Time management is a common focus here (Three Steps to Better Time Management) and on other productivity blogs, but something that is not often discussed is just what good is all this time that we are managing? There are several reasons to be concerned about your use of time, and there are times when you should feel free to just “be”. Here are five things for you to think about, as an exercise in investing your time:

1. Time allows you to rest and recover - We all need downtime for recuperating from stress. Pushing yourself and overcoming challenges are excellent ways to invest time, resting is the best way to use some of the time you gain from your investment.
2. Time allows you to increase your focus - Invest the time that you gain to think about bigger things, your 3-5 year goals, your Someday/Maybe list. What do you want to have time for doing later?
3. Time allows you to gather the facts - Gaining a true understanding of your situation takes time. Investing time in this way creates a larger picture for you to evaluate.
4. Time allows you to see how things turn out - Once you set a plan in motion there are frequently some variables beyond your control, and waiting is all that you can do. Invest this downtime to prepare for the next stage of your project.
5. Time allows you to create balance in your life - All work and no play leads to a heart attack. Invest the time that you gain to be with your family and friends. Connecting with your circle is energizing and can be a link to discoveries you may not have expected.

How do you invest your time, and what do you do with the time that you gain?