The Real Cost of Mindlessness

The biggest cost of sticking your head in the sand instead of facing your issues is time. Wait too long and you will find yourself out of it.

In this day and age, it’s easy to go through life hiding away from reality and being mindless. We’ve got food, alcohol, drugs, sex, social media, cable TV, streaming TV, computers, and anything and everything we could want for entertainment on our smartphones. And let’s face it…there are so many ways we can “check out!”

Interestingly, considering how much we hear about being “mindful” it doesn’t take much to move us into mindlessness. I often wonder what my life would look like today had I chosen to deal with things head-on. Things like money, career, life desires, dreams, and goals. If I had gone to therapy to work on believing in myself years, or even decades ago, would I be sitting here today having a hard time breaking up with my cable services because I can’t afford it anymore?

When I think about the hundreds and thousands of hours I have spent during my lifetime zoned out in front of the tube, staying up far too late scrolling through my phone, and going down the internet “rabbit hole” or eating my emotions, I feel rather nauseous.

So, imagine reallocating the hours spent in front of screens into pursuits of personal growth and achievement. The average adult spends about 38 hours a week watching TV and scrolling through their phone. Now, envision redirecting this time into meaningful activities that foster success and fulfillment.

Firstly, consider language learning. It's said that with around 600 hours of study, one could achieve conversational fluency in languages like Spanish or French. In just a few months of redirected time, you could be engaging in lively discussions with native speakers, opening doors to new cultures and opportunities.

Then there's the mastery of a musical instrument. Research suggests that around 10,000 hours of practice can lead you to expert-level proficiency. While this is a long-term commitment, even a fraction of this time, say 1,000 hours, can lead to significant skill and the joy of expressing oneself through music.

Imagine if you invested this time into furthering your education. Online courses and degrees offer paths to enhancing your career and knowledge base. With consistent effort, the hours once spent on screens could translate into accredited qualifications and new career opportunities.

Physical fitness and wellbeing are also within reach. It's said that it takes about 66 days to form a new habit. Devoting just an hour a day to exercise could transform your health and fitness levels significantly within a couple of months. Whether it's running, yoga, or weight training, the benefits to your physical and mental health are profound.

Moreover, consider the profound impact of dedicating time to personal projects or entrepreneurial ventures. Many successful businesses and projects were born from just a few hours each day, diligently applied over months or years. Your dream project or business idea could become a reality with the time reclaimed from passive screen consumption.

In essence, every hour spent on passive entertainment is an opportunity cost, a chance to build towards something profoundly more rewarding. Whether it's learning a new skill, improving your health, advancing your career, or working on a passion project, the time you reclaim can be the cornerstone of a more accomplished, successful, and fulfilling life.

Is it time for you to deal with your issues through therapy and/or coaching? Email me. I’m here to help.