Sahil Bloom Profile picture
Nov 12, 2022 13 tweets 5 min read Read on X
I recently came across data on who we spend our time with over the course of our lives.

The insights are simultaneously inspiring and depressing.

Here are 6 graphs everyone needs to see:
Time Spent With Parents & Siblings

Peaks in childhood and declines after age 20.

Key Takeaways:
• Time with family is limited.
• Time with parents declines sharply after age 20.
• You may only see your loved ones a few more times.

Prioritize and cherish every moment. Image
Time Spent With Friends

Peaks at age 18 and declines sharply to a low baseline.

Key Takeaways:
• Embrace friendship breadth, but focus on depth.
• Cherish those who are with you through good times and bad.

Invest your energy in the healthy, meaningful friendships that last. Image
Time Spent With Partner

Trends upwards until death.

Key Takeaways:
• Who you choose as a partner is the most important decision you'll ever make.
• Find someone you genuinely enjoy spending time with.

Never settle for less than love. Image
Time Spent With Children

Peaks in your 30s and declines sharply thereafter.

Key Lessons:
• Time with your children is short—the "Magic Years" will fly by if you let them.
• Be present in every moment.

Slow down and embrace the sweetness that children bring to your life. Image
Time Spent With Coworkers

Steady during the prime working years from age 20-60.

Key Lessons:
• You'll spend a lot of time at work.
• Who you choose to work with is one of the most important decisions you'll make.

Find work—and coworkers—that create energy in your life. Image
Time Spent Alone

Steadily increases throughout your life.

Key Lessons:
• Learn to embrace solitude.
• Flex your boredom muscle regularly.

Find happiness and joy in the time you have to yourself—there will be a whole lot of it as you get older. Image
In summary:

(1) Family time is limited—cherish it.

(2) Friend time is limited—prioritize real ones.

(3) Partner time is significant—never settle.

(4) Children time is precious—be present.

(5) Coworker time is significant—find energy.

(6) Alone time is highest—love yourself. Image
Remember: Time is our most precious asset.

Follow me @SahilBloom for more writing on time, life, and growth.

If you're interested in more, subscribe to my newsletter, where I'll share the PDF I made with these graphs and deeper insights on the lessons. sahilbloom.com/newsletter
As noted on the images, the data source is The American Time Use Survey and Our World in Data.

I expect the data may vary slightly across different regions and cultures, but the broad takeaways are global in nature.

Be present today. Our time is limited.
I’ve been writing consistently on Twitter since May 2020, and this is the first time I’ve had a piece of content “go viral” without drawing any material negativity in my mentions or DMs.

Speaks to the universality of the sentiment on the precious nature of time.
This week’s newsletter will include:

• Full PDF presentation of these graphs
• Deeper thoughts on the lessons and insights
• Ideas on “bending the curve” in each category

If you enjoyed this thread, join 131,000+ others who will get the piece! sahilbloom.com/newsletter
As promised, the full newsletter piece hit inboxes today. Please read, discuss, and share.

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More from @SahilBloom

Aug 25
I think the whole “alcohol is poison” thing is too black and white.

Social connection is one of the most important factors for your physical health.

If having a beer with your friends promotes that connection, good for you.

If it doesn’t, also good for you.

The point: Do you.
I’ve personally reduced my alcohol consumption about 90-95%, but if I’m with a new or old friend and they want to share a drink of something special, I’m in.
Further, as a society, I think that we should worry less about the couple of beers we drink per month and more about the fact that we stare at phone screens all day, argue on social media with strangers, consume too much sugar, and are far more sedentary than our ancestors.
Read 4 tweets
Jul 26
John Wooden was a treasure trove of wisdom.

My favorite piece of Wooden wisdom: 9 promises for a life well-lived.

These 9 promises create the foundation for happiness and success: Image
1. I promise to talk health, happiness, and prosperity as often as possible.

Your thoughts and language shape your reality. Choose them wisely.
2. I promise to make all my friends know there is something in them that is special and that I value.

It's a shame that we wait until a person's funeral to say all of the nice things we thought about them.

When you think something nice about someone, tell them.
Read 12 tweets
Jul 21
People obsess over the Hamptons but ignore the fact that this is 90 minutes outside NYC in Northwest Connecticut.
Image
Image
Please don’t community note me, the realtor swore this was legit.
Added bonus: You don’t have to sit in 8 hours of traffic on a single lane road to get there.
Read 4 tweets
Jun 17
The silent productivity killer you've never heard of...

Attention Residue (and 4 strategies to fight back): Image
The concept of "attention residue" was identified by Dr. Sophie Leroy in 2009.

The idea is simple:

There is a cognitive cost to shifting your attention from one task to another. When our attention is shifted, a "residue" remains and impairs our performance on the new task.
It's relatively easy to find examples of this effect in your own life:

You get on a call but are still thinking about the prior call.

An email pops up during meeting and derails your focus.

You check your phone during a lecture and can't refocus afterwards.
Read 11 tweets
Jun 10
In 1958, a 20-year-old Hunter S. Thompson wrote a letter to a friend with his advice on finding his life purpose.

It is a work of art.

5 brilliant lessons on finding purpose (everyone should read this): Image
Lesson 1: Avoid the Perils of Advice

Using someone else's map of reality to navigate your terrain is risky.

My advice (ironic, I know): When giving or receiving advice, focus on the general, not the specific.

Take the general, wrestle with it, and make it specific to you. Image
Lesson 2: Seek Perspective-Altering Experiences

The concept of neuroplasticity says that experiences can actually change the structure and function of your brain.

Seek out the perspective-altering experiences.

Every single one contributes to your growth and change. Image
Read 9 tweets
May 24
This is the best thing you will read all week...

A beautiful true story, written by a woman named Pam Kearney, on the impact of even the most tiny, inconsequential actions... Image
Teddy Roosevelt once said, "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

Every single day, you will face moments when you'll feel completely helpless—unable to move or create the necessary momentum to improve the situation.

In these moments, you have a decision to make:
A. You can freeze, paralyzed by the imperfection of your options...

OR

B. You can act. You can do what you can, with what you have, where you are. You can make the coffee.

It is the most important decision of your life.
Read 10 tweets

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