You Don't Need More Time. You Need Better Decisions.

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The life you want isn't built by finding more time. It's built by choosing differently each day.

"Where do you find the time to do all of that?"

For the past 35 years, I'm proud to say that is one of the most common questions I'm asked. Some of you reading this may have queried me yourself, and if not, you may have wondered that about someone in your life who seems to do "all the things."

Here's the answer: time is an asset we can manage. No one has a surplus or shortage of hours in the week. We all get the same 168 hours to do with as we choose. It's how we prioritize and use those precious hours that makes the difference.

Bad Decisions - Wasted Time - Major Consequences

Frequently, people complain that they "just don't have the time." Whether it's personal health and well-being, time with family, or business and professional growth, the most common reason I hear is "no time for that."

That's a choice.

Many may feel that they have little option in how they spend their time, but in reality, they do. We all have personal and professional obligations, but they make up less of our day than we often assume. When you subtract what is truly required each day, you find that you're often spending considerable minutes and hours doing things that don't add real value or are unhealthy. That's not to say that every waking moment must be productive and planned, but realize that how you use your time outside of required responsibilities is a deliberate decision.

And how that time is spent has real, serious consequences. The cost is far greater than an inconvenience or "waste." It often takes the form of unread books and journals, missed connections with loved ones, skipped workouts and meal prep, and lost restorative sleep. Those ignored opportunities for self-improvement and enjoyment lead to stress, anxiety, burnout, health issues, and a constant feeling of "running behind."

At work, poor time management leads to performance and productivity slips. We lose focus and momentum. We stay busy but accomplish less. As we fall further behind, we snap at coworkers and lose patience with clients. We confuse movement with progress and wonder why our revenue and profitability don't improve.

Modern Life Rewards Wasting Time

Making matters worse, many aspects of modern life actually reward poor time management. Social media is arguably the most consequential time drain ever invented. It doesn't just consume your only non-renewable resource, but it also often makes you feel worse about yourself when you finally log off.

An endless barrage of notifications dictates our priorities, often distracting us from what we should do and leading us to do something else instead. We confuse urgency with priority, and lose sight of what matters most, especially for long-term health and happiness. Then there's "hustle culture," which glorifies constant activity while quietly undermining focus, balance, and recovery.

3 Keys to Better Time Management

First, understand that how you manage your time reflects your values, not intentions. You don't "find time" for what matters; you make it a priority. Your daily and weekly schedule reflects what truly matters most to you, more than the work you do. Make your schedule represent the life you want and the goals you prize.

Second, saying "yes" to everything means a time cost somewhere else. Often, that expense is your health, relationships, or focus. Be strategic and thoughtful with your boundaries, and choose opportunities that make you better, not drained.

Finally, being "busy" may be a hidden form of procrastination. Constantly doing things may seem like progress, but if you're not reserving time for deep, meaningful thought, conversations, and creativity, growth eventually stalls.

Protect space for imagination, exploration, and even quiet boredom. If you catch yourself reaching for your phone to scan your feeds, put it down and read, write, reflect, plan, create, take a walk, or do something that restores your attention. In the long run, you'll think more clearly, live more fully, and create more when you scroll less and dream more.

Time Discipline

Honestly audit your day and week. Track where you actually spend your hours, not guessing what you're doing. That data may be uncomfortable, but awareness is the first step toward improvement. Decide where you want to spend your time and energy, and make it a daily and weekly focus. You may not make big changes quickly, but with a goal and objective, you're on your way to sustainable change.

And give yourself some grace. Time management and discipline aren't all-or-nothing. They don't exist in a vacuum. Accept interruptions and imperfections. If you're consistently achieving 80% of your time goals, compounded over years and decades, it's powerful. It's a long, beautiful life. Maximize every moment.

Dr. Ernie Ward
Wishing you decades of growth,

Dr. Ernie Ward
Chief Veterinary Officer, VerticalVet


PS - If you have any questions or suggestions for “The Altitude,” please email them to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Suggested Reading

If the idea that time reflects priorities resonates with you, these books offer practical, evidence-based approaches to making better decisions about how you spend your hours and energy.

Quote I’m Contemplating

"It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste much of it."
Seneca (c. 4 BCE-65 CE), Stoic philosopher

Seneca's observation captures the central tension of modern professional life. Most people don't suffer from a lack of time. They suffer from unexamined habits, misplaced priorities, and countless small decisions that quietly overtake and consume their days. Our time is rarely lost all at once. It slips away in a flurry of distractions, unnecessary obligations, and the constant pull of what feels urgent but isn't truly important.

In veterinary medicine, the consequences of wasted time compound quickly. When we neglect rest, learning, reflection, or meaningful connection, the costs show up as stress, burnout, strained relationships, and declining performance. Seneca's message is a reminder that time management is not about squeezing more into the day. It is about intentionally and consistently deciding what deserves our limited hours and what does not.

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