Perhaps, time is the most precious thing in the world. Once lost, it can never be found. It's important to manage it well and put it to good use. We shouldn't spend time on things that are futile or of less importance to us. Time should be spent on things that make us happy, with people we like, and on anything that enriches us and our life. Time is precious. The sooner we realize this, the better. Here, we give you some things that you should spend time on, and things you should avoid giving time to (they include unproductive activities that do you no good). Meditation Meditating restores mental calm. It gives you time to connect with your inner self. You get time to focus on your goals and reflect on your living. It calms the mind and body, drives the negativity away, and makes you happy. Some Time Alone Spend some time alone, with yourself. It helps you clear your mind, balance your thoughts and emotions, and understand the meaning of life. Spending time with yourself helps you discover who you really are. It helps you know your strengths and weaknesses, reflecting on which you can improve yourself. Reading Make it a habit, we say. There is nothing more productive than reading. It makes you aware of yourself and your surroundings. It gives you immense knowledge and also entertains you to the core. It helps relieve stress and also enriches you as a person. Writing Write your experiences, write on what you feel about life, write whatever comes to your mind. Write about yourself or about the people you meet. Write on things that make you happy and on things that make you sad or angry. Take some time out daily to write. Healthy Habits Health is wealth, and we all know this. It is because of our fit body that we can do all the things we do everyday. It is important to spend some time daily on taking care of our body. It includes daily habits like brushing and cleaning, as also regular exercise and healthy eating. Family Your family should be your priority. It is the greatest support system in life. Spend some time with your family, everyday. Talk about the day, have dinner together, go for outings, attend social gatherings, and celebrate festivals together. Spending time with your near ones is very enriching. Pets Owning a pet is known to reduce stress. Do spend time with your pets. The unconditional love you get from animals is worth all the time you spend with them. Sleep Sleeping at least for eight hours every night improves your concentration and decision-making abilities. Sleep is essential for a healthy body and mind. Things You Love to Do Take some time out daily to engage in something you love to do. It could be an art or a hobby you have. It could be cooking, dancing, playing a sport, listening to music, or any such activity that gives you pleasure. These activities prove to be the best stress busters. Sports Playing any kind of sport keeps your body fit and also relieves mental stress. A game of your favorite sport energizes you again, after a tiring day at work. It is a good way to start your day, as it is a combination of exercise and fun. If it's a team sport, it can be played with your family or friends, thus giving you a chance to socialize. Nature Go out in the open and take in the fresh air. Watch the rising sun, feel the morning breeze, take a walk in nature. It makes you feel fresh and positive. Learn Something New Learn something new whenever you get a chance to. Take each day of your life as a new experience. The urge to learn something new keeps the boredom away. Take up a course in something you wanted to learn, learn something new. This is a good way to enhance yourself and also discover a new you. Explore the World Traveling to new places increases your knowledge, broadens your mind, and makes you understand what there is to life. It gives you a glimpse of different cultures and countries, and with every journey, you create memories to cherish for life. Good Memories It's good to spend some time on thinking of the good things in the past. Spend time thinking of all the good things that happened to you, the nice people that you met, the positive changes that you brought in yourself, and all the little joys that came your way. Go through old photographs, letters, or your own diary. Think of your achievements, small or big. Remembering good things makes you feel positive. Positive People Always spend time with positive people. They motivate you, guide you, and lead you in the right direction. In their company, you get a positive vibe. They are the people who put a smile on your face, they are those whose company you enjoy. They are the ones you should spend time with. Laughing Laughing is a great stress buster. It relieves mental stress. A hearty laugh is good for health. Those who laugh more are known to live longer and happier lives. So, some time spent laughing is surely worth it. Financial Planning Take time to figure out how you are spending money and what your expenses are. Plan for a secure financial future. Know what you have, what you should invest in, and what you should not spend on, in order to have a secure future for yourself and your family. Expecting Don't expect too much from others. Don't spend time thinking of what you expected from someone and how or why he did not behave as you wanted him to. Expecting things to happen to you or expecting them from others only makes you wait. It is fruitless to keep waiting doing nothing. Instead, go ahead and make things happen to you. Brooding over the Past Stop dwelling on the past. It is futile to think and analyze something that has already happened. Your past can sure give you lessons, but thinking about it all the time is a sheer waste of time. Instead, live in the present because your present will shape your future. Comparing Don't compare yourself with others. Do not spend time thinking about what others have and you don't. You are unique in your own way and you cannot be compared with anyone else in this world. Realize what you have and learn to appreciate it. Criticizing Yourself Don't spend time on criticizing yourself or putting yourself down. This will make you feel discouraged. Be positive, and think of how you can improve yourself rather than cursing yourself for your mistakes. Material Possessions Do not spend too much time on materialistic things. Running behind them or making their possession the sole aim in life will not take you anywhere. It may feel great to have those things but they will have less importance in the long run. Instead, spend time on experiencing life and enjoying little moments. Thinking Negatively Thinking negatively will have a negative influence on your day-to-day activities. Negative thoughts will take all your enthusiasm away. They will not let you focus on your goals. Your self-esteem will dip, your confidence levels will be low, and you won't feel happy. Don't entertain any negative thoughts in your mind. Gossiping Stop discussing others' lives. Gossiping can only complicate your life. It fatigues you and proves to be a waste of time. Knowing what's going on in other people's lives is not going to help you in any way. It may only distract you from your goals. Also, gossiping leads to a lot of negativity. Avoid spending time on gossip; there are better things you can do. Overburdening Yourself Avoid burying yourself under too many tasks. It is important to balance your work and life. Learn how to prioritize things and don't take the responsibility of more than what you can handle. That way, none of the tasks will be done well and you will only be stressed out. Dating the Wrong Person Do not waste your precious time in dating someone who is not right for you. Doing Things You Don't Like Life is too short. Don't waste time on things you dislike or are unnecessary. Worrying Too Much Stop worrying about your problems. Instead, start thinking about their solutions. This will help you overcome difficulties in a better way. Holding Grudges Life is too short to hold grudges. Be forgiving, try to forget things that trouble you, bring positivity in your life, and be at peace with yourself. Complaining Complaining will not get you anywhere. Count your blessings and be happy with what you have. Buying Unnecessary Things Avoid spending your time and money in buying unnecessary things. Instead, buy things that you really need. Unhealthy Habits Eating unhealthy, sleeping late, not exercising, and taking to drinking or smoking are some bad habits that will only spoil your health. Also, avoid spending too much time watching TV, playing video games, on the phone, or online. Habits like these are detrimental to your well-being. Stay away from them. Well, this was our list of things you should do and things you should not. Time is priceless, spend it wisely.