I often listen to the podcast ‘How to Do Everything’ - two guys who find answers to ridiculous questions from their callers. In one episode, a woman called in to ask: “What kind of exercise can I do while driving home from the office?”
True to form, the guys called Arnold Schwarzenegger to help them come up with an exercise routine. The seven-time Mr. Olympia Champion listened to their request, then had a lot to say, most of which cannot be shared in polite company.
The gist was this:
Don’t eat while you shit.
Don’t sleep while you work.
Don’t exercise while you drive. Do the thing you are supposed to do.
In the middle of his rant, he said something very interesting:
Every one gets 24 hours.
And these 24 hours are made up negotiable and non-negotiable hours.
Non-negotiable hours are for activities you should keep sacred.
Sleep
Time with loved ones
Work
Life admin (Brushing your teeth, filing taxes, checking on the ‘knock-knock’ sound from behind the cupboard, etc.)
The rest is negotiable.
This is the time you have left to do things, just because you want to. You can worship your phone and add 5 more cents to the billions made by tech bros. Or, and this is just a thought, you can do something that will make you wiser, happier, healthier, or richer.
Hang with your friends.
Exercise.
Learn.
Meditate.
Play with your dog.
What you do in that time is up to you, and it will mean the difference between a good life and a life filled with regret.
Arnold even did the math: 7hrs sleep + 8hrs work + 2hr commute + 2hr life admin.(Total 19hrs)
This left their caller with 5 hours to exercise. His parting words were this: “Do the math. Choose wisely.”
And when The Terminator tells you to do something, you kind of have to.
How many non-negotiable hours do you get in your 24 hours?
I have about 6.5 hours to play with.
