Usage of 86,400 seconds

mukeshch
Jun 3
2 min read

Master the art of time management: spend each of your 86,400 seconds wisely.

Each day, life gifts us a fortune—86,400 seconds. Everyone receives the same amount, no more, no less. Yet some build empires, while others struggle to keep up. What makes the difference?

With over 30 years of experience in corporate and project management and my recent deep dive into life coaching, I’ve come to understand a profound truth:

“It’s not about time management. It’s about self-management within the time we have.”

⏳ The Time Currency Analogy

Imagine waking up every morning with ₹86,400 in your bank account. The only condition: you must spend it all by midnight. Whatever remains is wiped away—no savings allowed.

Would you waste it?

Yet, every day, we’re gifted 86,400 seconds—and we let so many slip through our fingers.

🧠 Where Do Our Seconds Go?

Here’s a snapshot of how most people unknowingly “spend” their daily time currency:

Sleeping – 28,800 seconds (8 hours)
Working – 28,800 seconds (8 hours)
Eating & hygiene – 7,200 seconds (2 hours)
Social media & screen time – 7,200–10,800 seconds (2–3 hours)
Commuting – 3,600 seconds (1 hour)
Mindless distractions & procrastination – 3,600+ seconds (1 hour or more)
Quality family time / self-care / learning – Sadly, often just a few hundred seconds

🌱 From Life Coaching: Shift from “Busy” to “Purposeful”

In my coaching sessions, I ask one powerful question:

“If today was your last set of 86,400 seconds, would you spend them the same way?”

Here are five Life-Coach-Approved Time Shifts:

Start with Silence – Use the first 600 seconds (10 min) for gratitude, mindfulness, or reflection.
Block Meaningful Time – Reserve 3,600 seconds (1 hour) for something that truly matters—learning, health, relationships.
Say “No” to Time Thieves – Cut down on aimless scrolling. That’s 1,800–3,600 seconds saved.
Review Daily – Before you sleep, invest 300 seconds (5 min) to reflect: What did I create today?
Coach Yourself – Ask: “What would the best version of me do with these seconds?”