If you asked me 30 years ago whether I felt wealthy in time, I would have laughed. Back then, I was working 60–90 hours a week in consulting, often late into the night and on weekends. I still remember my very first business trip with McKinsey. I was thrilled to be flying from Hong Kong to Beijing, imagining sightseeing and soaking in the city. Instead, I spent nearly the entire trip inside the hotel, working from 7 a.m. until 2 a.m. on client interviews and decks. I barely saw the city at all. That early experience set the tone: my time wasn’t mine. My schedule belonged to clients, managers, and deadlines.
Over the years, that began to shift. As I grew more senior, people trusted me to solve problems rather than simply log hours. COVID changed the norms even further—suddenly, it was no longer about showing up in an office 9 to 5. Remote work made it acceptable to work the hours that fit best, because no one was watching when you came or went. That flexibility allowed me to take a mid-day break for things that mattered in my life and still get the work done. Eventually, I learned how to block off space on my calendar before it was eaten up by others. I had moved from “time-poor” to “time-rich.”
But here’s the deeper lesson: time wealth isn’t just about having control—it’s about knowing how to spend the time you do control. That’s the part I didn’t fully appreciate until recently.
Why Time Wealth Matters
Time is the one resource we never get back. Unlike money, health, or even relationships, once an hour is gone, it’s gone forever. That’s what makes it the most precious form of wealth.
But time wealth isn’t only measured by hours of freedom—it’s also about quality. What we choose to fill those hours with, and whether those choices reflect what really matters to us. Freedom without clarity can still leave us unfulfilled. If I don’t guard against it, I can easily fill my calendar with obligations, chores, or distractions instead of experiences that truly nourish me.
That’s why I now think of time wealth as having two parts: the ability to control how I spend my time, and the courage to spend it in ways that matter—not just the ways others expect.
My Current Reality
In my article on Five Types of Wealth, I shared a quick “wealth audit,” giving myself an 8 or 9 out of 10 on Time Wealth. I stand by that. Right now, I have the gift of freedom: I’m not working full time, I’m financially stable, and my days are largely mine to design.
What’s going well is obvious: I can choose when to exercise, meditate, or journal. I can spend two unrushed hours at lunch with a friend. I can show up for my kids’ practices or games without
rearranging an impossible work schedule. That’s something I dreamed about back when I was chained to a desk.
But here’s why I don’t give myself a 10. I still wrestle with the “shoulds.” Should I spend more time with my kids? My husband? My parents? Am I selfish for prioritizing myself? Even on days when I’ve meditated, worked out, journaled, and connected with a friend, I’ll come home and feel guilty that I didn’t devote that same time to family. It’s a strange paradox: even with freedom, I sometimes feel trapped by my own expectations.
This struggle reminds me that time wealth isn’t just about abundance—it’s about discernment. Even with all the hours in the world, I can’t do everything. Every choice is a trade-off, and I’m still learning to give myself permission to spend my time in ways that truly matter to me. At the end of the day, time is limited for all of us. That reality, as sobering as it is, makes each moment more precious. Mortality is what gives time its sweetness.
Small Shifts, Big Impact
The good news is that building time wealth doesn’t require massive change. But it does start with self-awareness. Before you try to make changes, do a quick self-audit in two parts:
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Control: How much control do you really have over your time—both at work and outside of work?
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Choice: When you do have control, are you spending your time on what matters most, or are you still weighed down by “shoulds”?
Grounding yourself in these two questions will give you a clearer picture of where you stand today. From there, here are a few practical shifts that can make a big difference:
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Earn your flexibility. At work, flexibility usually comes when you’ve proven you can deliver. Build your reputation as someone who always does what they say they will. Communicate proactively, meet deadlines, and keep your manager in the loop. Over time, this consistency earns you trust—and with trust comes freedom over your schedule.
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Block without apology. If you have a choice, don’t share your entire work calendar with others. It’s easier to block out time when you don’t feel like you have to justify every break. Protect blocks for recharging—whether that’s thinking time, a lunch with a friend, a workout, or even a short walk to clear your head. The key is to treat those blocks like unmovable meetings while still making sure the work gets done—whether that means shifting tasks into the evening or catching up later. Recharged time is productive time.
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Redefine obligations. Notice when you’re saying “yes” out of guilt or habit instead of genuine choice. Practice saying “no” gently but firmly, and remind yourself that every yes to someone else is a no to yourself.
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Avoid the Social Media time suck. All the apps today are designed to waste your time for minutes and hours. Be aware of how much time you spend on them accidentally. We are do it. Be aware and go on some digital diets.
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Ask better questions. Instead of “What should I do today?” ask yourself: If I only had 24 hours to live, how would I spend it? I know it sounds like a morbid thought, but sometimes it takes a thought experiment like this to tease out what’s truly most important.
Time wealth is about both freedom and fulfillment. I’ve come a long way from my days of 90-hour workweeks, but I know I’m still learning how to spend my hours wisely and without guilt. My hope is that as you think about your own life, you’ll give yourself the same gift: the freedom to control your time and the courage to fill it with what truly matters.
I am always in your corner,
Lei