Something to Think About
The Wristwatch and Time
Something to read and think about while your banana bread is baking or while you are enjoying a big slice of banana bread with your coffee.
One way I’ve learned to keep from going bananas is time, that is …cushion your time. Yep, TIME! If you let it, time is one thing that can make you go bananas! And it doesn’t have to.
There is unnecessary tension and stress of trying to:
Make it on time.
Race against time.
Check time that’s left.
Check if have more time.
Check how early or late.
Time isn’t something we can make more of and we can only be more careful in the use of it. Time is precious and each minute, hour, and day counts. You can try, but you will never beat time, and it will beat you to a misery, a miserable life. That’s if you let it.
Have more respect for Time.
Begin to feel…
more carefree.
more at ease.
less stress.
less tension.
How often do you check the time every day?
On your wristwatch and on your smart phone?
I had a beautiful wristwatch that I wouldn't go anywhere without it. It was accurate and I depended on it. I decided to do a trial of not wearing a watch for a day, then the weekend, then a week.
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Here is an example scenario of the weekday of wearing my wristwatch.
Numbered at least how many times checked the time on the wristwatch. Sometimes it was checked more than 22 times a day.
1. Check the watch. Did I wake up late this morning? No.
2. Check the watch. Did I take too long to shower and get dressed? Maybe.
3. Check the watch. Do I have time to pack a lunch? Yes.
4. Check the watch. Is there enough time to drink coffee? No. Get coffee to go.
5. Check the watch. Is it time to leave for work? Yes.
6. Check the watch. There is a lot of traffic. Am I going to be late for work? No.
7. Check the watch. Did I arrive at work on time? Yes.
8. Check the watch. Is it time for lunch yet? No. Get a snack out of the packed lunch bag.
9. Check the watch. Is it time for lunch yet? Yes. Take a lunch break.
10. Check the watch. Is it time to go back to work? Yes.
11. Check the watch. Is it time to go to the meeting? Yes.
12. Check the watch. Will this meeting be over soon? Yes.
13. Check the watch. The meeting is over. How much time left to get work done?
14. Check the watch. Is it time to leave work and go home? Yes. Go home.
15. Check the watch. How long before I get home to make dinner? Will be home soon.
16. Check the watch. How much time to cook dinner? Make leftovers.
17. Check the watch. When will the rest of the family get home? Soon.
18. Check the watch. Are the stores still open to get supplies? Yes. Go to the store.
19. Check the watch. At the store, do I need to head home? I have 20 minutes left to get home.
20. Check the watch. How much time do I have left? I have 10 minutes left. I forgot to make time for standing in the checkout line.
21. Check the watch. Will I get home before 9pm? No.
22. Check the watch. Is it time for bed? Yes. Go to bed.
23. Check the watch. And I finally take off the watch for the day and then go to sleep until the next morning.
The next day
1. Check the watch. Did I wake up late this morning? No.
2. Check the watch. Did I take too long to shower and get dressed? Maybe.
3. …………. and so on…
I know this list is long and seems ridiculous but it’s literally checking the time in writing. After I wrote each and how many times, I thought no wonder I was going bananas!
Respect the time passed.
Be more careful of the time taken.
Appreciate the time that is yet to come.
Then I replaced the wristwatch with a thick heavy bracelet, so I didn’t panic when there was something missing and not on my wrist.
Here is an example of a weekday without the wristwatch. The newly numbered time when it was checked on a clock.
1. Check the alarm clock. Did I wake up late this morning? No.
2. Check the alarm clock. Is it time to leave for work? Yes
I did not check the time for these items.
Did I take too long to shower and get dressed?
Do I have time to pack a lunch?
Is there enough time to drink coffee?
There is a lot of traffic. Am I going to be late for work?
When I didn't wear the watch, I noticed that I didn't spend as much time picking out my clothes and getting ready in the morning. I would always pack my lunch and take my coffee to go no matter what time it was. The traffic on the drive to work every morning was always the same so I would always think that I would get to work on time anyway.
3. Check the time clock. Did I arrive at work on time? Yes
4. Check the wall clock. Is it time for lunch yet? No. Get a snack out of the packed lunch bag.
When it was lunchtime, I would only look at the clock one time then do an estimate when it would be lunch and to take my break.
5. Check the wall clock. Is it time to go back to work? Yes.
6. Check the wall clock. Is it time to go to the meeting? Yes.
I did not check the time for these items.
Will this meeting be over soon?
The meeting is over. How much time left to get work done?
For the meetings, I would always just spend the time as needed there and learned not to keep looking at the clock to see the time. The meeting would be over, when it was over, no matter how long or short it was and then I would get back to work on the normal tasks for the day.
7. Check the wall clock. Is it time to leave work and go home? Yes. Go home.
I did not check the time for these items.
How long before I get home to make dinner?
How much time to cook dinner?
When will the rest of the family get home?
When I would get home after work, I wouldn't look at the clock because I'm home. My family will be home soon. If dinner was cooked and my family still wasn’t home. Then I would give them a call and find out where they were! I would cook whatever I felt that I could cook that day whether it takes a long time or a short time. My meals were planned better and tasted it better.
8. Check the kitchen clock. Are the stores still open to get supplies? Yes. Go to the store.
I did not check the time for these items.
At the store, do I need to head home?
How much time do I have left?
Will I get home before 9pm?
Whenever I would go to the store, I would just get the things that I need, and I spent less time shopping around for things that I did not need. I would ask someone what time it was and have an estimate of how long I was in the store. If I had 1/2 an hour or 20 minutes left, I would begin to leave. I didn't wait until I had 10 minutes left or 5 minutes left. I noticed that when I didn't have my watch on in the store, it was less stressful for me while shopping. I just shopped for things that I needed, and I didn't shop around for things I did not need, so therefore I spent less money.
9. Check the alarm clock. Is it time for bed? Yes. Go to bed.
Practice and learn to cushion your time allotment for the things you do.
Now after many years of not wearing the watch, I don't pay as much attention to the time anymore. The habit of wanting to know and checking the time isn’t there anymore. I spend a lot less time looking for what time it is. The tension and the stress level went down considerably. I only check the time when I absolutely have to.
Don't race against time. Allow yourself enough extra time to do things or to get somewhere.
Create a cushion around the estimated time. Learn to cushion and make adjustments on the time allotment and add extra minutes, hours, or days.
For whatever reason, some tasks may take longer, and extra time should always be added when planning or estimating.
