I was first introduced to the Time Energy Money Matrix via The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving A F*ck by Sarah Knight.
As I’ve shared before, my friends and I started a book club around six months ago, and it’s been such a huge happiness boost to read so many different titles. We rotate our book clubs at each of our homes, and whoever hosts gets to choose the next book.
When it came round to being my turn, I chose the cult title The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving A F*ck – I’d heard so many great things!
Whilst the overall response to the book was divided (spoiler: it says f*ck a LOT), there was one section which really resonated with me: the Time Energy Money Matrix.
As Knight shares, the Time Energy Money Matrix is essentially how much of each of those three resources you’re willing to allocate to something.
“How much time, energy and money will ‘x’ take?”
Be it attending drinks with friends, participating in a work meeting or attending a wedding.
It’s a simple concept, but one which has helped me to evaluate things quickly and efficiently.
If, on reflection I don’t want to spend my time, energy and/or money on something, I’m less likely to do so now.
Plus, it’s important to point out that by spending your resources, there’s always an opportunity cost. Spending your resource on one thing inevitable means you cannot spend it on another.
Or if you do, you can quickly become ‘overdrawn’, literally and figuratively.
Here are a few examples of things I DO want to spend my resources on, and things I don’t . . .
3 Things I Will Spend My Time, Energy And Money On
My Health
This is the one area of life I’ll always spend my resources on. Good health underpins every darn thing.
Cooking from fresh, signing up to a gym, making it to the gym . . . all things which will use up your resources. Crucially, they’ll also give back to you.
Education
There are so many amazing resources available now to pursue your own education.
Books, articles, courses . . . I’m constantly investing in them all and it’s one area I’ve reaped huge benefits from.
Whether you are educating yourself on a new hobby, or as part of your personal development, education is one way to live within “an atmosphere of growth” – a key factor in happiness.
People I Love
Spending any of the three ‘matrix resources’ on people I love is a complete pleasure.
I’m Wearing
Polka Dot Blouse: Wallis c/o | Jeans: Anthropologie c/o (Similar Without Rips)
Handbag: Topshop – Last Season But This Season Is SO Good Too | Boots: Next (Old)
Bee Bracelet: Olivia Burton | Bangle and Hoops: Dinny Hall
3 Things I Will Not Spend My Time, Energy And Money On
Attending Something I Don’t Want To Go To
Being a Questioner (see – the Four Tendencies Quiz) I don’t feel too guilty saying “thank you, but no thank you” to an invitation I don’t want to RSVP “yes” to. To me, it just doesn’t make sense.
Plus, I’ve had a strong sense of preserving my time since I experienced a serious burnout as a teenager, and again in my early twenties. Life really is too short.
Often you will spend all three of your resources: time, energy and money on attending something. Instead, you can simply reply politely and decline.
Struggling On A task Which I Can Pay Someone To Do Better And More Effectively
Why go through the pain of completing a task you really cannot/do not want to do, when you could find someone to do the task for you? And do it better?
Yes, you may think that you are spending money (one of your resources!) on hiring someone to help, but how much time are you spending via your struggle? And how much energy too?
Plus, if you do a bad job, you may have to pay someone to fix it, thus spending even more.
Nowadays, if I can afford it, I’ll try to find someone to do a task I don’t want to, or can’t, do.
Gossip
Gossip plain sucks and if I can avoid it I’ll simply dodge the conversation. There are a million things more interesting, and much kinder, to talk about.
What’s Your Take?
So there you have it – a roundup of a few of the things and situations I choose to spend my Time, Energy and Money on.
I’d love to know your take on the matrix, and if it helps you to take stock of things?
Are there areas of your life which you want to pour more into? Or scale back on?
Love, Monica x
Photography by Charlotte Bryer-Ash
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