I was a terrible 'employee' for the first ten years of my career.

There, I said it. Not the kind of terrible that gets you fired on the spot, but the type that's just... underwhelming. Like a low-budget superhero movie.

You expect fireworks and get a sparkler instead.

And boy, did I want to be the fireworks show.

The issue wasn't laziness or a lack of skills. It was my approach to time. Like many of you, time to me was a relentless taskmaster, ticking away as I chased one goal after another.

It was like running on a treadmill while watching the clock, hoping to outrun time.

Spoiler alert: nobody wins that race.

As a newly yet indirectly elected high-flying small business CEO and an unapologetic health nut, my life's motto was always, "Aim for the stars, and you might hit the ceiling fan."

All I craved was success. I set goals like I was programming a GPS for a trip to Mars – ambitious, slightly unrealistic, but hey, dreaming big is my cardio.

So, there I was, many years in, working like a machine that runs on espresso and sheer willpower.

You know, the kind that would make the Energizer Bunny look like a sloth. At that time, I even wrote an essay about how the most productive people walk faster. I was so focused on achieving 'goals.'

But here's the twist – while I was busy chasing success, I missed the whole point.

The process, the journey, the day-to-day grind – that's where the magic happens. I was so sucked into the realm of psychological time I could've been the poster child for "How to Turn Today into Someday."

It was like I was on a treadmill, going faster and faster, thinking I was on the highway to success.

Newsflash: I wasn't moving an inch. If anything, I probably broke the world record for the longest stationary jog.

I finally realized the process isn't just a slice of the pie; it's the whole darn bakery. It's not about the destination; it's about the hilarious, messy, and sometimes beet-smoothie-explosion-like journey.

So, here's my light-hearted lesson:

Enjoy the ride, even if it feels like you're a hamster in a wheel. Because at the end of the day, if you're not having fun, you're just a very busy person running on a very fancy treadmill. And trust me, those things don't even have good mileage!

Now, let's dive deeper into the crux of the matter – psychological time and its impact on our lives and businesses.

What is Psychological Time?

Psychological time is like a tricky magician. It distracts you from the future and past, making the present disappear.

 It's the difference between thinking about tomorrow's meeting during a family dinner and actually enjoying the lasagna. It's being mentally stuck in "someday" mode, where dreams live and die without ever seeing the light of today.

In the tapestry of human existence, time holds a peculiar dual nature.

There is the steady, unyielding march of clock time, ticking away with impartial precision. Yet, there exists another dimension of time, one that ebbs and flows within the contours of the human mind - this is psychological time.

Unlike its objective counterpart, psychological time is a subjective experience, varying dramatically from one person to another and even within an individual's own array of experiences. Time swallows our lives like we're stuck in a lake of quicksand. We're consumed by it. It creates anxiety, frustration, and constant pressure.

At the heart of psychological time lies our engagement, emotions, and focus.

These elements act as the sculptors of our temporal perception, molding moments into various shapes and sizes. When we find ourselves deeply engrossed in an activity that resonates with our passions or interests, time seems to accelerate. Hours pass like minutes, and we emerge from these periods of intense focus, feeling as though we've briefly stepped out of the chronological flow.

Practically using time is necessary to get by in modern times.

This is what's called clock time. We must learn to use clock time for practical purposes. To pick the kids up, to make that pesky doctor's appointment, or to land your next big deal with a client. But, when you set yourself a goal and pursue it, you're executing psychological time.

Conversely, when our days are marked by tedium or discomfort, psychological time stretches its legs.

Seconds become stubborn, minutes grow heavy, and hours loom over us like unmovable giants. This elasticity of time perception can be seen in everyday scenarios. Consider the difference in how time feels during a gripping conversation with a dear friend versus the dragging minutes of waiting in a long queue.

This phenomenon isn't just a matter of perception; it has tangible effects on our lives. Our relationship with psychological time influences our productivity, sense of well-being, and even the quality of our interactions.

Time shapes our approach to deadlines, ability to savor life's pleasures, and resilience in the face of life's inevitable challenges.

Eckhart Tolle gets to the heart of it with the daily battle we all bump up against:

"Your life's journey is no longer an adventure, just an obsessive need to arrive, to attain, to 'make it.' You no longer see or smell the flowers by the wayside either, nor are you aware of the beauty and the miracle of life that unfolds all around you."

The good news is that we are not passive observers of our psychological time. We have the power to influence it, to bend it closer to our needs and aspirations.

The Illusion of Abundance and Scarcity

We often operate under the illusion that there's never enough time or, conversely, that there's plenty of it later.

This scarcity or abundance mindset affects how we approach our goals. Think about it. How often have you put off a dream for "when the time is right"? That's psychological time playing tricks on you, making you believe that the future is the perfect place for your dreams. 

But here's the catch – the future is a constantly moving target.

In our journey through life, we often encounter the deceptive illusion of time's abundance, which can subtly lead us into the trap of procrastination or the underestimation of tasks. This mirage of plentiful time seduces us into believing there's always enough of it to start later, delay decisions, or postpone essential actions. It's a comforting thought, the idea that time is an expansive ocean in which we can lazily drift.

Yet, this is often a perilous misconception.

We invest a lot of energy in trying to avoid our current reality.

It's painful to confront the truth: how limited our time is. Because when we do, "it means that tough choices are inevitable and that you won't have time for all you once dreamed you might do," writes Oliver Burkeman in Four Thousand Weeks.

So, we numb ourselves emotionally with busyness and distraction.

"We labour at our daily work more ardently and thoughtlessly than is necessary to sustain our life," or perhaps we escape into some vortex of technology. To sustain us from our woes. "Because to us it is even more necessary not to have leisure to stop and think. Haste is universal because everyone is in flight from himself," said Nietzsche.

You believe that to succeed, you must 'fit it all in.'

Meaningful productivity often doesn't come from hurrying things up but trusting the process and letting them take the time they take, surrendering yourself to Eigenzeit, "the time inherent to a process itself."

You have fully accepted the jarring realization of time scarcity.

This usually strikes us like a bolt of lightning, awakening us to the reality that time is, in fact, a finite resource. Such moments of clarity often come during life's milestones or as we age – a reminder that our time on this earth is not endless. This realization can bring a sense of urgency and stress, pushing us to act, to make decisions, and to prioritize what truly matters.

To live effectively within this balance, we must develop a keen awareness of how we perceive and use our time. 

It involves breaking free from the illusion of endless time and embracing the reality of its limits. This shift in perspective can lead to more meaningful choices, deeper relationships, and a fuller engagement with life.

We begin to see time not just as a resource to be managed but as the very fabric of our existence – a gift to be cherished and used wisely.

Embracing the Present for Growth

How do we harness the power of now?

It's about shifting focus. Set ambitious goals, yes, but celebrate the small wins along the way. It's about enjoying the process, not just obsessing over the outcome. This shift doesn't just bring peace of mind; it's where real growth happens.

When you're truly present, you make better decisions, foster stronger relationships, and lead with authenticity.

Remember, your life isn't a race against time.

It's a journey to be savored, one present moment at a time. The key to rewriting your success story lies not in the stars you aim for but in the steps you take today.

So, embrace psychological time, focus on the now, and watch your career and personal life bloom in ways you never imagined.

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Transform Your Time into Triumph

Ever feel like your days are slipping by unproductively? Wastefully?

It's time to ask yourself:

Are you optimizing your life and career or just ROTTING away? Every second is precious in the journey to a great life.

Don't let ROT set in. Take control of your Return On Time (ROT) with this essential checklist, your key to optimizing your life and business.

Make every moment count: Download Your ROT Audit Now.