On ‘wasting time’…

“No moment is wasted if you pay attention and learn the lessons contained in every experience.”

~ Robert Greene

“ The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.”

~ Bertrand Russell

Hey dickwad, if you are alone and bored, perhaps you are in bad company?

Is immersing yourself in music a waste of time?

Is scratching your pet a waste of time?

Is pondering the mysteries of life wasted time?

Playing with a child?

Meditation?

Sleep?

These are all atelic behaviors. See description in meaning of life essay.

Relax. Your rumination, analysis, worry, and need to control the future are robbing you of the current moment. Yes, there is a time for preparation, but continually thinking of the future guarantees you'll never enjoy in the present.

Would you judge a frog resting atop a lilypad?
Would you question a sea lion basking on a rock?
Would you criticize a flower for enjoying the sun??

Life is not just about constant improvement and being productive all day.

Often, we don’t think something is beneficial unless it’s productive and not realize that sitting around and resting alone or with someone is still a productive state and worthy of our time.

"Mindless" behaviors can definitely have therapeutic value. 

As a boni, if increasing your happiness is productive then just ‘having fun’ increases your productivity.

“Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back.”

~ Harvey MacKay