Today I want to write about the topic of how to effectively utilize one's time. Although this topic is common, I still want to share from my own practical experience on how to effectively use one's free time. Although I am still exploring intermittently, I find it very effective. In this article, free time refers to time outside of normal work hours and longer commuting time.
Firstly, in order to make good use of one's free time, it is important to distinguish between active entertainment and passive entertainment. Both consume time, but the biggest difference lies in whether or not there is thinking involved during the process. Typical examples of passive entertainment include watching dramas, scrolling through TikTok, and playing games. These activities require little thinking and simply serve the purpose of time consumption. On the other hand, active entertainment involves thinking and personal growth during the process.
In reality, there is no clear boundary between the two. Different individuals may have different experiences and perceptions due to different goals. Take watching movies as an example. Some people immediately write a review after watching a movie, which falls under active entertainment as they have gained insights and personal growth. On the other hand, some people may only feel moved or excited after watching a movie, without further thoughts. This falls under passive entertainment, where spending more time without thinking will not yield much benefit.
From this perspective, what to do and how to do it during free time varies from person to person. There is no standard answer to refer to. Additionally, it is important to separate work and personal life as much as possible. Work time should be dedicated to doing a good job, while personal time should be spent on activities one enjoys. Self-investment does not necessarily mean pushing work to the extreme, but rather having a balanced routine of work and life, maximizing the use of free time.
Furthermore, since free time is limited, repetitive work should be avoided. For example, the articles for this period of time on the public account are mostly pre-written, which loses the true purpose of writing and hinders the development of writing skills. This falls under repetitive work. Of course, technical articles may require time for careful organization, analysis, and writing of case studies. Pure text articles should be published on the same day to achieve the goal of improving writing skills. Otherwise, it becomes repetitive work. Practicing during free time is essential for better and faster growth.
Because free time is limited, it is important to concentrate attention. The best way to concentrate attention is to set time limits for certain tasks at appropriate times. Simply adhering to these time limits can greatly enhance focus and improve work efficiency. The best example is the time limit during exams in school. Two hours can accomplish a lot, demonstrating the benefits of concentrated attention.
Lastly, distractions can truly affect mood and subsequently attention. Distractions mainly come from four sources: external factors, thoughts, people, and communication. Personally, I find that mornings have the least distractions, while evenings have the most. Making good use of the morning time is much more effective than staying up all night. Additionally, focusing on the present task and not overthinking is important. Some things are not meant to be considered at the moment, and even if they need to be considered, it should be the most urgent one.
So what is the most urgent one? In my understanding, it is the aspect that you most need to improve. For example, if you are worried about the future, then spend time improving your abilities. In reality, all problems can be attributed to a lack of self-confidence. If you have enough confidence in yourself, all worries and problems will no longer be an issue.