Lessons Learned: Time Management & Self Management

I live a busy life, and it is always made more obvious to me once I get on mass transit. I look at my commute and I think of everything I could do with that time, everything I try to do with that time, and everything I would rather be doing with that time.

I've tried doing homework, but have you ever tried reading anything larger than a small paperback novel on the bus? Space is at a premium and I'm a broad guy, meaning I have zero room to maneuver once someone sits next to me. And the bus is not a stable place, so any typing is very slow and always riddled with typos. So I can't be productive. Then there's motion sickness; reading many times will cause a nausea that is not good for an hour+ trip, so even if I had room I still would be able to only do so much.

If I wasn't taking mass transit, I also could work certain chores and tasks into my commute; pick up office supplies and non-perishable groceries on the way to school, general grocery shopping on the way home. I could also eat my meals at home and save money, instead of eating for pay here at school.

In the end, I learned to not only measure the value of the time I use, but also what I might be able to do with it alternatively.