6 graphs that may change how you live your life
Continuing to provide context and perspective
Welcome to this week’s issue — and an extra welcome if you’ve just joined us this week. I’m glad you're here.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been focused on perspective. Today I’d like to share six graphs that just might change how you live your life from this day forward.
When I first stumbled upon them, they stopped me in my tracks. For real. People who know me may know that I like a good graph 📈. Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words. In this case, the author, Steven Bartlett, reduces the human experience to a series of six graphs, based on data from the American Time Use Survey (US BLS). That may sound crazy but it’s profoundly clarifying.
Steven Bartlett originally shared these in a post on Instagram:
Let’s dig in, shall we?
1. Friendship
Community is important and it evolves as we age. Friends may come and go but treasure those few that are important to you and work hard to prioritize time with them.
Earlier this year, I wrote about the power of the eight-minute phone call and have heard positive responses from some of you that have tried it. I now connect with my best friend most weeks.
How do you prioritize spending time with your friends?
2. Family
This graph hit me hard. Empirically it’s true — and probably the most impactful of the bunch for me. The clear takeaway: prioritize time with your parents and family before it’s too late.
How do you prioritize spending time with your parents and family?
3. Coworkers
Life is too short to spend a good chunk of it with people you don’t like. In those seasons of life where I’ve had a close friend at work, it has made it so much more enjoyable. A moment of reflection:
4. Children
This is one I think about a lot.
Often the child-raising years coincide with the most intense portion of one’s career and (not yet having any children of my own) I can appreciate the seemingly continuous negotiating of priorities and the time tension between work life and home life.
Looking back, I am so grateful for the choices my parents made. Both of them worked hard but also found ways to prioritize time together. As just one example, I remember my dad sometimes coming home early and taking me fishing and then working again in the evening after dinner when I was doing homework.
Choose what’s right for you and be graceful.
5. Partner
Choose wisely. Celebrate every day. Be intentional about growing together — so you don’t grow apart.
6. You
If you’re an introvert, this chart may be comforting. Alternatively, if you’re an extrovert, it may evoke some discomfort. Either way, learn to love yourself and be able to depend on yourself.
Also: self-awareness. What do you enjoy doing? What brings you joy? What are you passionate about? Start exploring these questions now so you have a full life later.
Lessons
Steven Bartlett summarizes these six graphs this way:
His final point:
Spend more time with those that you love the most, because one of these days you’ll say “I wish I had” or “I’m so glad I did.”
—Steven Bartlett (@Steven), Instagram
I want to be able to say I’m so glad I did. How about you?
I hope you found this week’s issue compelling and engaging. If you did, please reply or comment below and let me know how it resonated with you.
Thank you for reading.
Bryce
So very important Bryce. Thanks so much.
All the graphs make so much sense. It's really impactful seeing the messages visually.