You Should Think About Death Every Day – Here’s Why

I am an avid reader of the Stoics. The works of Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus have deeply shaped my life philosophy. From accepting what lies beyond our control to seeing virtue as the highest good, I love the Stoics. 

Yet, despite reading his works for years, this particular quote from Seneca struck me:

It touches on a fundamental truth: 

We don’t value our time enough. 

When we’re young, we treat time as endless. There’s no urgency to act or seek more from life. Our friends are still here, our parents still alive, our health intact. Why worry? There’s plenty of time.

Meanwhile, older people would give anything for more time. I’m sure Warren Buffett would pay billions to get his time back – he’d trade his entire fortune to be in his 20s again. 

The reality is this: 

Death is not a distant event in the future – we are dying every day.

Each sunset you witness is one less you’ll ever see. Every Christmas you celebrate is one fewer you’ll experience. We're not just dying by the day – we're dying by the minute. Time passes without pause.

This sparks an important question:

How can we avoid waking up at 60, angry and wondering where all the time went? 

5 Simple Ways to Make More of Life 

Here are five simple ways to get more out of life: 

1. Meditate on Death Regularly 

Thinking about death regularly might seem scary – after all, who wants to dwell on it? But it’s one of the most powerful ways to stay aware of the bitter reality that your time is limited. Remind yourself daily that you will die and you’ll find more appreciation for life. 

2. Spend Less Time With People Who Don’t Add Meaning To Your Life. 

Everyone has at least one person whose absence wouldn’t change much in their life. Be more selective about who you give your time to – your time is precious. Do you hand out money to everyone? No? Then stop doing it with your time. 

3. Let Go of Grudges 

The person you’re hurting most by holding onto anger is yourself. It’s okay to feel disappointed at times but don’t let it define your life. Holding grudges or dwelling on past losses won’t help you appreciate the present. You’re wasting valuable time by being stuck in the past. Reconcile with people you’ve been in conflict with. You might not get another chance. 

4. Stop Scrolling Your Life Away 

Look, I get it. We’re all addicted to social media, and it can be fun. It’s a great way to stay connected and almost essential to keep up with the world. But deep down, we all know we’re spending too much time on it. Set a daily limit that works for you, and start valuing your real life again.

5. Embrace The Power of Saying No 

One of the most valuable life skills is learning to say no. At first, it feels uncomfortable – you don’t want to come off as mean. But over time, you start to see what actually matters to you. You can start radical. If you miss something, you can always add it back to your calendar. Saying no to the wrong things creates space for the right ones.

The Best Time Is Now

It’s not that we have too little time, but that we waste so much of it. Death is not a distant event – it’s happening every day. We are dying, moment by moment.

Always remind yourself of this: Memento Mori – a Latin phrase meaning ‘remember you must die’.

We’ll all be forgotten in three generations. 

Spend more time with your loved ones, and prioritize what truly matters to you. 

If you take action now, you won’t wake up at 60, angry and asking yourself, “Where did all the time go?” 

The best days are today.