The hidden cost of wasting time and how it hurts productivity

Time is money, yet so much of it gets wasted every day. Whether it's long meetings, endless emails, or distractions that pull you away from important work, the cost of lost time adds up quickly. Many people think of wasted time as just a minor inconvenience.

Still, it has real consequences for productivity, focus, and even business success. Benjamin Franklin famously said, "Lost time is never found again." It’s a simple but powerful reminder that once time is gone, it’s gone for good—so it’s important to use it wisely.

What is the cost of wasting time?

Wasting time isn’t just about losing a few hours. It makes work less productive, delays important decisions, and creates stress. If too much time goes into unimportant tasks, the real work suffers. Businesses lose money, professionals miss chances, and teams get stuck instead of moving forward. Wasting time affects more than just your to-do list.

It leads to missed deadlines, reduced work quality, and increased frustration. When distractions take over, projects take longer than they should, clients have to wait, and important goals keep getting pushed back. Over time, this creates a cycle where work feels overwhelming, even though not much is actually getting done.

Some industries waste more time than others

Some industries are more affected by wasted time than others. Studies show that professional services, education, tech and software, non-profits, and finance often struggle with inefficient meetings, excessive emails, and outdated processes that slow down productivity.

In fast-moving industries, lost time can mean lost revenue and missed opportunities. A famous metaphor for wasted time is "pouring water into sand." Just like water disappears without making an impact, time spent on unimportant tasks is lost without contributing to real progress.

Productivity at work

Productivity at work means using time effectively to achieve meaningful results. It's not about being busy but about focusing on what truly matters. The most productive people know where their time goes and make sure it aligns with their priorities. At its core, productivity is about getting important things done efficiently. It's not just about doing more—it's about doing what matters most in the least amount of time.

Productivity is often measured by comparing output to input. A simple way to calculate it is by dividing total work completed by the time spent on it. For businesses, this might mean measuring revenue per employee or tasks completed within a given period.

Where you spend your time indicates priorities

Time is the clearest reflection of priorities. If most of the day is spent in meetings, then meetings become the main focus—whether they should be or not. Reviewing where time goes can reveal whether it's being used wisely or if changes need to be made to focus on what truly matters.

A time audit every now and then can help identify patterns and inefficiencies. Tracking how time is spent—even briefly—can highlight opportunities to reallocate focus to more impactful work. This can also help spot unnecessary or redundant meetings that could be replaced with more effective alternatives.

It's also valuable to evaluate whether something needs to be synchronous (a meeting) or if it could be handled asynchronously. Some discussions benefit from real-time collaboration, but many updates, decisions, and feedback loops can be handled via email, shared documents, or recorded messages—freeing up time for deep work and higher-priority tasks.

By regularly assessing how time is used and making intentional choices between meetings and async work, it's possible to regain control over the schedule and ensure that time aligns with what truly matters.

Make better use of your time with Doodle

Time management isn't just about eliminating distractions, it's also about making everyday tasks easier. Scheduling meetings often takes up more time than it should, with endless email chains, and it's not easy to find a time that works. Imagine you need to schedule a meeting with five clients in different time zones—you'd spend hours juggling availability, sending emails and waiting for replies. 

With a scheduling tool like Doodle, you can create a group poll, let the participants choose from the available times and finish the meeting in minutes. No fuss, no wasted time - just a quick and efficient way to schedule. Try Doodle and take back control of your time today.