Time is a funny thing. The ticking of the clock is a constant to measure things by, but when you really pay attention to it, time doesn’t act so sensibly. Instead, it’s more “a big ball of wibbly wobbly, timey wimey stuff”, to quote Dr Who.
So here are 7 visuals that will change the way you look at time.
Chronos vs Kairos time
The Greeks had two words for time.
- Chronos: sequential time that’s measured by the ticking of a clock
- Kairos: quality time, when it’s almost like time moves slower.
Why does this matter? Well, by focusing on Kairos, you have the power to slow down time. One simple way is to focus on activities that bring on a sense of Flow, but it can also be quality time with friends and family.
Your perspective matters
On the 30th of September 1859, Abraham Lincoln said
It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: “And this, too, shall pass away.” How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!
When you’re having a bad day, zoom out and change your perspective. When you are feeling on top of the world, remember that “this, too, shall pass”.
You can slow time down but creating “time anchors”
Do you remember waiting for your parent to do something as a kid?
That errand might have only taken an hour, but it felt like forever! Or how about the years crammed with memories during your teenage years, compared to last year with barely a handful of moments you can recall?
It’s because we feel time passes differently as adults.
When you are a kid, everything is new. You have fewer other memories, and so each moment fills more of your total experiences with completely novel experiences (even boring ones!). As an adult, things feel more mundane and merge into a mush of memories.
But by embracing wonder and seeking new experiences, you can create more “time anchors” that slow down time.
Gain time by setting limits
When I first moved to Kraków, I had no internet at home.
I had to go to the local library and use theirs — it was the most productive moment of my day. I’d process all my emails in 10 minutes, and after 30 mins, have every task I had to do online done.
It was a great example of Parkinson’s law and it shows how limits can change how long something takes to do. If you give yourself a week to do a project, you’ll do it in a week; if you give yourself two weeks, you’ll do it in two.
Sometimes it’s worth it, but there’s always a point of diminishing and even negative returns.
How can this change your view of time? Simple. By setting boundaries on certain tasks, you can get them done quicker than if you give them as much time as they need.
Stop saying “I don’t have time for that”
Think back over the last week. I’d bet you probably said “Sorry, I don’t have time for that” (or something similar) at least once.
It’s an easy excuse and one that protects both sides’ feelings, but it’s disempowering and in 90% of cases, not true.
Really, you could find or make the time if it were a big enough priority. I mean, imagine finding out you needed urgent surgery and a two-week hospital stay or you’ll die. That’s probably a bigger commitment than the thing you’ve turned down, and yet you’d find time for that!
So try saying (even if it’s just in your head) “It’s not a priority for me right now” or “I have other priorities right now”.
(This will also reveal what your real priorities are and help you change them.)
Time is the only non-renewable resource
If you spend money, you can always earn more. If you forget a fact or skill, you can learn it again. But once time passes, it never comes back.
We all know this to some degree, but we often don’t act like it.
For example, the person who justifies working till the early hours every night so they can have fun with their kids, but never has time to spend with their kids. Or the person who vows to one day write a book, but never sits down to actually start.
It doesn’t mean that you should only do what you feel like or “follow your passion” blindly — sometimes we have to do things we don’t like! The best solution is to budget some time regularly (even a small amount) for what you really love.
Focus on JOMO, not FOMO
69% of millennials report feeling the Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) on a regular basis. And 48% of people in one study said Social media made them feel more excluded.
Here’s the biggest irony about FOMO: By worrying about all the things you’re not doing, you can’t appreciate what you are doing.
That’s where the Joy Of Missing Out (JOMO) comes in. It’s not about being “too important” to spend time with some people, but fully appreciating the things you do. Whether that’s spending time with people or working on a project alone.
When you do, with an attitude of gratitude, you’ll find that it won’t matter what you miss.
Did these visuals change the way you look at time?
If you’ve enjoyed these visuals, I’d love it if you leave a comment with which is your favourite.
And you can help others change the way they look at time by sharing them on:
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