So there I was, chatting with one of our top fans (now a friend) about some of our content. She mentioned that during one of the QnAs, we introduced “The 8pm Logic” and it changed her life. She was able to take that “logic” and find a new motivation to work towards her goals in life. Now that we have this new platform, I thought I would take the opportunity to reintroduce this logic for people who might have missed it and provide a little more narrative. I’ve personally been advocating this logic to people around me and I really believe in this. Hopefully, this will spur you on to something and change your life too.
Disclaimer: This concept is not entirely original, so pardon us if I misinterpreted the original concept or its name.
This is just how I personally use or view this logic which is why I’ve named it “The 8pm Logic” to be little bit more original.
If you want, you can also call it the “Panda Rule” if that sounds nicer to you.
What is the 8pm logic?
The 8pm logic is as simple as it is named, it’s what you do at 8pm everyday. I’m sure some of you are very confused right now but let me explain! Basically, what you do every day at 8pm (after your day job) will greatly affect the outlook of the later part of your life.
Why does it even matter?
For most of us in our twenties, we’ve already started our adulting and rat race. You could say that at this point some of us are already getting used to it. Gone are the days where we can sleep at 4am, wake up in the noon, and do nothing productive for the rest of the day. Having a day job really consumes a large part of your time (let’s be honest, the hours before work don’t count for much). Therefore, the time after work is where we get to do whatever we want.
Some of us work overtime, some of us go to the gym, some of us spend some time with our family, some of us just chill and watch Netflix.
After years of routine, these patterns develop as habits unknowingly.
Most of us will probably still be working over the next 30 years, so unless you’ve chosen to be an entrepreneur or the freelance life, you can’t really run away from the 9 – 6 pm routine. However, we can decide what to do with our time after work. This might seem trivial, but these habits you form in your 20s will carry you to your 60s, as long as you maintain this lifestyle.
What does the 8pm logic look like?
Do you ever wonder how some people are so financially free in their 50s and 60s even though they don’t earn much?
Do you go to the gym and see that same uncle in his 50s lifting weights every time you’re there?
Have you ever realized that your parents watch TV after work every night?
You see, your parents watch TV after work every night because that is the form of leisure that they are used to.
And if you watch Netflix after work every night, chances are, like your parents you will still be watching a lot of Netflix in the future.
That right there, is the effect of the 8pm logic.
Some other examples include:
If you spend your time after work working out, chances are you will be fit and healthy when you’re 60.
If you spend your time working extra hours for your day job, you might do very well in your corporate career.
If you spend your time after work with your kids, you’re bound to have a good relationship with your kids in the future.
If you spend your time after work doing charitable and volunteer work, you would’ve made a difference in many people’s and still be doing good work when you’re 60.
If you spend your time after work working on your side hustle or secondary income, you might be financially free in the future.
What should I be doing?
Everyone has different priorities in life. Some value kinship, others value health, or freedom. I have not lived your life and therefore, I cannot and will not tell you what’s right for you. Ask yourself, what do you want to be like or what kind of life do you want to lead in the future? This isn’t an article to tell you to work harder to be rich, or stop watching Netflix. Personally, I work on my goals after work. Before I sleep, if I have free time, I still engage in leisure like Netflix and YouTube.
You can always use your 8pm to try and make the world a better place, practice a skill, spend time with your family, go to the gym. The possibilities are endless.
Conclusion.
You’ve probably heard many “gurus” and millionaires out there advocating you to start investing early in your 20s. In principal, they are really not wrong. However, people tend to forget money isn’t the only thing that you can invest that compounds and pays dividends later. Time is something that we often neglect when we are younger. The main takeaway here is to help you understand that it is important to invest time on things that matter to you, which will also affect you in the future.
This isn’t some kind of self-help article, it’s just something that came across my mind and I wanted to write this down to help you think about how you can start working towards the future that you want to live. Start making better use of your time and the future you will thank you for that.