7 Ways Men Waste Their Lives (And How to Stop Now)

In this episode of The Impossible Life Podcast, hosts Garrett Unclebach and Nick Surface tackle a sobering but necessary theme: the seven ways men waste their lives. With their signature mix of sharp insight, biblical grounding, and practical challenge, they pull no punches in showing how easy it is to drift into mediocrity—and how to fight back with purpose, discipline, and faith.

Garrett sets the tone early: “The mission of your life is not to preserve it, but to spend it and to spend it properly. What are you going to use your life for?” That question hangs heavy over the conversation, pressing every listener to confront the uncomfortable truth—life can be wasted more easily than we think.

1. Superficial Prayer: Checking the Box Instead of Meeting with God

The first way to waste your life is by reducing prayer to a ritual rather than a relationship. Unclebach calls out “throwing up a peace sign to God” as the modern version of meaningless prayer. True prayer, he explains, is about putting your hands in God’s hands, listening, and exchanging your thoughts for His. As Nick reminds, “If the devil can’t destroy you, he’ll distract you.” Few things are more dangerous than living distracted while pretending to be spiritually alive.

2. Never Planting Your Flag: Living as a Nomad

Too many men drift—from job to job, city to city, even relationship to relationship—without committing deeply. The opposite of planting your flag is being a nomad, constantly chasing greener pastures. Whether it’s church, marriage, or family values, commitment is the soil where maturity grows. As Garrett puts it, endurance is the path to completion: “Seasonal mentality says, ‘I’ll stay here until I don’t like it.’ But that is not the path to maturity.”

3. Playing It Safe: Choosing Comfort Over Calling

Safety is a mirage. Whether in career, family, or finances, the illusion of security often keeps men from risk, faith, and obedience. Garrett points to the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, where the servant who buried his master’s money is condemned as “wicked and lazy.” Playing it safe may sound wise, but in reality, it’s one of the surest ways to waste your life. Nick adds, “People think they’re preserving themselves, but the truth is they’re missing their mission.”

4. Avoiding Excellence: Settling for Average

Excellence isn’t perfection—it’s intentionality. It shows up in how you dress, how you work, how you show respect for others. Booker T. Washington’s words echo here: “Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.” Whether it’s showing up on time, taking care of your body, or refusing sloppy habits, excellence distinguishes men who lead and build lasting impact. As Proverbs 22:29 says, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings.”

5. Allowing Addictions: Submitting to Silent Masters

Addictions—whether substances, screens, or unhealthy habits—sap strength and enslave men. Unclebach cuts to the chase: “No one makes you do anything. You may have a proclivity for it, but it’s still your choice.” Every addiction is a thief of purpose. The cure? Replace destructive obsessions with godly disciplines. Get addicted to the right things—faith, family, service, growth.

6. Drifting Without Vision: Living Without a Mission

A man without vision drifts into passivity. The culture loves passive men, but God does not. Without clarity of purpose, days slip by unnoticed, and years are lost in distraction. The hosts stress that vision gives direction, and without it, men become vulnerable to comfort, compromise, and cultural currents. As Garrett reminds, “Purpose requires endurance, and endurance requires vision.”

7. Ignoring Legacy: Forgetting Your Impact on Future Generations

Finally, a wasted life is one that forgets others. Legacy isn’t about wealth or status; it’s about faithfulness, integrity, and example. The podcast challenges men to think generationally: how will your children, your community, your church remember you? Your choices today echo long after you’re gone. To waste your life is to miss the chance to leave a godly inheritance.

Key Takeaways for Men of Purpose

This episode of The Impossible Life Podcast is less about condemnation and more about revelation. Garrett and Nick lay out a map of pitfalls, but also a roadmap toward meaning. Here are the takeaways:

• Depth over ritual: Prayer is about encounter, not routine.

• Commitment over convenience: Plant your flag and endure.

• Courage over safety: Refuse to bury your talents.

• Excellence over apathy: Details matter—they reflect your spirit.

• Discipline over addiction: Choose what will master you.

• Vision over drift: Live on mission.

• Legacy over self: Think generationally, not just personally.

As Unclebach concludes, “The mission of your life is not to preserve it, but to spend it and to spend it properly.” Men are called to live intentionally, fight distraction, and walk boldly in purpose.

For more high-performance challenges and encouragement, tune into The Impossible Life Podcast. Visit theimpossible.life and follow on Instagram @theimpossiblelife to stay connected.