You have enough free time for [insert hobby here]

You have enough free time for [insert hobby here]

Many of us believe that if we only had more free time we would walk more, study more, read more, do more. After a year of traveling, I learned better

I recently read an article on the wonderful site waitbutwhy.com about human life expectancy as measured in events.

The author presents these events in a visual way. He explains, for example, that he (hopefully) has 60 winters left:

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He estimates he will see nine more U.S. presidents, enjoy 60 more ocean swims and attend 20 baseball games.

He goes on to say that he will probably read 300 books in the rest of his life. That number seemed alarmingly low, so I did some quick math myself. I'm 33, so assuming I meet the UK life expectancy for women (83 years), I have 50 more years in total. At a rate of 12 books per year, that's 600 books.

I shared this frightening fact with Peter. He frowned and then said, “You don’t read 12 books a year.” "What?" My voice rose a register. “Of course I do!” He shook his head. “I’m pretty sure you don’t.” “Hmph.” Indignant, I pulled out my Kindle and counted up the books I had read in 2015.

There were 10. Just 10. For someone who was an irresistible bookworm as a child, who has a home full of books and identifies as a book lover, this was a rude awakening.

I was traveling all of 2015. There were no work obligations, no family obligations, no stress, pressure or obligations. And I still haven't managed to get through a book a month. My long-held belief that if I only had more time I would read more, finish my book, and get fit was clearly and profoundly wrong.

I realized that even if I work full-time, I have all the time I need to do the things I'm interested in. It's just that, like most people, I seem to be more passionate about ranting on my laptop.

Our trip around the world taught me a lot, not just about travel, but about life in general - especially that the frugal life is not to be feared and that it's easy to forget your inherent privileges. His latest lesson is that I don't need more free time to achieve my goals and pursue ambitions; I already have the time I need. I just have to use it wisely.

600 books and counting.

Our new book, Don’t Offer Papaya: 101 Tips for Your First Time Around the World, is available in paperback and on Kindle starting at $3.99.

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