Where Does My Time Go?

So, I've recently started a new book called "Outliers: The Story of Success". So far I really like it (although I'm only about 60 pages in). Anyways, there is an interesting chapter in it called the 10,000 rule. Basically, it takes 10,000 hours to become a world-class expert. It listed a handful of examples where this was true. Interestingly enough, it doesn't matter how bright someone is or how athletic they are. It always takes at 10,000 hours to become a master. No matter how gifted they were, or for that matter ungifted, it takes 10,000 hours. There was no indication in the studies that showed talented people reached mastery in less than 10,000 hours and untalented people took longer. The fact is, if you want to be an expert, it is going to take you 10,000 hours.

This has gotten me thinking. What do I want to become a master at? What am I willing to spend 10,000 hours on? Is there anything? I can think of a handful of things I would love to become a master at. However, I realize I don't always have the desire or willingness to spend 10,000 hours to do something. I have played lacrosse for over a decade. I would love to become an expert of lacrosse. Am I willing to spend the time? I am going to start a master's program in September. Ultimately, one of my goals is to become an expert of my field, but way too often I don't want to spend the time doing my homework or other things. I look for short cuts to get through what I have to do. Yes, I'm getting by. But, how am I going to log my 10,000 hours?

One problem I have is my lack of focus. There are so many things I spend time on that I could have been spending time logging my 10,000 hours. Just thinking about today, I've wasted time on video games, facebook, day dreaming, talking on-line to friends, surfing the internet, and simply avoiding my work. I wonder if I had used those wasted hours over the last month productively, how much closer would I be to becoming an expert?

I think in the coming week I am going to make a conscious effort to stop wasting hours I could be "logging hours." I also would like to make a list of things I'd like to become an expert in. I think it would be interesting to see what happens if I log every hour on those things. How long do you think it would take me to get to 10,000 hours? I probably won't ever keep track, but it would be interesting. Maybe I'll post about what I want to become an expert in, keep a log, and update my progress here... That would be interesting...