I recently finished reading Happier Hour by Cassie Holmes, PhD, and it couldn’t have come at a more fitting time in my life.
As some of you know, I’m currently not working. This is the first time I’ve been without a job since I was 14. This unexpected pause has given me space to really reflect on what I want in life, what I want to do, and how I truly want to spend my time.
The Preciousness of Time
Holmes’ book focuses on the preciousness of time and the reality that wasted time is something we can never get back. That idea hit me deeply. I’ve often thought about how short life can be — especially after losing my former partner to cancer.
But this book shifted my perspective. It’s not just about how short time is; it’s about how mindful we are with the time we do have.
Every moment wasted is a piece of life we can’t reclaim.
That line resonates with me because it reframes time not as something to fear running out of, but as something to guard carefully and spend with intention.
Balancing the Necessary and the Nourishing
Of course, there are always things we have to do — tasks that feel obligatory or even like a waste of time. But Holmes argues that by being intentional and selective with how we spend our hours, we can better balance the necessary with the nourishing. That’s what ultimately leads to a more meaningful, happier hour.
The Ideal Amount of Free Time
One finding from Holmes’ research really stayed with me: the ideal amount of free time each day is between two and five hours.
Less than two hours, and we feel depleted and unhappy because we lack time for ourselves. More than five, and we may begin to lose purpose and direction.
It’s a fascinating balance — too little time and we lose joy; too much time and we lose meaning. That tension is something I wrote about from a different angle in New Year, New You? What I’m Actually Learning in 2026, where I explored the idea of showing up consistently for the things that matter — health, career, and personal growth — even when the circumstances aren’t perfect.
Redefining My Time Right Now
Being between jobs right now, I keep asking myself: What do I really want next? Do I want to return to full-time work? Could part-time consulting offer more fulfillment? Could a more flexible schedule allow me to contribute to my partner’s and my well-being in new ways?
I don’t know the answer yet, but I do know that reflecting on how I spend and value my time is shaping those decisions.
Time Well Spent
For now, I have plenty to keep me busy. I’m catching up on things that have long been on my list, focusing on self-development, and continuing to explore new professional opportunities.
Most importantly, I’m learning what it truly means to spend time well — and that, in itself, feels like time well spent.
