Time – Kept for yourself

Time is the most equitably distributed asset that every individual possesses, unaffected by societal status or wealth. Each of us has the same 24 hours in a day. No more, no less. Yet, it’s common to find ourselves pondering, “After being busy all day, what have I actually achieved?” or wishing for “just one more hour in the day,” and questioning, “Where has my time gone?”

This reflection was inspired by the Chinese song “Where Has the Time Gone?” (时间都去那儿了？Shí jiān dōu qù nǎ le) performed by Reno Wang. It stirred within me the desire to share these thoughts and the often untapped potential of your diary.

While keeping the original meaning intact, I’ve made slight adjustments to improve readability in English.

Here is an extract of the song:
Where has the time gone?
Before we could fully experience youth, we've aged
Raising sons and daughters for a lifetime
Has filled my mind with the cries and laughter of children

As the father of a 3-year-old boy, I have often heard people from all walks of life remark, “Kids grow up so quickly,” and suddenly, they’re adults before you realize it. This sentiment didn’t fully resonate with me until my son turned three in what felt like the blink of an eye. When you think about it, if children grow up ‘fast’, it implies that our parents age ‘fast’ as well.

So do we.

Yet, ‘fast’ is subjective. Given that ‘time’ ticks at a uniform rate for everyone, how does the concept of ‘fast’ emerge? The explanations include investing excessive time and energy in others, neglecting personal ‘me-time’ to genuinely savor moments alone, and engaging in unnecessary activities or simply squandering time.

This realization led me to reflect on how I’ve been spending my time, and how I might want to spend it more intentionally in the future.

Actionable advice:

1. Review

Flip through your monthly, weekly, or daily pages and observe your usual days. Are they filled with meaningful tasks, unavoidable responsibilities, or activities that keep you busy but leave you feeling empty?

Do these activities drain your energy or nourish your spirit?

2. Remove

Highlight the activities that are “not good” for you, and list them on a note page. This becomes your personal “avoid” page — a reminder of what to say no to in the future.

3. Revitalize

Next, use a year planner (usually one page for the whole year with small daily grids) and mark the days, dates, and occasions that truly matter to you and are fixed. For example, birthdays and anniversaries.

These are not just reminders; they are non-negotiable time you’ve intentionally kept for yourself and your loved ones. So the next time an invitation comes in, instead of accepting it spontaneously over the phone or through a quick message, take a step back and flip through your planner. Ask yourself: Is this a time I’ve already reserved for myself, or is it truly a free slot? This small pause helps you make decisions more consciously, and protects the moments that matter most to you.

The key word here is: truly matters.
Remember, this is your time, kept for yourself.

Tip:
We recommend using a refillable diary planner, so you can move your “avoid” page to any section of your book, keeping that reminder close, whenever you need it.

Summary
In the end, a diary is not just a place to record what you have done, it is a space to remember what truly matters to you. When you review, remove, and revitalize how you spend your days, you begin to live more intentionally, not just busily. So before time slips quietly past again, pause, reflect, and choose what deserves a place in your life.

Make time for yourself, because your time is your life.

If any part of this reflection resonates with you, or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out, I’d be more than happy to connect.