How much time do you spend on social media (including youtube and HN)? How much time do you spend watching tv? How much time do you spend watching sports? I have shifted my attention to what is most important, doing these spiritual practice things first, and letting those other activities slot in around the time. Our lives are basically determined by what we put our attention on, so why not give the prime real estate to what is most important? We are all going to die. It's best to confront that reality each day and make peace with it in a ritualistic way that also brings meaning to each day.
I didn't start doing all of that overnight, by the way. I worked with my spiritual father on a pathway that started very simply, and this is my current level of participation, but I am sure it will continue to grow and change over time.
Not that much. I especially hate youtube and will read over watch a video any time of the day, I do not have instagram, I do not own cable tv, I do not watch sports.
But to give more insight into what motivates me in life, I have been blessed with the love of nature and animals especially, own pets, taking care of which is a daily time and money sink, but also without fail gets me outside each day of the year and in a good mood and shape, and allows me some peaceful moments where I do not think about anything else than the present moment and some kind of nature "communion" of sorts, around pets and nature.
And I sincerely think it is a blessing, as I think I have a rather simple and happy life, and haven't been distraught durably for years. I feel for all the stressed people out there that do not have such an easy way to relax.
I agree that communion with nature is really important. Noticing beauty in nature is especially helpful. I am happy you are finding the joy in simplicity. I'm still cultivating that virtue.
I didn't address the time component. The morning prayers/scriptures takes about 20-30 minutes. Lunch time Psalms is 5-10 minutes at most. Family prayers after dinner are about 10-15 minutes. Bible reading after that is about 15-25 minutes, depending on how much we discuss what we read. Evening prayers on my own are another 15-20 minutes daily.
Vespers on Saturday night is about an hour (and my wife and I go to dinner afterwards usually, as our weekly date). Church on Sunday is about two hours, and we usually spend time afterwards drinking coffee and chatting for another 30-60 minutes with other members of our parish, but not always.
I didn't start doing all of that overnight, by the way. I worked with my spiritual father on a pathway that started very simply, and this is my current level of participation, but I am sure it will continue to grow and change over time.