My mother-in-law made time stop?

Time Got Weird (In The Best Possible Way)

Hey wonderful human, it's Ren here...

Is it just me, or did 2024 feel like it lasted about 3 minutes and also somehow 7 years at the same time?

Like I blinked once and it was New Year’s day 2024, then blinked again and a year had past and I found myself scratching my head…

Like where did that go? 

Then I reflect back and realise how many amazing things happened in that 365 day period and it feels like half a lifetime ago. 

I guess that’s the duality of time, right? 

Speaking of time flying by, we just spent the most amazing 10 days with my mother-in-law over Christmas. I know what you're thinking - "10 whole days with your MIL?" But honestly, I hit the jackpot in that department!

We get along so well!

We were so busy making memories, sharing stories, and planning our upcoming move to New Zealand that those 10 days felt more like 10 minutes.

One minute we're hugging her as she arrived. The next thing I know we're hugging goodbye and I'm trying not to ugly cry (spoiler alert: I totally did 😭).

I was thinking about this the other day while hubby and I were planning our year ahead. We were mapping out timelines when he said something that made me laugh:

"Babe, you're trying to squeeze about 47 hours of stuff into each day again..."

He knows me too well! 😅

This got me thinking about how we perceive and use time, especially as we're stepping into 2025. 

I've been absolutely devouring this fascinating book called "Be Your Future Self Now" by Benjamin Hardy, and OH. MY. GOODNESS.

I know this is a bold claim, but it completely changed how I think about time!

Can we ‘make’ time? 

This chat got me thinking…

How Do We Make Every Moment Count in 2025?

Here's the wild part - the ancient Greeks had it figured out way before any of us. 

They knew there were actually two different types of time (who knew, right?):

💡 Understanding Time's Two Faces

There's chronos time - you know, the tick-tock of the clock, the kind that has me scheduling every minute of my day (and yes, occasionally trying to squeeze those 47 hours in 😂).

This is where that fancy word ‘chronological’ comes from. 

Like this morning - I had my day all planned out:

• 8:00 AM: Customer service

• 9:30 AM: Call with a supplier

• 11:00 AM: Virtual meeting with of my mentors

• 2:00 PM: Design a new planner for my amazing customers

But then...

And then there's kairos time:

• Those magical moments when time just... disappears
  

• When you're so absorbed in something meaningful
  

• Like when I'm deep into planning our dream home layout or diving into the formula of another personal budgeting template
  

• And suddenly it's dark outside and hubby's asking if I remembered to eat lunch (oops!)

You know those days where everything feels like it's running on fast-forward? Like when you're rushing to get work done, pick up groceries, make it to appointments on time, and somehow the day has vanished before you've even had a chance to breathe?

🔍 The Einstein Effect

Einstein actually had something to say about this (turns out he wasn't just good at crazy hair and physics!). 

He showed that time isn't fixed - it stretches and shrinks based on how we experience it.

Mind. Blown. 🤯

Take our home-building plans, for instance. Sometimes it feels like 2027 (our target completion date) is AGES away. But then I think about how fast the last two years went by, and suddenly it feels like we need to start picking out doorknobs tomorrow! 😅

I’m reminded of Parkinson’s Law: Work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion. 

Or in other words, if you give yourself a year to lose 10lbs, it will take a year. If you give yourself a month, you’ll push hard to make it happen in that time. 

✅ Making Both Types of Time Work For You

The way we experience time can completely transform how we approach our days. Here's what I've learned (often the hard way!):

1. Time is Perceived, Not Absolute:

   • Those 10 days with my mother-in-law flew by because we were present
     

   • Yet a 30-minute wait at the doctor's can feel like an eternity
     

   • It's all about how engaged we are in the moment
     

2. Focus on Quality Over Quantity:
   
   

   • Instead of trying to do everything, focus on what truly matters
     

   • Like choosing to have a proper lunch with hubby instead of eating at my desk
     

   • Or putting down my phone to really listen when someone's talking
     

3. Balancing Structure and Flow:
   
   

   • Yes, we need schedules (I'm looking at you, endless house planning meetings!)
     

   • But leave room for spontaneous moments too
     

   • Some of our best home design ideas came from random conversations over coffee

💫 Exciting News for 2025!

That's exactly why I've been working on something special...

You know those days when you feel like you're constantly playing catch-up? 

When you've got a million things to do but time keeps slipping through your fingers?

I've been there (like, yesterday 😅). That's why I created something that helps you master both types of time in one place.

My new Undated Daily & Monthly Planner is designed to help you:

• Keep track of all your important tasks (without feeling overwhelmed)
  

• Make space for those magical moments that matter most
  

• Actually achieve your goals (instead of just writing them down and forgetting about them)
  

• And so much more!

And because you're part of my amazing email family, I've got something special for you...

For the next 48 hours, you can grab the planner on Amazon with a special discount! Just use code QXZTMEPM at checkout.

^{_{➡️ Click here to check it out on Amazon}}

💭 Final Thoughts

As we step into 2025, I'm learning that time is like the ocean - sometimes calm and measured, sometimes rushing and unpredictable. 

The key isn't to fight against it, but to learn how to swim with its different rhythms.

Whether you're planning something huge like an international move (🙋‍♀️), or just trying to make it through your daily to-do list without losing your mind, remember that every moment - chronos or kairos - is taking you somewhere.

Speaking of which, I better hit send on this as hubby is taking me out to eat (yay!)

To your success in 2025,

Ren

P..S. Remember, the discount code (QXZTMEPM) is only valid for 48 hours. Don't let chronos time run out on this one!

Click here to check out the range and grab yours!