I came across a fascinating video timeline on Facebook. It mapped how we’ve spent our time from 1930 to 2024, and it was striking. In the 1930s, family, friends, neighbours, and community shaped our lives. Today, the online world dominates, taking over 60% of our time.

Source 

It made me stop and think. How am I spending my time? Does it reflect what’s most important to me?

Here’s an idea: let’s create a ranking list. Write down the key areas of your life, - family, friends, work, neighbours, online activity, hobbies, or anything else you value. Rank them from 1 to 10, with 1 being your top priority. Then ask yourself, how does this compare to how much time you actually spend on each one

Maybe you’ll notice some mismatches. Perhaps what you thought was most important isn’t getting much of your attention. Or maybe you’ll realise you’ve been unintentionally putting your time into things that don’t align with your values.

But here’s the thing: what success looks like will be different for everyone. For some, it might mean carving out time to nurture friendships. For others, it could be as simple as spending an afternoon immersed in a hobby they’ve neglected. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

Why not take it a step further. Ask the people closest to you to do their own ranking. Compare notes. What surprises you? What overlaps? Can you find a shared goal, or perhaps ways to better support each other?

The beauty of this exercise isn’t in perfection, it’s in clarity. Once we know what truly matters, we can start making decisions that bring us closer to a life that feels fulfilling.

The world may have changed dramatically, but the essence of what makes us happy hasn’t. What does success look like for you and how will you shape your time to reflect it?

Of course, the irony isn’t lost on me. I found this video while scrolling online