Image by Wolfgang Staudt via Flickr
Time is a funny thing. We have it in abundance everday but only appreciate it as it wanes. It becomes more precious in scarcity. We sit up and take notice ready to savor each moment as it wanes.
So many start the day on a mission to make every moment count. They speak of maximum productivity, goal oriented days and accomplishment. They want to squeeze the most out of their day but still somehow fail to truly savor the moments. In their world, the crackberry keeps them ever connected as they move purposefully through their days, multi-tasking when necessary to gain the most from the precious hours in a day. They use time to make money so that they have more time to make more money. I wonder where is the time for just living?
I read a funny post called 10 Reasons Why Being a Lazy Dude is Actually a Good Thing over at Rebel Zen this week. The irony was a nice contrast to the hyper-caffeinated, results oriented Type A people that often populate my world. While I can’t fully endorse the slacker world I do think it’s nice to vacation there once in awhile.
It takes one event, a suspicious lump, bump or bruise; an accident; a natural disaster to shake up your definition of “wasting time.” In those moments we realize we cannot regain what is past and we do not control how much is left. Suddenly when faced with losing a moment of time we want to embrace it tightly and beg it to slow down. We vow to be different, to stop and smell the roses, take time to spend with our families or simply gaze at the sunset…until we gain more time and we squander that too chasing “that thing” that will give us more time to live.
Alex Fayle calls it the Someday Syndrome. His blog provides insight on how to stop putting life on hold for some day and instead living today. Alex is a wise man. As I ponder this I know have today, this moment, right now. I am not certain how many more of these moments I have but I intend to balance this one with a healthy amount of work and play and loads of enjoyment doing both.
How about you? How do you make the most out of time? Share your thoughts in the comment box. The mic is on and it’s your turn. 🙂
Bye (for now),
Karen
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Jeanne Dininni says
Wonderful idea! It’s so easy to keep falling back into that same trap — even after we’ve managed to escape it a time or two! There’s definitely something to be said for holding one another accountable in the ongoing quest for balance!
So, Karen…
What have you been doing or planning lately to give yourself a break from the rat race? What strides — or even baby steps — have you been making toward a more balanced, restful, peaceful life? Even if they haven’t yet been translated into action, what thought-pattern transformations — or paradigm shifts — have been occurring for you lately that have begun preparing you for action? I’d love to help you celebrate your big — or little — successes!
Your (first?) life-balance support group member,
Jeanne
Karen Swim says
Jeanne, you said it! 🙂 It is much too easy to put it off. A friend asked last night if I had done anything fun and I stammered. I had to sadly admit that I had not planned any fun into my life lately, too bogged down with the shoulds! Not good!! Let’s form a support group and help each other remember to balance our lives. 🙂
Jeanne Dininni says
Karen,
It’s so easy to fall prey to the Someday Syndrome — much too easy! I’m trying to learn to savor life’s moments as much as I can…to pay more attention to the important people in my life…to allow myself the luxury of a little more rest and relaxation, a little more sleep, and a little more fun, instead of feeling as if I must be accomplishing something all the time. It’s so incredibly liberating to be free of the constant shoulds!
Thanks for a great reminder!
Jeanne
Karen Putz says
Yes, Amy and I had a great lunch! Are you coming to SOBCon ’09? I’d love to meet you then!
Karen Putzs last blog post..Karen Putz and Amy Derby Do Lunch
Karen Swim says
Karen, that is a wonderful reminder to cherish the time we have and to leave no words unspoken. I am so glad that you and your family were able to spend time with your parents this summer. Ooh, you and Amy did lunch? I can’t wait to read, I’m so behind this week!
Karen Swim says
Brad, ROFL! I am both sorry and secretly cheering that the conversation was engaging. The conversation has been amazing for me too and I have wisely allowed it to simply unfold. I hope you get caught up on work. 🙂
Karen Putz says
Karen,
I find myself so much more concious of time lately, because I spent an intense summer with my parents who are in their 80’s. The clock is quietly ticking in the background and I’m grabbing what I can.
Karen Putzs last blog post..Karen Putz and Amy Derby Do Lunch
Brad Shorr says
Hi Karen, it’s so ironic that you post about time management today, on the heels of your post yesterday on the meaning of reality. That one completely derailed my time management schedule for the week, because the conversation was so though provoking. I’m still reading and pondering comments!
Brad Shorrs last blog post..In Praise of One Liners
Karen Swim says
Note to self: when you write about time forces conspire to steal it! Hey Everyone! Sorry for the late response but gremlins stole my day yesterday. I was able to escape late last night but by that time all I could do was muster enough energy to sleep!
@Joanna, “taking time, and what happens in it, as it is, rather than trying to impose my will on it. ” I love, love love this thought. I believe in African culture they adhere to the theory of moving in time, rather than dictating time. What a beautiful way to think and live. As for the themes, Monday was an experiment and I decided to keep going with it. It felt right to have order this week. As for next week, only time will tell. 🙂
@Jamie, welcome back!!! I missed you! Loved your post today! Laughing should be the national pasttime. I highly recommend it. As an added bonus it also works your abs! Gotta love laughter!
@Rebecca, I think you hit the nail on the head when you said you’re at peace when not everything gets done. Too often people allow “the list” to control their state of mind. Your attitude seems very healthy.
