Free Time Management — and Why It Can Be Quite Challenging

Time management is one thing, but managing your own time — the time when you’re not working — is quite another. For me, managing my free time is often more challenging than managing my working hours.

Structure is very important to me, and I think that applies to many of us. Without it, I tend to feel bored — and sometimes even anxious about trivial things. Work provides that structure.

That’s why I see my job as a crucial part of my life. It’s not only a source of income or achievement, but also a source of daily rhythm and purpose.

I work 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday — the standard 9-to-5 lifestyle. On paper, that sounds busy. But in reality, I still find myself with plenty of time to get bored. And boredom, to me, feels painful — a massive waste of precious time.

What to Do When Not Working?

Watching Netflix or scrolling on your phone might seem entertaining at first. But soon, you get hooked — and before long, a sense of guilt and emptiness sets in. You realize you’ve wasted your time, and you can’t get it back.

Time is precious, and I want to spend it doing things that nourish and fulfil me. Planning how to use that time well is essential.

The first step is to ask yourself: What activities do I truly love? Having something you love doing — whatever it may be — is a gift. Passion is a gift. Many people still haven’t found that thing that excites them.

For me, the things I currently enjoy are writing (even if I’ll never be a professional writer), learning languages (I’m studying Spanish), exploring history (especially medieval history), and swimming (still struggling with freestyle, though).

So here is the plan:

Writing: My goal is to make writing an integral part of my daily life. And by “writing,” I don’t just mean journaling, which I already do regularly — I mean thoughtful, organized writing.

My objective is simple: write for at least 10 minutes every day. No excuses. I can’t claim to be too busy — everyone has 10 minutes. More often than not, it’s not that we’re too busy to write, but that we’re busy because we’re not writing.

Reading: Like writing, I want reading to become a consistent part of my daily life. For me, reading and writing go hand in hand. A well-written, inspiring book often sparks the urge to write.

I often say I love reading and writing, but the truth is, I don’t do enough of either. That has to change.

Learning Spanish: For about a year and a half now, I’ve been learning Spanish. I started with Duolingo — “Yo aprendo español con Duolingo,” as the app proudly taught me — and it became a phrase I enjoyed repeating.

But I’ve since developed a real love for the language, so I decided to take it further. I’m now also enrolled in an online Spanish course.

Experts say that learning new things, like a language, is great for your brain. Our brain is like a muscle — use it or lose it. Like writing and reading, I want learning Spanish to be a regular part of my daily routine.

Swimming (twice) every week: I started swimming in the winter of 2022, and it quickly became something I truly enjoy. I don’t swim daily, but twice a week — and those sessions bring me great joy.

As the saying goes, “practice makes perfect,” and it’s true. I can feel myself improving every time I swim.

Doing Nothing for a While: At first glance, doing nothing seems passive — as if you’re wasting time. But try sitting still and doing absolutely nothing. You’ll soon realize how challenging it can be. Ironically, doing nothing is an activity in itself.

This, too, is something I want to integrate into my routine. Allowing myself moments of stillness — simply sitting quietly and being present. Some might call it meditation; for me, it’s learning to just be.