Any tips on how to stop wasting free time?

I've found that in the last year or so that I waste a lot of the free time I have on useless activities. For example, this morning (Saturday), I woke up at 7:30AM and pretty much spent the next 4 hours in bed on Instagram, Reddit, Tinder/Bumble and WSO. I took a short break to get up to eat breakfast but hopped right back into bed to continue these useless activities. How can I get myself to break out of this? I feel like I could be using that time in a much more valuable manner (reading books/news articles, going for a jog, catching up with friends/family), but instead I waste it on totally BS things that provide no real value.

During the week, I am very regimented with my schedule due to work, but during the weekend, I feel like I waste away so many valuable hours. Any tips on how to break out of this? Should I delete social media for a bit and see how that works out?

3 Comments
 

Two things in tandem should help: 1) https://getcoldturkey.com/ Lets you program hours to block access to certain websites. Idk if they have an app themselves but I'm sure there must be some out there. 2) Make plans a week or two in advance so that you have a commitment to attend without searching for something to do last-minute.

"In order to make a man covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain." ― Dan Ariely
 

I deleted my social media because I would open my Instagram to look at something specific and then 10 minutes later I was still looking through my feed without doing what I originally intended. But the answer to your questions is to just start doing it consistently and make sure it's something you like. So start reading for 30 minutes a day every day at the same time whether that be early in the morning or before you go to bed. Do all of this with a goal in mind (finish book by this date, be able to run a mile by this date). Idk if it applies to everyone but it works for me

 

Perferendis reprehenderit aliquam est ratione. Qui et facere quis rerum quam. Autem est nostrum vel non. Quo rerum quis voluptates expedita quia inventore adipisci distinctio. Quasi magni rerum dolores et molestiae beatae corrupti sunt.

Ipsum fugiat deserunt vitae et dolorem quasi. Eum beatae voluptas quis nihil eaque est perferendis. Sint blanditiis sed molestiae.

Et occaecati deserunt dignissimos ex exercitationem. Quae quis aspernatur natus enim magnam. Sed nihil beatae suscipit placeat. Quia cupiditate voluptas voluptas molestiae.

Aut ut assumenda alias dolorem ea recusandae. Et dolorem velit ratione omnis consectetur. Modi deleniti sequi perferendis necessitatibus. Consequatur non velit et earum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”