@Melissa, I always picture you with happy music playing in the background dancing through your day. From what you’ve shared with your readers, you do seem to find a way to strike a good balance. Freelancing can definitely lead to burn out if you don’t put yourself on the agenda. It is good that you have been able to recognize that and fight to prevent it.
@Seamus, it was well deserved link love. I saw your blog name over at MWP and had to rush over to read. I was delighted and hooked. We could be fish food tomorrow. Some find that morbid but an awareness of our mortality is a good reminder to sniff while we can! 🙂
@Evelyn, I like your attitude! My changes came as I went through life transitions. Was there a particular trigger for you or did you just reach a point where you got tired of being productive all the time?
@Alex, 🙂 You are such a warm, sweet soul. I’m like you. On the weekends I power down. I spend very little time on the computer and am not at all freaked out about not checking email, etc.
@Ulla, you graciously share that serenity with us through your photographs, and I am so thankful you do. I often feel like I’ve been on mini-vacation when I leave your blog. I’m all for getting things done too but there’s more to life, in my humble opinion. 🙂
@Amy, yay! So good to see you!!! 🙂 I have been counting down the days when you return. I think we all have seasons in life when we have less play time. The trick I think is to contain it to a season and not a lifetime. That’s when life seems to slip away far too quickly.
amypalko says
Time is, for me, of the essence at the moment. I’m working to a set of really tight deadlines for my writing, as well as trying to keep up with my kids and my tutoring business. I’m definitely not finding the time to enjoy my world as much as I need to in order to feel whole and happy. Even when I do take time to stop and relax, I feel guilty for not working. I can live with it just now, because I know that once the thesis is submitted things will change, but in all honesty, it can’t come soon enough!
amypalkos last blog post..Amy Loves Etsy
Ulla Hennig says
How do I make the most out of time? I’ve got two thoughts when reading this question. First of all, I am trying to be productive – with do-lists and so on. That’s okay and important and all, but it is not my main concern when reflecting about time. I am trying to perceive every moment – the blueness of the sky, the trees changing from green to yellow, the autumnal scent in the air. I know there will be other moments, but I try to concentrate on today, to enjoy today. That’s one important way for me to make the most out of time.
Ulla Hennigs last blog post..Art on the Ceiling
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome says
Awe Karen, you make me blush! (Actually, last night when I first read this you made me kind of tearful but in a good way – yes I get weepy when I’m tired).
Since I’m trying to build my business while working part time, I can spend up to 12 hours a day working which means that I make myself take time off. For example, I almost never do anything computer-related (except Facebook’s PuzzleBee) on weekends. Plus during the week, I will take breaks and watch television.
So even though I’m working my butt off, I make sure I enjoy myself too.
Evelyn Lim says
Make the most of my time? I used to think I need to be as productive as possible. No longer. It is more important to be joyous in whatever I am doing.
Seamus Anthony says
Hi Karen,
And thank you for the link-love 🙂
I believe that this line of yours “It takes one event, a suspicious lump, bump or bruise; an accident; a natural disaster to shake up your definition of “wasting time.” is the key to getting the most out of life. Tomorrow you could be a fish food so smell those roses while you still can.
So while I was being particularly facetious in the “Lazy Dude” article, I really do believe it’s a shame to spend your days in a blinding rush and ESPECIALLY if you don’t really enjoy what you’re doing all day.
Seamus Anthonys last blog post..Healing Your Worries in the Wilderness
Melissa Donovan says
Since I started freelancing, I find that time has grown ever scarce. There’s no end to my to do list! It’s really important to make time for relaxing, hanging out with family and friends, and doing other non-productive activities. We do have to make time for that, force it into our schedules if need be, or risk burning out. I should know, I’ve faced burnout more than once in the past year, but I’m slowly learning how to balance things 😉
Rebecca Smith says
How do I make the most out of time? I’m a list person. Big time. I make my to-do list the night before and do my best to cross off as much as I can the next day. But I’m no fool: I know that time will not allow everything to get done, and I’m at peace with that.
What helps is that I take a half hour every morning (rain/shine/snow/monsoon/whatever) to walk my dog and set my mind for the day. When I’m living for today, I’m a much happier and productive person. 🙂
Jamie Grove - How Not To Write says
I make the most out of my time by trying to be in the moment. I know everyone says that, but that’s what I do. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I fail. Mostly the latter, but that’s part of the game.
The thing is to keep trying and keep pushing forward. We all fail. The question is do you get back up to try again.
Oh, and I laugh. I laugh a lot!
It’s hard to get too tied up in the universe when you laugh at the absurdity of it all. 🙂
Jamie Grove – How Not To Writes last blog post..A Writer’s Choice
Joanna Young says
Hi Karen, for me it’s something to do with taking time, and what happens in it, as it is, rather than trying to impose my will on it. Letting things unfold in their own way, and in their own time. This does also have the benefit of slowing down your perception of the passing of time.
I’ve taken a couple of days off this week to enjoy some unusually dry and bright weather and do some clearance work in my garden. I’ve had a few moments as part of that when time really seemed to stand still: everything was just right – the air, the light, the temperature, the sound of the birds… the clock ticking just doesn’t get a look in.
Speaking of time, are you introducing theme days for each day of the week now, or just experimenting?
Joanna Youngs last blog post..Confident Writing Is a Top 10 Writing Blog