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What’s the currency of life?

You might think it’s time, right?

It’s the only thing you can’t get back after you spend it.

I’ve tracked every second of my time for 3 years now.

My reflections on this data make me think…

Time isn’t what we should optimize for after all.

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My monthly time tracking reflections

At the beginning of the year, I set intentions for the theme of the year.

I have specific values and goals I use to guide my habits.

(I have a whole course on this system - enrollment opens next week.)

Every month, I look at where I spent most of my time.

This month, my top 5 were:

1. Sleep

2. Friends (saying goodbye to everyone as I moved across the world)

3. Relationship

4. Misc (apartment hunting)

5. Transportation (flights)

After seeing this, I ask myself:

• Is my time reflective of my priorities?

• If not, how can I improve for next month?

• If so, how did I feel this month?

A few months ago in June, I was feeling lost in life.

You can see that reflected in my time AKA my priorities:

1. Sleep

2. Doomscrolling on social media

3. Friends

4. Business

5. Exercise (marathon training)

That’s why I track my time…

I may be in denial most of the time,

But these numbers never lie.

So what’s the true currency of life?

Maybe it’s the quality of how you spend your time?

I saw someone say it’s not even time, but attention - how present you are in the moment.

But I don’t think it’s that, either.

Because sometimes I just want to zone out.

So what is it?

I think about the months I felt happiest,

And the months I felt stuck.

Looking at the time tracking, it shows my happiest months were spent with friends.

(And that’s in line with psychology studies showing social connection = longevity.)

But I’m not gonna tell you something as corny as “love is what life is about.”

Because when I dig deeper, it’s something else.

It’s about choice.

I can choose how to spend my time.

I can choose who to spend time with.

The months I felt unhappiest?

I felt like I had no autonomy over my life.

So if you’re feeling stuck right now,

Try making 1 choice - just flip a coin if you need to.

Because even if the choice wasn’t the “right” one,

You’ll still learn a lot from it.

And that’s how you make progress.

Til next time,

Jennifer

P.S. I’ll be sending you a few more emails this week leading up to the course launch. Super excited to show you what I have planned!