Time can be both an obstacle and a solution to achieving greater happiness.
Time is the only resource that, if invested properly, can lead to a good life, perhaps even a great life.
If you realize how to invest your time and actually invest it, you can become happier.
Ultimately, you have to figure out how to manage your time to achieve the results that matter to you, the things that will make you feel satisfied and fulfilled when you look back on your days, your years, and your life.
And being completely immersed in what you do can make that time even happier.
---From "Prologue: To You Who Wants to Do Everything Well"

I came to realize that time poverty is ultimately a matter of perception.
It's entirely up to you what you think should be on your to-do list, and whether you feel confident enough to get it all done.
This self-efficacy is not just about what you believe you can achieve, but also has a direct impact on what you can actually achieve.
The process of deciding what you want to spend your time on creates a virtuous cycle that ultimately affects your self-efficacy and the happiness you feel.
Spending time doing things that move your body, connect with others, or just feel more connected overall can be incredibly effective in expanding your confidence that you can do something.
---From "Chapter 1: Warming Up to Escape Time Poverty"

Analyzing your most unfortunate activities can provide great insights into how to invest your time more wisely.
Because you can figure out where you shouldn't be spending your time.
When we are sad, we often think we are alone, but the root causes of unhappiness are the same for everyone.
Humans are predictable beings.
If any activity fails to satisfy one of three basic needs: relatedness (feeling connected to others), autonomy (a sense of personal control), and competence (feeling capable), you are more likely to feel unhappy.
---From "Chapter 2: How to Spend Your Time Wisely"

The most striking finding from the study is that when our daily lives are so consumed by chores that we have no time left for the things we truly care about, we feel unhappy and dissatisfied.
With an eight-hour workday, commuting, cleaning the house, doing laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, assembling furniture, washing the car, and even going to the laundromat, there's not a single moment left.
But if you can spend a little money to free up some of that time, you can spend it on things that really matter to you.
The time you wisely purchase can be spent on more fun and meaningful activities.
---From "Chapter 3: Small Habits That Don't Waste Time"

What if you realize your loved one won't be by your side forever? Or, less dramatically, what if circumstances have reduced the number of moments you spend together? Ultimately, time together comes to an end.
But before that moment comes, the number of times the two of you do things together that you used to enjoy will start to decrease.
Or even if we can be together, some factors may change and those moments may not be as perfect as before.
(Omitted) When will we realize that our time is limited? What is it that makes us savor life's little pleasures?
---From "Chapter 4: Why We Need Leisure in Our Lives"

When distractions disappear, the reality of your current situation becomes apparent.
During the COVID-19 quarantine, people with nothing else to do were stuck at home, either with toxic companions or feeling the loneliness of being alone.
During that time, rates of anxiety, depression and domestic violence increased.
When there are no distractions to distract us, we are forced to confront the fundamentals of our lives and ourselves.
I really want you to think about whether this change is necessary.
Above all, I hope that everyone has the means and the will to correct what is wrong.
---From "Chapter 5: Mindset for Focusing on the Moment"

Like the space inside a glass bottle, our time is limited.
There are 24 hours in a day, and one-third of that is spent sleeping.
That leaves only 16 hours left.
At first glance, it may seem like plenty of time, but on a weekday, half of that time is spent at work, an hour commuting (30 minutes to get to work, 30 minutes back home), and an hour getting ready in the morning.
After all, you only have six hours a day to do all the other things, or a quarter of the day.
(Omitted) It is impossible to do all of this in six hours a day.
Even if you do this for a week, you will only be able to do a select few of these.
Therefore, you must choose your tasks carefully.
---From "Chapter 6: Filling the Glass Bottle of Time"

If you look at your time as a mosaic, you will see clearly that one hour does not determine your worth or your life.
An hour doesn't define who you are.
All those times added up can explain everything you value and every dimension that makes up who you are.
(Omitted) When you answer the question of when to do something rather than what to do, you can do things that connect deeply with your life and give you a sense of purpose.
Your canvas, filled with joy and meaning, will bring you a sense of accomplishment.
---From "Chapter 7: How to Design Time Like a Mosaic"

How do you want to be remembered? As you reflect on your life's journey, what do you want people to say about you and share with you? Simply put, what legacy do you want to leave behind? (Omitted) Contemplating your own death can be quite uncomfortable.
But the potential benefits are enormous.
Facing the reality of our own inevitable death is one of the most powerful motivators for living life more fully.
By answering the questions above, you will ultimately come to a clearer understanding of what is most important to you and your values.
These answers will give you direction on how to spend today, tomorrow, and the days ahead.

---From "Chapter 8: The Power of Time for the Days to Come"