The value of your time… what a topic! Do you ever feel like your day has been hijacked by laundry, dishes, and endless group texts from Mom groups who are deciding on the soccer snacks? You’re not alone. If time is money, a lot of us are living like we’re handing out free samples at Costco.
But here’s the thing, you only get one life, and you don’t need a midlife existential spiral to realize it (although, if you’ve already had one while folding tiny mismatched socks, welcome, friend, you are NOT alone).
This article is your permission slip to value your time like the VIP resource it is. You don’t need to become a minimalist monk or move to Bali.
You just need a mindset shift (and maybe a meal prep chef, but more on that later).
Time Is Money and your MOST Valuable Asset
Let’s state the obvious: you can always make more money, but you can’t make more time. (I know, I have rolled my eyes at that too when someone has mentioned it… but hear me out.)
Most of us are working, parenting, caring, cleaning, replying to texts, trying to remember to floss, and maybe, if we’re lucky, getting seven hours of sleep. That leaves just a handful of hours per day to actually spend your time the way you want.
Now let’s talk numbers: If you’re spending even just two hours a day doing things like laundry, dishes, errands, and scrolling social media (yeah, we’re going there) that’s 730 hours a year. That’s over 30 full days of your life. Gone. Just like that!
The question becomes: what are you willing to trade those hours for?
How I Realized I Was Wasting Time (and You Might Be Too)
A couple of years ago, I hit my limit. I was burnt out.
Like…
“set your alarm for 4:30am so you can panic-pack lunches, scrub crusty dishes, and question all your life choices before the kids wake up” burnt out.
I had so many tabs open in my brain, I could’ve crashed the entire internet.
So I did what all overwhelmed women with an overachiever complex do… I made a spreadsheet. I listed everything I did in a week and how long it took.
Spoiler alert: I was working the equivalent of a part-time job just running my household, about 23 hours a week. That didn’t even include my actual job.
Was I proud? No. Was I exhausted? Absolutely!
Did I immediately hire a house manager, meal prep chef, and help for cleaning? Also yes.
What Would You Do With 23 Extra Hours a Week?
If you’re wondering what I did with all that reclaimed time, here’s a short list:
- Actually did yoga instead of just thinking about it
- Read a book from the growing shelf on my nightstand
- Took my kids on one-on-one dates
- Finally started building the side hustle I was passionate about (Yes, this one!)
- Had a massage that didn’t involve being climbed on by a toddler
-
You don’t have to earn rest. You deserve it right now. Your time doesn’t have to be spent proving your worth via a perfectly organized pantry.
(Unless that’s your thing. In which case, please send me your Pinterest board.)
Delegation is Not a Dirty Word
Let me gently say something that might feel radical…You don’t have to do everything yourself!
That overflowing laundry basket doesn’t have your name on it in Sharpie. You are allowed to offload tasks that don’t require your unique touch,like scrubbing toilets, meal planning, or remembering what aisle the almond flour is in.
Can someone else do it 85% as well as you? Great. That’s good enough. Let them.
(Perfection is not the goal here. Peace is.)
Social Media is Stealing Your Life (But in a Friendly Way)
Alright, let’s talk about the subtle time thief in your pocket. No, not your toddler… your phone.
The average person spends over 2.5 hours a day on social media. That’s more than 900 hours a year. That’s almost 40 DAYS. Imagine what you could do with 40 extra days each year.
Now, could you reclaim some of that time by cutting your scroll in half? Definitely.
Could you swap it for time with your kids, your journal, your garden, or a real-life conversation with someone who isn’t reviewing a mop on TikTok? Yes and yes.
Here’s the real kicker: most of us aren’t even choosing to scroll… we’re procrastinating. We pick up our phones to avoid folding laundry, unloading the dishwasher, or figuring out where that mysterious smell is coming from. But doom scrolling doesn’t make those chores disappear… it just delays them… with bonus guilt.
You don’t have to quit social media. Just stop letting it be your go-to every time you’re tired, overwhelmed, or avoiding housework. Your future self (and maybe your laundry pile) will thank you!
The Village is Real. Build Yours.
I get it, outsourcing can feel luxurious or even indulgent. But I want you to think about it differently: it’s an investment in your energy, your peace, and your relationships.
Start with the question: What am I doing that someone else could do, even kind of badly, that would free me up to live more fully?
Then act. Start small:
- Hire a house cleaner once a month
- Use a meal prep service for busy weeks OR look into hiring a meal prep chef
- Delegate grocery shopping to your partner or an app
- Start collaborating with your partner on a weekly meal plan together
- Ask a teenager down the street to help with laundry for $20
- Consider hiring a House Manager
You do not need to be the default for every. single. thing. You’re the CEO of your life, not the janitor, cook, and delivery driver.
Want to Know Where Your Time is Really Going?
After reading through this, you might be wondering exactly how much time you spend managing your home or walking the dog. No worries, I got you! That’s why I created a quick little quiz just for you:
“How Many Hours Do You Spend Managing Your Home?”
It’s 8 questions, takes less than two minutes, and will give you a super clear picture of:
- How many hours you’re spending managing your household
- Where that time is going (by category, yes, laundry has its own section, of course)
- Which tasks are mentally draining you the most
You’ll also get a custom checklist based on your answers, a helpful starting point if you’re ready to have that “hey, I need help” conversation with your partner (or even just start offloading some things yourself).
Honestly, it’s eye-opening in the best way… and a great first step toward spending your time on the stuff that really matters.
Ready to see what your time’s actually worth? Go ahead and take the quiz here. Your future self (with 25 extra hours a week) will thank you!
What Will You Remember?
At the end of your life, you’re not going to reminisce about how many towels you folded or how pristine your baseboards were.
You’ll remember the dance parties in the kitchen.
The slow Saturday mornings.
The one-on-one coffee dates.
The trips, the talks, the joy.
So please… value your time. Save it. Spend it wisely. Stop wasting time on things that don’t bring you joy!
You deserve a life that reflects your actual priorities, not just your to-do list.
And in case no one told you today: you’re doing a great job. Now go take a break and let someone else load the dishwasher.
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