Is The “Gift Of Time” A Gift That Keeps On Giving? New Study

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Recent studies link the gift of time to high emotional intelligence.
Giving time to others surely makes us happier and enhances our relationship satisfaction.

Understanding The Gift Of Time

The “gift of time”—as stated colloquially and in philosophy, religious thoughts, and literature—involves the act of spending time with others to enhance communication, engagement, and bonhomie.

In recent years, studies by reputed institutes (such as the research firm Gallup and the University of Zurich) have affirmed that time is the most precious resource we all have and one that we can give freely.

Even, iconic tech entrepreneur and founder of Apple, Steve Jobs famously said: “My favorite things in life don’t cost any money. It’s really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.”

Benefits Of The Gift Of Time

In our personal lives, it has been widely advised in cultures across the world, that we should spend quality time with our family and friends. This helps you get more out of your relationships in terms of happiness, relationship contentment, and sound mental health.

Particularly, while recovering from mental health conditions like depression, anxiety and mood disorders, self-harming tendencies, etc.—spending time with loved ones has great benefits.

On the professional front, giving your time to others is associated with high emotional intelligence and time management skills. Sometimes, it is considered a marker of empathetic leadership that helps enhance productivity amongst and reduce conflict with fellow workers.

How To Be Happier And “give Time” To Others

Giving and receiving time, the most precious resource at our disposal, involves great positivity and feelings of great well-being. However, we are also aware that our time is limited and, so, we must strive to use it wisely and purposefully.

Most of the time, we find ourselves lost in our busy schedules and, as much as we want, we can’t take out time to spend it with someone the way we want to.

So, in order to practice the gift of time with more ease, consider the following tips:

Invite someone over for coffee or a meal
Go for a surprise visit and bring a small gift or food to share
Go for a stroll with the person you want to spend time with
Connect over the phone or the Internet and check on people
Have a stable work-life balance to spend time with your family and friends
Arrange for short outings or holidays to spend time with loved ones

Managing your own daily routine and giving time to others can be a bit difficult. The effort may include fringing certain boundaries, both your own and that of others.

Respect your own personal boundaries and that of others when it comes to spending quality time. Remember that giving time to yourself matters as much as giving time to others!