There is an oft repeated trope that “time is your most valuable asset” because you can’t get more time, but everything else is relatively easy to restock. This is true, but it often misses the point. The way we deal with death in western society is to blame. Instead of showing the scars of what is left by others, we hide the dead away. We rush to the funeral and the burial, and then we quickly forget those who are gone. We treat the elderly as if they are already dead and box them away in retirement homes.

However, death is important. It is the only thing we all do one time. It is a journey that we take alone. The shadow of death lingers over every living being. Life is only valuable because it has an end.

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” – Mae West

There is a Buddhist parable which describes the best manner in which to think about this contrast. I apply it to my dog every day. He is already dead. I’m just not at that point yet. That way, instead of being angry that he barks, I am present with him in as many moments as I can be.

This is the distinction of Time Quality.

Robert Greene has a fantastic lens through which to look at time that is articulated well by Ryan Holiday. (Both are amazing authors you should check out if you haven’t already.) He talks about Alive Time vs Dead Time. For my purpose, I want to use the terms High Quality Time vs Low Quality Time instead.

You see, there are plenty of Low Quality Time maintenance things that you have to do on a regular basis, mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, doing laundry, and commuting are all low quality activities. The past 10 years of Silicon Valley’s exploits have been ways through which to regain some of this time a la Taskrabbit, Instacart, and Uber, to name a few.

On the other hand, High Quality Time is how most people want to spend their life. By hanging out with good friends, visiting breweries, opening presents on Christmas morning, and watching fireworks with their lover.

There are ways to make Low Quality Time into High Quality time, for example, listening to an audiobook on the way to work, however these hacks are limited and take you out of the present moment.

The real challenge of our lives is to figure out how we can minimize Low Quality Time while maximizing High Quality Time and still be productive humans.

Let me digress for a minute and talk about Time Wealth. You see, when experts on CNN talk about poverty, they are referring to the earned income of a person or family. However, I would venture to say that there is an epidemic of Time Poor people throughout the US. The average number of days off people take from work has declined over time. We constantly work more and more, but how much of that is Low Quality Time? Too many people work too many hours, just to service debt on their credit cards, or student loans they took out for degrees they did not need. They never get to stop and and feel what it means to be alive. They’re the people who couldn’t hear Ferris Bueller when he said that, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

I currently work around 60 hours per week. I have been actively pursuing the purchase of a house for the last 4 months. However, I have to be very selective with what I buy because I know that when I get very busy with work during the summer, I will not have the free time required to be doing any HGTV flipping bullshit to my property. Ironically, the job that would allow me to buy a decent house is also robbing me of the ability to increase the value of said house.

I would be surprised to find out I was alone in this circumstance. Between a full day’s work, your commute, hitting the gym, feeding yourself, walking your dog, and doing the dishes. When will there ever be more time?

There will not be.

Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. – Ferris Bueller

If your circumstances sound like mine, you have to begin inventing your way out of that situation so you can build time wealth. The 4 Hour Workweek is the bible on this topic.

However, you can’t build Time Wealth from Low Quality Time. There are plenty of people who wait their whole life to retire only to find out they hate not being busy and immediately get involved with 16 different organizations in order to fill their now free schedule.

Don’t be that person.

If you want to build Time Wealth from High Quality Time, you have to start doing those things you would otherwise do now! Don’t procrastinate, because as the Stoics say, “Memento Mori. Remember you are mortal.” Let your death be the motivation to get up off the couch and do the things you want with your life. So that you only regret the mistakes you made and not the things you didn’t do.

Building a life of High Quality Time can be done. My 60 hour weeks now will pave the way for me to have what I want when I am older and less tolerant of an alarm clock. Rather than escape from your work or your routines, use that time to invest back into yourself. Squeeze every last drop of juice out of life.