12 Daily Timewasters You Need to Avoid at All Costs

We all have them. Those time-wasters that we know are bad for us, but we can't resist because they're just so darn tempting. Unfortunately, these time-wasters can keep us from reaching our goals and achieving our dreams.

What is a timewaster?

We all feel as if we don't have enough time. However, most of us waste far more time each week than we are willing to recognize.

How do you identify a timewaster?

The perfect timewaster is enjoyable, allows the time to fly by, and is highly distracting.

In this day and age, we have a lot of distractions that fit the bill of a perfect diversion. Timewasters are mostly just habits that provide little to no meaningful reward for the time invested. 

So today, I'm going to share with you my list of the top 12 timewasters to avoid at all costs! When you avoid these timewasters and you’ll add more hours to your day to do what really matters to you. Keep reading to learn more!

So, what are some of the daily timewasters you need to avoid at all costs?

1.  Clutter. Clutter is a huge timewaster. Everything seems to be in your way. It’s hard to find the things you need. It’s emotionally stressful, too. Have you ever noticed how peaceful a sparsely decorated room feels? You can create that same environment. You don’t need all of the stuff that you have.  Do you need help decluttering? Our printable Decluttering Planneroffers a complete guide to cleaning up your home! It's full of printable checklists, tasks, and guided directions that will make getting and staying today a breeze! 
2. Worrying. There’s no evidence that your thoughts impact the external world. You can worry all you want about the weather, your debt, or your relationship. Worrying only creates physical and emotional stress. It also makes you less productive and less capable of dealing with the issue. The solution? Focusing on what you can control—your actions and reactions—and leaving the outcomes to your higher power is one of the most important aspects of negating excessive worry.
3. Perfectionism. If you are looking for an impossible goal, then strive toward perfection. Try asking yourself how well something needs to be done and striving to attain that level of quality. While I always support putting your best foot forward, in the long run, perfectionism is more of a calamity than a virtue.
4. Electronic devices. How much time do you spend each week binging Netflix, surfing the internet, or staring at your phone mindlessly scrolling Tik Tok or Facebook? Do you play video games? There's nothing wrong with mental breaks and de-stressing, but count up all of that time and ask yourself if there’s something more productive you could be doing.
5. Social media. Social media has revolutionized the way people communicate. In the past, people only had face-to-face interactions or conversations over the phone. Now, with the click of a button, you can connect with anyone worldwide. You can also share your thoughts and feelings with a broader audience. However, social media can also be a huge timewaster. It's easy to get sucked into checking your feeds and scrolling through your friends' posts. And it can be stressful to keep up with the latest trends and to make sure your own posts are interesting enough. Overall, I think it's fantastic that we have social media. It's a great way to connect with people and share your thoughts and feelings. In theory, social media is a great thing. But in practice, it takes up a lot of time and creates stress. If you find yourself scrolling through your newsfeed for hours each day, it’s time to take a break.
6. Multi-tasking. It’s far more effective to do one thing at a time. Refocusing your attention on multiple tasks takes time and it destroys any momentum you’ve created. Our printable Be Intentional Binder will help you learn how to time block, be task-oriented, and crush your goals! 
7. Commuting. A 30-minute drive to work adds up. That’s 250 hours a year, or the equivalent of over six 40-hour work weeks. That’s six weeks of vacation! Living close to your place of employment can save you a lot of time. If you can’t live close to your work, you can turn your commuting time into productive time. Listen to informative or inspirational podcasts or CDs if you drive. If riding, you can also read, journal, send emails, or make phone calls.
8. Maintaining your life. It's amazing how much time we spend on things that don’t make our lives better but merely maintain them. This includes tasks such as shopping, cooking, and cleaning! The best thing you can do for yourself is to find an accomplice to help with these mundane responsibilities so they aren't always overwhelming or stressful- which will ultimately lead back to more stress because of having too many obligations weighing down over one person at once (and who doesn't want some relief?). Outsource when you can!
9. Indecision. If you lack a clear direction, you’re likely to do nothing. Learn to make up your mind quickly. Make the best decision you can and get busy putting it into action.
10. Meetings. Many meetings are a waste of time, and they can suck the happiness from your soul. An ineffective meeting is worse than not having a meeting at all. Plan appropriately for productive meetings and try to avoid the rest.
11. No plan for the day. Having a plan for the following day before you go to bed is a great way to avoid wasting time. Make a plan at night and then spend the day working on your plan. 
    
12. Fatigue. It’s hard to do your best work while tired. You work slower, make more mistakes, and have a decreased ability to focus and make wise decisions. You end up wasting resources that would be better spent elsewhere. Get your sleep! Taking brain breaksis another great way to recover or avoid mental fatigue. Schedule breaks into your workday. 

While we can all attest to the fact that there never seems to be enough hours in the day, it’s important to take a step back and figure out what is sucking up our time unnecessarily. By avoiding these time wasters, we can focus on tasks that will actually move us closer towards our goals. What are some of the things you typically do that waste your time? What actions can you replace these timewasters with? Let us know in the comments below!