The Time We Spend: A Reality Check on Life’s Clock

Time is the one currency we can’t earn back, yet we often spend it like we have an unlimited supply. Ever feel like the years are slipping through your fingers faster than your phone when you drop it on your face in bed? Sahil Bloom analyzed data from the American Time Use Survey and Our World in Data in his blog, breaking down exactly who we spend our lives with and the results might just make you rethink your priorities. Buckle up; this is a wake-up call wrapped in a blog post.

Parents: Your OG Influencers

Time with our parents peaks in childhood and maxes out around age 16 (hello, driver’s license and newfound freedom). After 20, that time drops off a cliff faster than a bad Wi-Fi connection.

Time Spent with Parents. Source: America Time Use Survey, Our World in Data

Key Takeaways:

• The most time you ever spend with your parents is during your formative years and they literally help shape who you are.

• They were figuring out parenting as they went. No handbook, no cheat codes… just learning alongside you. Maybe cut them some slack?

• One day, you’ll wish you had more time with them. Don’t wait for that day to realize it.

Seize the Moment Before It’s Too Late: Call your parents this week. No agenda, no reason… just to chat. Bonus points if you ask them something about their own childhood.

Friends: From Friday Night Crew to ‘Let’s Plan Something Soon’

Friend time peaks at 18 (or 16 if you were the lucky one with the car and a late curfew). After that, it drops steadily, and before you know it, your “squad goals” turn into “let’s catch up when things slow down.”

Time Spent with Friends. Source: American Time Use Survey, Our World in Data

Key Takeaways:

• Youth is about a quantity of friends. Adulthood is about quality.

• Time is a non-renewable resource. Invest time in healthy, meaningful friendships that last.

Take the Lead: Think about 2-3 friends who have truly been there for you. Call, text, or send a meme that says, “You matter to me.” (Meme = modern love language.)

Partner: Your Forever +1

The chart on partner time was a game-changer for me. Seeing how much time you actually spend with your partner over a lifetime made one thing crystal clear: this is the most important decision you’ll ever make.

Time Spent with Partner. Source: American Time Use Survey, Our World in Data

Key Takeaways:

• You spend more time with your partner than anyone else. Choose wisely.

• Life isn’t just about big, glamorous moments… it’s about who you love doing nothing with.

• If you’re raising kids, be with someone you’d actually want to co-parent with. If not, they’re not the one. Period.

Be Intentional: Every day this week, tell your partner one thing you appreciate about them. Then do it again next week. Gratitude is the gift that keeps on giving.

Children: The Blink-and-You-Miss-It Years

Time with your kids peaks in your 30s, then declines at a speed that would make even a roller coaster jealous. Those “magic years” when you are their entire world? They won’t last. And if you co-parent, your time with them is even more limited, making every moment even more precious.

Time Spent with Children. Source: American Time Use Survey, Our World in Data

Key Takeaways:

• Every parent says, “It goes by so fast.” Listen to them. They’re not wrong. Seriously.

• Your relationship with your child as an adult is built on how you treat them as kids. Do you want them to come home for holidays? Then make it count.

• When they move out, the time you spend together will be based on how they feel about coming home.

Prioritize What Matters: If you have kids, spend 15 minutes a day this week fully present with them. No phones. No distractions. Ask them questions, play, or just listen. One day, they’ll remember that more than anything.

The TL;DR of Time

• Family time is limited. Cherish it.

• Friend time is rare. Prioritize the real ones.

• Partner time is significant. Never settle.

• Children time is precious. Be present.

At the end of the day, time is the one thing we can’t earn more of. So, spend it like it’s the most valuable thing you have… because it is.

Now go call your mom.

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April Ott, 40(ish), is a creative force who swapped paintbrushes for pixels and now works her magic in digital marketing. A mom of two (5 and 15) and a seasoned veteran of love’s plot twists: married at 22, got divorced, spent a decade in a relationship (possibly the longest situationship known to mankind), and then opened the door to finding her true soulmate — literally, in an open relationship. Now, she’s completely obsessed with her wife (love at first sight, no refunds, no exchanges) and thriving in a life built on saying YES more, embracing adventure, and proving that love, like good design, is all about bold choices.