The Jar of Rocks That Changed How I See My Time (and Might Change Yours Too)
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🫙 The Jar of Rocks That Changed How I See My Time (and Might Change Yours Too)
Your life can be full and still feel empty - if you’re filling it with the wrong things.
What’s Inside:
A true story over coffee that hit me like a wake-up call
The quiet way we drift from what matters
4 steps to realign your time with your values
A powerful metaphor to help you reset your priorities this week
☕ The Coffee Catch-Up That Hit Home
A friend recently said something over coffee that stopped me mid-sip:
“I don’t remember the last time I did something just because it made me happy.”
She wasn’t talking about a vacation. Or a spa day.
She meant the little things. A book. A slow walk. A dance break in the kitchen.
And it hit both of us in that moment - how easy it is to fill our lives with everything but the things that make us feel alive.
We’re productive. We’re efficient.
But are we fulfilled?
It reminded me of a story I heard years ago.
One that still echoes in the way I plan my week, my time, and honestly… my life.
Let me share it with you.
🫙 The Professor and the Jar of Life
A philosophy professor walks into a classroom carrying a large glass jar.
First, he fills it with big stones.
Then, he adds pebbles, which fall into the spaces.
Next, he pours in sand.
Finally, he adds water, and now it’s full.
He turns to the class and says:
“This jar is your life.
The big rocks are what matter most: your health, your family, your dreams.
The pebbles are your job, your home, your to-dos.
The sand? That’s the small stuff.
And the water? That’s the joy - the spontaneous, beautiful moments in between.”
The point?
If you fill your jar with sand and pebbles first… there’s no room left for the rocks.
The Real Problem
It’s not that we’re bad at time management.
It’s that we’re accidentally prioritizing everything but the things that light us up.
We say yes to the urgent.
We chase the next checkbox.
We squeeze in joy - if there’s time.
And suddenly the week is over, and we wonder why it felt so hollow.
Action Plan: How to Fill Your Jar Intentionally
1. Identify Your Rocks
What truly matters to you?
What gives your life meaning, energy, or joy - even if no one’s watching?
Write down your top 3. These are non-negotiable.
2. Audit the Sand
Scroll time, endless email threads, tasks you didn’t need to say yes to.
Ask: “If I removed this… would it really matter?”
3. Schedule the Rocks First
Whether it’s a phone-free dinner, a passion project, or a morning walk, put it in your calendar before you fill in the rest.
4. Leave Room for Water
Don’t overschedule. Leave a little white space.
Because sometimes, life’s best moments aren’t planned. They’re felt.
Linked And Lift Picks
Book: Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman – a refreshing take on time, urgency, and what really matters
Podcast: The Lazy Genius Podcast – episodes on prioritizing without the pressure
Quote: “You can do anything, but not everything.” – Greg McKeown
💥The Support to Protect What Matters Most
The jar of rocks is one of the clearest reminders I’ve found of what shifts when you stop letting the urgent take over - and start protecting what matters most.
Rukayat’s transformational story that I shared last week is a real-world example of what that looks like in action.
Many of you saw yourselves in her story going from invisible to intentional.
From “should I say this?” to “this needs to be said.”
I received a wave of thoughtful applications. Thank you for trusting me.
Her story struck a chord.
Here’s what some of you shared:
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🧶 It’s not about louder. It’s about truer.
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Thank you for being a part of our Linked And Lift community!
See you next week!
Founder, Linked And Lift