Time & Money: Life's Finite Resources

I've realized that time and money are both the most finite resources in our lives. No matter how much we wish we could do everything, we simply cannot, so it's crucial to decide which things are truly worth spending those precious resources on.

I refer to my priorities as concentrations, and right now, I focus on three main concentrations and each one reflects what I value most. By deliberately only allowing myself to spend my finite resources on them, I can focus on the things that are the most important to me and can bring me the most enjoyment.

If there is something I want to do or spend money on, and it falls within my concentrations, I allow myself to spend both my time and money on it without much scrutiny; However, it is not included in the concentrations, I heavily scrutinize if it is important enough to do something outside my scope, or if I need to re-evaluate the concentrations.

These are my three concentrations and the rough percentages I spend my time/money on them:

• Family (60%)
• Health & Fitness (25%)
• Hobbies (15%)

Work

Work, meanwhile, is something I consider separate to my life concentrations. It's the engine that helps me afford the time and money for these important priorities. By recognizing that my resources are finite and placing them where they matter most, I find deeper fulfillment, stronger relationships, and a clearer sense of who I am and what makes me truly happy.

Work is a means to an end, I spend only the amount of time needed on work that is required. I make sure to put in hard work into my professional life, because without it, I wouldn't have the money to afford the other things that bring me joy. And luckily for me, I genuinely enjoy my line of work, so I feel incredibly luckily that my life is fulfilled both in work and outside of work.

Family

My wife and kids are at the heart of all I do, so Family takes priority. I choose to invest heavily here because time with them is irreplaceable. Moments spent connecting, whether that's playing video games with my son, cooking & sharing meals, or simply being around to listen, are where I find the most meaning and genuine happiness.

I make an effort to spend money on my wife and kids to give them the life and opportunities I wish I had as a kid. I take my family traveling, I enroll my kids them into gymnastics and sports, I teach my wife and kids to ski, I go over the kids' homework, I make time to schedule play dates with their friends and friends' parents, and I expose them all to as much as I can, so they can find what they truly enjoy doing, what makes them happy, and what they are good at.

My wife is a SAHM, and I am elated that she can spend so much time with the kids as well, but as a single-earner household, I make sure that she can equally spend money on the things as she wants as well. Caprice isn't a materialistic person, so she enjoys spending money on experiences and things that bring joy to the kids. She also likes spending money on things that elevate self-confidence and that make her feel good about being in her body. Without sharing everything, one example of her self-improvement was getting braces in her 30's. She absolutely loves how braces have made her feel more happy and confident with her smile, and when she is happy, I am happy.

Health & Fitness

Health & Fitness is a very important concentration, because if I don't take care of myself, I can't really be present for anyone else. For me, that includes cycling, working out, and being mindful about my diet. I really like Fairlife protein shakes and other protein snacks, so I allow myself to spend a little premium on these things.

I want to cycle during the winter? I buy myself a bike trainer, so I can keep working out. I want to rock climb? I allow myself to get a membership to my local climbing gym. I allow myself to spend money on things that elevate my fitness, with little discrimination. If I want to do something that keeps me active, I allow myself to say yes to spending time and money on it.

Fitness and exercise help keep me energized and positive, which trickles down to everything else I do. When I'm physically strong and mentally alert, I have the energy to be present for my family, pursue my hobbies, and enjoy life without feeling run-down. And it's more than just working out or eating well, it's a way to show respect and care for my own body, so I can keep doing the things I love, with the people I love, for as long as possible.

This level of commitment to health also keeps my mind clear and focused, reducing stress and anxiety, and helping me stay motivated in other areas of life. Ultimately, Health & Fitness is the bedrock that allows me to fully participate in each of my other concentrations.

Hobbies

When it comes to hobbies, I don't allow myself to just have any and all hobbies, I limit myself to just three Hobbies to avoid stretching my time and money too thin. Currently, 3 hobbies (sub-concentrations) are:

• Photography / Videography
• Snowboarding
• Hiking / Camping

Each one brings its own joy and keeps life interesting. Sticking to three ensures I can truly dive in and nurture the creativity or dopamine that each hobby offers. I don't have enough time and money to do every whim I think of, so I allow myself to extract as much enjoyment out of the ones I am concentrating on. Want to go snowboarding? I get a season or a day pass to the mountain. Want to go hiking, but it is snowy and icy? I get myself some exo spikes for my hiking boots.

Of course as time goes on, my interest ebb and flow, and unlike Family, Health, and Fitness, hobbies are fluid to change. Sometimes some hobbies drop off and new ones hop on, but I only allow myself 3 at a time.