Why are you carrying all the bags to the car in one go? Why not carry them piece by piece?
“To save time”
Why are you rushing to get the green light?
“To save time”
Why are you having your meal while driving?
“To save time”
Why are you browsing while waiting for your file to download?
“It’s boring to wait. I don’t want to waste time”.
Why are you always reading while on the toilet?
“To make use of the time”.
Why are you mostly in the fast lane?
“To arrive faster”
Why do you grab your phone every time there’s a moment of silence?
“I don’t want to waste time”.
I’m not saying any of this is “bad”. I’m not saying you shouldn’t use your time wisely and productively. I’m not
saying you should never speed up.
I’m saying if you’re always, habitually looking to “save time” and “be efficient” and “be productive” as
a fixed set-point or overall attitude, you’re enslaving yourself. Being under “time pressure” is 100% self-imposed.
Giving yourself space and time, brings back awareness and power. Try carrying one bag at a time to the car,
not rushing for the green light, stopping the car to have your meal, not distracting yourself during a download,
not always reading while on the toilet, trying the slow lane, not always grabbing your phone at every moment
of silence – and thousands of other examples. That’s how you transcend time-pressure. Instead of letting time control you,
you control time.
