In The Five Types of Wealth, Sahil Bloom introduces Time Wealth as one of the most overlooked yet essential forms of wealth. Unlike financial wealth, which can be lost and regained, time is the only resource that, once spent, is gone forever.
Yet, so many people treat time as if they have an endless supply. They fill their days with obligations, distractions, and tasks that hold no real meaning. Meanwhile, they tell themselves they’ll make time for what matters “later”—but later rarely comes.
In my work as a life coach, I see this all the time. High-achieving professionals, business owners, and parents come to me exhausted but unfulfilled. They’ve optimized everything—except their time. They are financially secure, but their life feels like a to-do list they can never finish.
Sahil Bloom argues that real wealth isn’t just about money—it’s about balance. His book introduces the three core pillars of Time Wealth, which are key to reclaiming your time and designing a meaningful life:
- Awareness – Recognizing that time is finite and treating it as your most valuable asset.
- Attention – Directing your focus toward what truly matters and eliminating distractions.
- Control – Designing a life where you choose how to spend your time, rather than reacting to obligations.
Let’s break these pillars down—and, more importantly, explore how you can apply them in your own life today.
1. Awareness: Stop Spending Time Like It’s Unlimited
We all know time is limited, yet we act like we have an endless supply. Days, weeks, and years slip by as we stay busy with things that, in hindsight, never really mattered.
In The Five Types of Wealth, Sahil Bloom asks a powerful question:
“How much time do you have left with your loved ones?”
Most people have never done the math. Let’s say your parents live far away, and you visit them twice a year. If they are in their 70s and have a life expectancy of 85, you’re not looking at 15 years of time together—you’re looking at 30 visits…maybe less.
That’s why Awareness is so critical. Without it, you’ll keep postponing life, thinking, I’ll do it later. But later isn’t guaranteed.
This idea resonates deeply with Memento Mori, a Stoic practice of reflecting on mortality. The Stoics believed that constantly reminding yourself of the limited nature of life sharpens your focus and helps you prioritize what truly matters. Instead of fearing time running out, they saw it as a call to live fully and intentionally.
Similarly, Buddhist philosophy teaches about impermanence—the understanding that everything, including our time and relationships, is in a constant state of change. It is this awareness of impermanence that leads to a deeper appreciation for the present moment and a stronger commitment to what brings true fulfillment.
Both philosophies remind us:
- Avoid wasting time on trivial matters.
- Let go of the illusion that you’ll “always have more time.”
- Live with purpose, knowing that every moment is precious.
The Time and Attention Audit
To develop Awareness, Bloom suggests conducting a Time and Attention Audit:
- Track how you actually spend your time in a given week.
- Identify low-value activities that consume more time than they should.
- Compare your current time allocation to what truly matters to you.
The Energy Audit
Bloom also introduces the Energy Audit, which categorizes activities into:
- Energizing activities (those that uplift and motivate you).
- Neutral activities (routine or maintenance tasks).
- Draining activities (those that deplete your energy and add stress).
The goal is to reduce time spent on draining activities by delegating, modifying, or eliminating them while increasing time for neutral and energizing tasks.
Prioritization: The Two Lists Exercise & The Eisenhower Matrix
Once you gain clarity on where your time and energy are going, Bloom suggests prioritizing using Warren Buffett’s Two Lists Exercise:
- Write down your top 25 goals.
- Circle the 5 most important ones.
- Avoid the remaining 20 at all costs—they are distractions disguised as opportunities.
From there, he recommends sorting priorities into the Eisenhower Matrix:
- Important & Urgent → Do immediately.
- Important but Not Urgent → Schedule and make time for.
- Urgent but Not Important → Delegate.
- Neither Urgent nor Important → Eliminate.
2. Attention: If You Want to Change Your Life, Change Your Focus
The second pillar, Attention, is about actively directing your focus toward high-value activities and ignoring distractions.
This is where many high-achievers struggle. They are always on. Their focus is scattered across too many things—work, notifications, social media, endless to-do lists. They feel productive but empty because they never get to work on the things that bring deep satisfaction.
How to Reclaim Your Attention
In The Five Types of Wealth, Bloom provides several tools to regain focus:
- The Index Card Method – Each morning, write down the three most important tasks for the day. Forget the 25-item to-do list. Prioritize what truly moves the needle.
- Parkinson’s Law – Work expands to fill the time you give it. Set shorter deadlines and watch how much faster you finish things.
- Batching Tasks – Group similar tasks together (e.g., emails, meetings) instead of letting them interrupt your day.
- Time Blocking – Schedule time for deep work. No distractions, no context switching.
- Saying No – Every time you say yes to something unimportant, you’re saying no to something meaningful.
A Critical Insight: Productivity for Its Own Sake Is a Trap
Too often, people think time management = cramming more into the day. But real Time Wealth isn’t about squeezing in more work. It’s about freeing up time for what truly matters.
If your freed-up time is just filled with more work, you’re not gaining wealth—you’re just running faster on the hamster wheel. Productivity is only valuable if it creates space for a better life.
3. Control: Owning Your Time Instead of Renting It Out
The final pillar of Time Wealth is Control—the ability to choose how you spend your time instead of being dictated by external demands.
This is where most people struggle. Their schedules are reactive, not intentional. Their calendars are filled with obligations, leaving no room for what they actually want.
The Time Wealth Score
Bloom suggests assessing your Time Wealth by asking yourself:
✅ Do I deeply understand the finite nature of my time?
✅ Have I identified my 2–3 most important personal and professional priorities?
✅ Am I consistently able to focus my attention on these priorities?
✅ Do I control my schedule, or does it control me?
The Energy Calendar: A One-Week Challenge
For one week, keep a simple Energy Calendar:
- Write down everything you do in a day.
- Categorize each task as Energizing, Neutral, or Draining.
- Ask yourself: How can I do more of the energizing activities and less of the draining ones?
More time spent on energy-giving activities = A wealthier life.
Final Thoughts: What Will You Do with Your Time?
The harsh truth? Most people don’t take Time Wealth seriously until it’s too late. They keep pushing things off—spending time with loved ones, pursuing passions, taking care of their health—until suddenly, time runs out.
The good news? You have a choice.
By cultivating:
- Awareness (treating time as finite),
- Attention (focusing on what truly matters), and
- Control (owning your schedule).
You can reclaim your time before it’s too late.
Your Next Step:
What’s one small action you can take today to increase your Time Wealth? Don’t wait—because time isn’t waiting for you.
Paul Strobl, MBA, CPC
Owner of Confide Coaching, LLC
Paul is a Master Life Coach for GenX and GenY executives and business owners. Originally from Houston, Texas, he has been location independent for most of his adult life. He currently resides in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria near the Greek border with his brilliant wife, 14-year-old stepson (officially adopted in 2021!) and a Posavac Hound rescue.
References
Bloom, S. (2025). The Five Types of Wealth: How to Create, Share, and Sustain It to Build a Rich Life. Ballantine Books.
Buffett, W. (n.d.). The Two Lists Exercise [attributed concept].
Eisenhower, D. (n.d.). The Eisenhower Matrix [productivity framework].
Parkinson, C. N. (1955). Parkinson’s Law: The Pursuit of Progress.
Ryan, H., & Becker, A. (2016). The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living. Portfolio.
