A Slave to Time?

One might argue that awareness of one's death, and consequently conscienciousness of the passing of time is the defining aspect of humanity. We all will die, yes, but we don't have to go about it like it truly is the end of the world. Or, put differently, the time leading up to our death doesn't have to be so half empty – so pessimistic. At the same time, to deny its immenance and project a nearly full glass is foolhardy. Many people go about life spending their time frivolously, while others live their life by the clock, constantly checking it to make sure they aren't "wasting too much time" on something they deem "insignificant." I am both these people. But what is significant, worthwhile and wholesome and what is not? What is worth pursuing and what should we bypass? How are we to make this judgment call? Obviously priorities come into play, but how do we know they are right? We cannot know this until we develop an intimate understanding of our values in life and so appraise our activities accordingly. Even so, it's easy to get caught up in the moment and especially in one's emotions and go against one's nature. How can we ensure, or at least expect with optimal probability, that we will not go against our nature and will live authentically? I have not found the answer to this as of yet, though I suspect repeated effort is on the right path. A ritual, a habit, some form of a manifestation of one's philosophies in one's actions. By such repeated actions, one's values will become second nature to them so that one is less likely to betray them to temptation.