I was a long-time listener of the late radio host Rush Limbaugh. Now before you move on from this article, I am not going to get political.

I mention him because every year around mid to late November he would do a monologue around the meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday. It painted a different picture of what the typical American might think when they sit down to celebrate a meal with family and friends. What struck me about his version was the time it took and the hardships the Pilgrims endured, that they always maintained a sense of thankfulness.

As we head into the holiday season, realize the very nature of being thankful has some time benefits in our lives. When we express or intentionally seek reasons for being thankful, areas like procrastination, general focus, greater prioritization, higher energy levels, less decision fatigue, and better Relationships create more quality time in our lives.

Reduced Procrastination

When you’re grateful for your opportunities and resources, you’re more likely to feel motivated to use them wisely. This can lead to less time spent procrastinating and more time spent productively working on tasks.

The Pilgrims were purported to have spent about 11 years in Holland when they first left England. However, they found that only to be a temporary solution. Therefore, they chose not to delay, searched for a place where they would express their religious views freely and with Thanks to God, made the hard choice to head to the New World.

Improved focus

Gratitude can help clear your mind of negative thoughts and worries, allowing you to concentrate better on the task at hand. This increased focus can lead to faster and more efficient work completion.

In our modern life, I can’t really appreciate the challenges of moving to a new place with no infrastructure. No modern amenities to help me transition to a new way of life. Even after a devastating first winter, the Pilgrims found the ability to review their focus, adapt their living strategy, and thank God for it.

Better Prioritization

Being thankful for what you have can help you distinguish between what’s truly important and what’s not. This Clarity can assist in prioritizing tasks more effectively, ensuring you spend time on what matters most.

In the hardship of what they were enduring, they learned to adjust where they were concentrating their efforts to improve their standard of living. Through thankful hearts, the Pilgrims reprioritize and saw their circumstances change over time.

Enhanced Energy Levels

Gratitude has been linked to improved mental and physical well-being, which can boost your energy levels. With more energy, you can accomplish tasks more quickly and have the stamina to manage your time effectively throughout the day.

In all the challenges they faced, the Pilgrims reserved energy to continue their worship of God. Maintaining their faith was a way to refill their depleted emotional reserves. Their thankfulness helped fuel the energy they needed to continue in a harsh new world.

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Reduced Decision Fatigue

When you’re grateful for your choices and opportunities, you may experience less Anxiety about decision-making. This can lead to quicker, more confident decisions, saving time that might otherwise be spent deliberating.

Imagine being faced with choices that mean your very survival. The Pilgrims had to make many choices out of desperation, but their continued thankful attitude brought them through to the other side.

Improved Relationships

Expressing gratitude can strengthen relationships with colleagues, family, and friends. Strong, positive relationships can lead to better collaboration, more efficient communication, and increased support, all of which can save time in various aspects of life.

We can’t understate the benefits that the Indians had on helping the Pilgrims acclimate to the New World. The Native Americans understanding of how to live in this land provided key lessons that the Pilgrims adopted. This led to them having the first Thanksgiving to share their abundance with their neighbors and to give thanks for God for those relationships.

Whether or not the Thanksgiving Holiday is a part of your traditions, know that being Thankful is not a waste of your time. A grateful attitude incentivizes you to move forward and not procrastinate. A refreshed spirit improves your focus. An appreciative outlook makes knowing where to prioritize easier. A pleasing perspective lends itself to high energy levels and stronger decision-making abilities. A welcoming mindset brings new and enhanced time-quality relationships.

If the Pilgrims survived the harshness of a New World, and stayed thankful, we can do the same and see our ability to use time improve and be thankful for that.

David Buck is the author of the book The Time-Optimized Life, owner of Kairos (Time) Management Solutions, LLC. Learn how to apply the concepts of proactively planning and using your time. Take the Time Management Analysis (TMA), the Retirement Time Analysis (RTA), or all the other free resources offered to help bring more quality time into your life.

The post Time Benefits of Being Thankful first appeared on Infinity Lifestyle Design.

David Buck Time Strategist

In 35+ years of business development, David developed a strong awareness of what it took for people to be productive and efficient, not just busy. He also personally sought to gain a balance of having a successful career along with the ability to pursue a meaningful personal life.

That led David to start Kairos Management Solutions, focusing all his attention to guide business professionals who struggle with a lack of flexibility in their life to gain more quality personal time. David helps others craft a strategy around their current management of time, and then define a lifestyle of intention, ease, and joy.

In 2024, David released two books, the first being The Time Optimized Life. The book reframes the reactive nature of time management and replaces it with a proactive method of time optimization. In addition, he co-authored The Retirement Collective, where he highlights and provides solutions for how to maximize the use of time for people in post-career life.