What’s your time really worth? (and why it matters)

Back in school, maths was my favourite subject. I loved the logic, the neatness of numbers and the satisfaction of solving a tricky problem. I’d happily spend hours tapping away on my calculator, scribbling equations, and - let’s be honest - occasionally daydreaming about my maths teacher (🙈😆).

But here’s the thing: maths isn’t just for school. Numbers tell us powerful stories, especially when it comes to how we use our most precious resource: time.

And I want to ask you something that might change how you look at your day-to-day decisions:

Have you ever calculated the value of your time?

The simple maths that’s secretly life-changing

In one of his blog posts, James Clear walks readers through a simple calculation: divide your annual income by the number of hours you work per year.

Let’s say you earn £50,000 a year and work around 2,500 hours annually. That puts your hourly rate at around £20 per hour.

At first glance, this might seem purely logical - just another neat equation. But once you see this number, it changes how you approach everything.

Because now, instead of asking “Can I afford this?” you start asking:

Is this worth an hour of my time?

It becomes a new lens through which to view decisions - about your business, your to-do list, even your household chores.

But… it’s not that simple, is it?

Now, before you start mentally tallying every coffee break and dog walk against your hourly rate, let’s add a splash of nuance. Life isn’t just about productivity, and not every hour is created equal.

For solopreneurs, especially, the boundaries between “billable” and “personal” time can be blurry. Just because you could work doesn’t mean you should.

Yes, you could spend an hour creating your own social media graphics to save £40. But would that hour be better spent:

- Deepening client relationships?

- Resting so you’re sharper tomorrow?

- Going to the park with your kids?

- Reading that book you've been meaning to finish?

The true value of time isn’t just monetary - it’s emotional, energetic and deeply personal.

Time vs money - the hidden trade-offs

A growing body of research shows that people who spend money on time-saving services report higher life satisfaction than those who spend money on material goods. This effect holds true across different income levels, suggesting that the benefits of time-saving purchases are not limited to the wealthy.

And I see this in my own life all the time.

- I happily pay for a healthy meal prep service rather than spend hours cooking from scratch.

- I have a dog walker take Evie out once a week to give me back an hour of focus time.

- When my kids were younger, I hired a cleaner - not because I couldn’t clean, but because I wanted to make more memories on the weekends, not deal with the dust and laundry piles.

None of these decisions would “pass” a strict financial return-on-investment test. But they pass the life ROI test with flying colours.

Because time - your time - is your ultimate currency.

The time bank you didn’t know you had

There’s a quote I often come back to:

“Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off whatever you failed to use. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account, and each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours.” – Marc Levy

We all get the same 86,400 seconds a day.

Some people use theirs to build an empire. Others use it to build Lego castles with their kids. Some use it scrolling. Some use it sleeping. The point is: you get to choose.

And if you don’t decide how to spend your time, someone else will.

So, how are you spending yours?

If you’ve ever:

- Felt like you’re constantly juggling and still dropping balls

- Wondered if there’s a smarter way to run your business

- Struggled to say no because “it won’t take long”

- Stayed up late finishing things you “should” have delegated…

Then you’re not alone. And you’re not failing. You’re just overdue for a time reset Because reclaiming your time is about more than being efficient - it’s about being aligned. It’s about building a business (and a life) that fits around your priorities, not the other way around.

Ready to reclaim your time?

If this resonates, my 1-to-1 mentoring service might be exactly what you need.

Together, we’ll:

* Uncover where your time is actually going  

* Align your schedule with your goals and values  

* Create systems that give you space, not stress  

* Design your business to support your life, not run it

👉 Click here to learn more and join the waitlist

You deserve to spend your 86,400 seconds with intention. Let’s make sure you’re investing them wisely.