proven System to Eliminate Wasted Time, Realize Your Full Potential, and Reinvest in What Matters Most with permission from the author.
Mindfulness just got an upgrade for our 24/7 digital connected lives: Timefulness, from McGraw Hill’s new book, The Time Cleanse.