On return from camping the other weekend, my fiancé pointed out that we were both exhausted despite not doing much more than hanging out around a fire, and cooking.  We realized that we spent most of the weekend just moving on to each task that had to get done next, and that point cleared up something that has been nagging at my mind for a while.  I have spent a long while trying to find the time in the day to get to projects like this blog, and frequently found there wasn’t enough time in the day to also take care of all the little daily necessities that crop up.  And I think that is exactly why something like camping appeals to so many people.  Being out in the woods and away from things like heat or a kitchen stove forces you to focus on the here and now, on which task must be accomplished next.  There is no overarching fear of the future, or worry about what will happen later, as there are things that need to get done right now.  This is also the allure of living in the wilderness like those you see on all the Discovery channel shows that are so popular.  Yet for many people, myself included, finding the time to take care of new or bigger projects is just the thing they need to bring about a major change in their life … to start building a life set by their own intention.  But you will never have the time to do so until all our modern lives little necessities are taken care of.

If you follow the Navy Seal Jocko Willink, have read his books or listened to any of his podcasts, you will have heard something about his tenet of “Discipline equals freedom”.  It sounds likes such an oxymoron, but that is also part of its appeal.  It shouldn’t be true, but it is the sweet truth at the center of what I am talking about above.  When you are disciplined, and life’s little everyday tasks are simply completed as they need to be, all the rest of your time can be spent however you like … on all the projects you have been putting off because you don’t think you have the time. 

And you can see this apply in almost every arena, which is why you also hear it from a lot of other people.  My friend Richie talked about it with me, when we were discussing improving my personal finance and some books he has read on the topic, as he pointed out that once your savings and bills were taken care of, then all the remaining money could be spent as you wish.  It took me a few weeks to months to start to see things that way, but as this has become clear, it was the focus I needed to really start to apply some discipline to my finances.  Gary Vee also talks about a similar idea when someone asks him how to start a side hustle, and his first question is how they spend their time from 4 -10 pm.  You may have to work a particular job, even one you can’t stand, because you have to take care of your bills, but what do you do with the eight hours you aren’t working or sleeping?  Once your required tasks are taken care of, you have the freedom to work on anything … what are you doing with that time?