When time feels scarce, enjoyment can become something we keep postponing. We will call a friend once work settles down, take a proper break when the chores are finished or return to a hobby when there is less to organise. Sometimes that is unavoidable. But when postponing becomes a pattern, the life we want can feel as though it is always waiting for a gap in the calendar.
I value my time deeply because I am conscious of how limited it is, both within each day and across a lifetime. I try to spend it intentionally and show the same respect for other people’s time. I find this helps me make better decisions, feel calmer and more balanced, and be more productive. That sense of calm and balance matters to me as much as what I get done.
What Valuing Time Means for Wellbeing
Subjective wellbeing describes how we experience and evaluate our lives. It includes our day-to-day feelings and our broader sense of life satisfaction. You can have a difficult day and still feel satisfied with your life overall.
Valuing time means considering the hours, attention and energy a choice requires alongside its financial costs and benefits. It gives the experience of living through our days a place in decisions about what we take on.
Our freedom to make these choices varies. Caring responsibilities, health concerns, income and working conditions all affect how much control we have. Feeling short of time doesn’t mean you have failed to value it. Start by recognising where you have some choice and where you need more support.
What the Research Suggests
A 2019 study following almost 1,000 graduating university students found that those who valued time over money reported greater happiness a year after graduation. They were also more likely to pursue activities for personally rewarding reasons, which partly explained the association.
The study was observational, so it can’t establish that valuing time caused greater happiness. Its focus on graduates also limits how broadly we can apply the findings. It does, however, suggest that our priorities around time deserve consideration when making life choices.
Choosing time over money isn’t always the better option. Extra income may be necessary for housing, family needs or financial security. Where there is genuine flexibility, the hours a choice requires deserve consideration alongside its financial benefits.
Consider the Time a Commitment Requires
A commitment can take more time than its place in the diary suggests. An evening activity might involve travel and preparation, while a small favour may lead to several follow-up conversations.
Before agreeing, consider whether you can give it the time it needs. What would need to move, and would you be comfortable with that trade-off? A demanding commitment can be deeply worthwhile. Understanding what it requires helps you decide whether it fits your life.
The same consideration extends to other people. Give them enough notice, be clear about what you need and check their availability. If plans change, let them know promptly so they can adjust. Respecting time includes being thoughtful about the demands we create for one another.
When Saving Time May Be Worthwhile
Researchers at the University of British Columbia and Harvard Business School surveyed more than 6,000 adults across four countries. People who spent money on time-saving services reported greater life satisfaction, even after accounting for income.
In a separate experiment, 60 adults spent money on a time-saving purchase on one weekend and a material purchase on another. They reported greater happiness after the time-saving purchase, providing evidence of a short-term benefit.
If it fits comfortably within your budget, paying for help with a disliked task may be worth considering. Ask whether the relief justifies the cost in your circumstances. A convenience that creates money worries may add more pressure than it removes.
You can also look for changes that don’t require spending more. Combining errands, simplifying a regular meal or agreeing on a fairer division of household tasks may help. Account for any extra organising involved, and avoid transferring the burden to someone who is already overloaded.
Think About How You Want to Use the Time
Saving time can feel disappointing if it immediately fills with more obligations. Before making a change, consider what you hope it will allow: a less hurried morning, time with friends, an enjoyable activity or an evening with fewer demands.
More free time doesn’t automatically mean greater happiness. Research discussed by UCLA Anderson, drawing on large US datasets and experiments using imagined scenarios, found that the relationship depended partly on how time was spent. Abundant free time wasn’t associated with lower wellbeing when it was spent socially or on activities regarded as productive.
These findings don’t set an ideal timetable for everyone. They suggest that having something worthwhile to do matters alongside having time available. In this research, productive activities included hobbies and exercise, not just paid work.
The practical takeaway is to consider what makes free time satisfying to you. That might be company, creativity, learning or rest. There is no need to make every spare hour useful or turn enjoyment into another measure of achievement.
Start with One Choice You Can Make
A brief look at the past few days may reveal one adjustment worth trying:
- Notice what you keep postponing. Is there something you miss, such as reading, seeing a friend or having an unhurried meal? Let that guide the change you choose.
- Question one recurring demand. Could it happen less frequently, take less preparation or be shared? Start with arrangements you have some ability to influence.
- Make a realistic plan. Reserving time for particular activities can help you follow through on an intention. Keep the plan flexible enough to accommodate your circumstances.
- Notice how the change feels. Did it bring relief, enjoyment or connection? Did it create a different problem? Adjust according to what you learn.
If there is little you can change alone, the next step may be a conversation about workload, expectations or practical help. A crowded life isn’t necessarily a personal organisation problem.
A Little More Choice in How You Live
Valuing time gives your wellbeing a place in decisions that might otherwise be guided mainly by cost, convenience or obligation. It also encourages consideration for the people whose time your choices affect.
You may not be able to reclaim large amounts of time. Perhaps you can make one commitment more manageable or give something you enjoy a little more attention. A useful question to begin with is, “What would I like more time for, and what is one realistic change that could help?”
First published: 13 October 2025
Last updated: 8 September 2026
