Leave Time Behind

I’m trying to give up on time. I’m not talking giving up on about organizing or scheduling or finding more time. I’m talking about ignoring time as much as possible to reduce a major source of stress and guilt in my life.

This concept comes via William Gibson’s “Neuromancer”. Ever since I’ve read this passage, it has stuck with me:

“You got a watch?” he asked Maelcum.

The Zionite shook his locks. “Time be time.”

“Jesus,” Case said, and closed his eyes.

— William Gibson, Neuromancer

Maelcum is my role model here. He is disconnected from time and has no concern for it. Case, on the other hand, is the Western attitude that time is all. Maelcum controls his time, and Case is controlled by it. I’ve learned to adapt Maelcum’s model, and I detail below the tricks that got me there.

Too Much Time On My Hands

I wandered around and looked for sources of time in my life. I came up with a few areas off the top of my head: clocks and watches, microwaves, TVs, game systems, portable devices, cars, banks and computers all provide time. To me, the only appropriate source of time is a clock. Everything else on that list should be controlled or limited in order to give us back a degree of freedom.

Feeling overwhelmed by reminders of time, I decided to take actions to reduce both the availability and my frequency of checking time.

Timeless

First, I had to change my attitude about time. This is difficult since I live in a very time-sensitive culture. I started by re-forming my habits. Any time I check the time, I ask myself “why?” Was it necessary, and is there something I can do to automate reminders?

I work on something until things seem right, instead of beating the clock. I realize that a lot of the pressure to complete something is arbitrary and artificial. “Haste makes waste” holds great meaning here.

I am making strides to de-schedule my life. If it doesn’t need to be done immediately, I don’t schedule it. If it can be done now, I do it; if I can’t it goes on a list for ‘later’ (This is from GTD)

I then set about controlling my environment. I removed the desktop clocks from my computers. I wear a watch with a covered face. I moved my desk to hide its time display. I keep my car’s computer on temperature, and the radio on station info. I picked a low contrast clock for my living room. I never set my microwave clock and I set the stove’s clock is always wrong. I close the lid on my Zen Alarm Clock in my bedroom so I don’t see the time.

Time is Time

This approach helps to limit both my sources of time, and increases the effort needed to get the time. At work, it reduces ‘watching the clock’ and allows me to focus. Usually, time flies. Sometimes I get amazingly lost in my work, and the only question I have on my mind is, “Is it really that late?”

Time rarely matters unless I have an appointment. So how do I stay ‘on time’ where it matters? I make my calendar keep my schedule for me. On the iPhone I set twin alerts. I set the first at 1 day/hour, depending on appointment. The second is set far enough ahead to get me to the appointment on time. I let that guide my punctuality.

Eat when you’re hungry. Drink when you’re thirsty. Sleep when you’re tired.

— Buddhist proverb

So what is the effect of these changes? Even though the experiment isn’t amazingly life-changing, it certainly is has had an effect. I’m less stressed in the morning if I get up ‘late’ for work, and I’m less stressed on the road since getting to work has a higher priority than getting there quickly.

I don’t know how this would work for others. I imagine this would stress out type-a personalities. People living “by the clock” would have some trouble with living this way. We all know people who are naked without their day timers.

I may get even more extreme about it by eliminating sources of time at home completely except for my phone and watch. I’d have to be certain I am able to wake up and not miss half a day of work for this approach to take hold, and my Western fear of tardiness will probably make me resist this approach for a while.