Wasted Time

Time is such a precious commodity.  Once it has passed it has gone forever and there is absolutely nothing you can do to retrieve it or relive it.
When you think about it, a lot of our life's time is wasted and then I wonder what can be done to prevent that from happening.  Many of our daily activities can be classified as wasted time...

• Watching TV
• Sitting in traffic
• Waiting for some event to start
• Sitting idly staring into space

It does not take too much effort and the list can be added to.  I do not categorise sleep as a waste of time.  We all know it is essential to each person to spend some time sleeping.  Failing to do this is counterproductive and can have far reaching and undesirable consequences.  Many books are written on this including Sound Sleep, Sound Mind: 7 Keys to Sleeping Through the Night.  We all know it is important!

What about the other time though?  Wasted time that cannot be justified as essential?

TRAVEL TIME
I spend about 4 hours of each day in traffic travelling to a from work.  It is essential time as it permits me to maintain my lifestyle and enjoy many other things but it is essentially "WASTED TIME"!
I can spend the time concentrating as much as I can on the activities pertaining to safely driving myself but when stuck in bumper to bumper traffic that is stop start, stop start, the only thing left to do is to

• Count the cars in front
• count the cars behind
• see how many there are of each make
• note number plates and patterns in the letters and numbers
• consider the acronyms that the letters of the numberplate can be
• look at the people inside the car and wonder
• What work they do
• Are they married
• what kind of people are they
• how much do they earn
• did they kiss their spouse and children goodbye
• are they in a company car
• See the surrounding country and buildings
• calculate the total cost of vehicles within your sight
• consider all the petroleum products being burned and the cost of it

Lets face it, it may be slightly entertaining but IT IS A BIG WASTE OF TIME!!

TIME IS MARCHING ON AND BEING WASTED!

If you could read, it would not be such a waste of time but, of course, you cannot read!  I see people reading the paper or a magazine, holding it to the steering wheel and glancing between the road and the traffic and what they are reading.  They are compromising their safety and all other road users!

I have seen people with bibles open on their steering wheel.  They must think that because it is the Bible they are reading, the Good Lord will guard and protect them so that they will get to work safely!  I am sure the Good Lord expects them to use common sense and will protect them after all precautions they take themselves!

So, what do we do?

We live is an age of amazing technological advancements and Audio Books are one of these technologies that can assist us.  Most cars these days, when fitted with sound equipment, have a CD player.  Audio books can be listened to during the long and tedious commuting we do.

Audio books can be

• entertaining
• educational
• motivational
• inspiring
• edifying
• character building
• funny

and can cover a wide variety of subjects and topics.

The problem I have with audio books is that you have to train yourself to listen to them and to HEAR what is being said.  I sometimes 'zone out' and do not hear or absorb anything that is going on around me.  The radio can be playing.  I am aware of it but do not really hear it.  My wife may be talking to me and I don't hear her either!

I also think it would be good to be able to listen to an audio book version of the current book you are reading.  It would provide a convenient way of getting through it and enjoy it.