One of the first things that I learned as a new teacher was how to value my time. I remember spending hours cutting out and “mac tac-ing” (covering in plastic) over 50 teddy bear name tags for my first kindergarten students. I had a sore hand for days. An experienced teacher reminded me to never spend more time creating an activity than my students would spend doing it. It’s not an efficient use of my time.
Another veteran educator explained, that it’s worth buying a teaching tool, if it would take you hours to make it yourself. Even though I could make it, spending the time doing it would take my time away from things only I could do. My time has value and learning how to use it wisely was a challenge, when I started my career.
Using My Time Today
Now, I ask myself if I’m using my time wisely. If a project would take me hours or days to create, I check before I start it. Will it have a lasting impact, or be reusable? If not, then I find a simpler alternative that will do the trick. It doesn’t need to be perfect. I remind myself to let go of the control, and accept that my time is better used for things that will be used often.
When To Spend Money
Sometimes, it can seem expensive to buy a product or service that you have the ability to create yourself. Whether it’s painting your home or building a shed, if you have the time and the ability, why not do it yourself? A professional is expensive. But a professional is also fast.
A project that might take you several days to complete would be finished in hours. Multiply even minimum wage by the amount of hours it will take you, and combine it with the time used to buy or located all the materials, and the frustration of doing a project you may not enjoy. That’s the true cost of doing it yourself. When you consider the cost of your time, letting someone else do it, turns out to be a cheaper option.
Intrinsic Value
Of course, if you enjoy spending your time doing these things then, there is value in the activity beyond what it will be used for. It doesn’t matter if it takes months to complete or will only be used once. The “doing” creates joy for you and that’s a wonderful thing. It would certainly be easier and faster to buy a sweater than for me to crochet one. But I have fun doing it.
Even though, I’m retired and have “all the time in the world” that doesn’t mean that my time doesn’t have value. When I consider a task, I look at whether it uses my time wisely.
What are your thoughts? Comment below.
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