Time is a precious commodity in our modern lives. Between our work, social commitments and daily tasks, we sometimes feel overwhelmed and never have enough hours in the day. This perceived lack of time can have a negative impact on our mental health.
Fortunately, we can change our relationship with time to improve our psychological well-being. Here are a few avenues to explore:
1. Becoming Aware of our Time Management
An important first step is to examine our current relationship with time. Are we in a constant dynamic of "racing against the clock" . Do we tend to procrastinate? Do we tend to procrastinate on tasks? An honest analysis of our habits can help us identify areas for improvement.
According to a study by the University of California, better management of time is linked to reduced stress and anxiety. Taking a moment to plan your day and your priorities can therefore have tangible benefits for your mental health.
Practical examples:
- Keep a diary to record how you spend your time on a daily basis. Identify time-consuming tasks, moments of procrastination, etc.
- Try a time-tracking application to get quantified data on your time use.
- Establish a schedule for your day and week. Identify the times when you feel most productive and those when you tend to waste time.
- Learn to say no to certain requests to free yourself and avoid the feeling of being constantly overwhelmed.
2. " Being " Instead of " Doing »
In our performance- and productivity-oriented society, we sometimes tend to define ourselves solely by what we achieve. However, writer and lecturer Eckhart Tolle invites us to anchor ourselves more firmly in the present moment and the experience of “being” instead of "doing" .
Taking regular breaks, meditating or simply observing nature can help us cultivate this dimension of being. This will enable us to detach ourselves from our obsession with the passage of time and reconnect with what's essential.
Practical examples:
- Practice meditation for a few minutes a day to anchor yourself in the present moment. Breathe deeply and concentrate on your bodily sensations.
- Take regular breaks without screens or special activities. Simply contemplate nature, listen to the sounds around you or observe your surroundings.
- Give yourself a moment for an activity that simply makes you feel good, like reading, drawing or listening to music.
- When you're doing a task, concentrate fully on it and don't lose focus. Avoid multitasking.
3. Promoting an Elastic Perception of Time
Rather than endure the passage of time, we can learn to modulate our perception of it. A study by the University of Cambridge's psychology laboratory has shown that people with an "elastic" vision of time, which means people who are able to expand or contract time mentally, have lower levels of stress and anxiety.
Techniques such as mindfulness and visualization can help us develop this skill. The aim is to feel more in tune with the rhythm of time rather than constantly behind it.
Practical examples:
- During a stressful situation when you feel time is slipping away, close your eyes and visualize it as a flowing river. Imagine being able to modulate its flow according to your needs.
- When you have an important task to accomplish, do a positive visualization exercise. Imagine yourself calmly and fearlessly carrying it out.
- When you feel overwhelmed, take a few minutes to breathe deeply and refocus on the present moment. This can help you perceive time differently.
- Adopt a more flexible attitude to the unexpected. Think of them as an integral part of life and an opportunity to adapt creatively.
4. Don't Take Time too Seriously
It's important not to fall into the opposite trap either. Keeping a certain detachment and a dose of humor about our relationship with time can also be beneficial to our mental health.
Sometimes, it's healthy to remember that time has no real hold on us, and is above all a mental construct. Laughing at our obsessions with time, or our desperate attempts to control it, can help us put things into perspective.
The aim is not to completely neglect its management, but to maintain a certain lightness in the face of it. This will enable us to tame it better, rather than endure it with stress and anxiety.
The idea is to cultivate a certain lightness and not take time too seriously. This will help you tame it better, rather than endure it with stress and anxiety. Remember that time has no real hold on us; it is above all a mental construct.
Practical examples:
- Establish moments of "time out" in your day to allow yourself to be completely unconcerned about your "planning" . For example, take a 15-minute relaxation break without setting yourself any goals or limits.
- Have fun personifying time and giving it a rather zany character. Think of it as an old friend to whom you can sometimes give a mischievous retort.
- When you find yourself stressing about the lack of time, try to make fun of the situation. Ask yourself what your future self would think of your current worries.
- Organize regular "time wasting parties" with friends, where the aim is simply to spend time together doing nothing in particular. Give free rein to laziness and fun!
- Adopt fun expressions to talk about your time management, such as "running like a headless chicken" or "swimming in overtime" . This will help you stand back.
5. Conclusion: Take Time to Take Your Time
Ultimately, our relationship with time has a direct influence on our mental well-being. If the feeling of running out of time can be a source of stress and anxiety, it is possible to transform our vision to improve our psychological health.
The key to managing it better is to cultivate a posture of presence in the moment rather than always being in action, and to develop a more elastic and flexible perception of the unfolding of time.
These adjustments may require a certain amount of effort at the outset, but in the long run they allow you to feel more in tune with the rhythm of your life. You can then fully enjoy the present without being constantly preoccupied with racing against the clock.
Taking the time to take your time: that's the challenge we face to improve our mental health. With the right reflexes, we can all achieve this and gain serenity in our daily lives.
We encourage you to give these tips a try, and to e-mail us your results. If you have any questions, please contact us here or visit our Q&A.
References
Claessens, B. J., Van Eerde, W., Rutte, C. G., & Roe, R. A. (2007). A review of the time management literature. Personnel review, 36(2), 255-276 : https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/6750696.pdf
Tolle, E. (2010). Le pouvoir du moment présent : Guide d’éveil spirituel. Éditions Ariane : https://editions-ariane.com/livre/pouvoir-du-moment-present-le
Matthews, W. J., & Meck, W. H. (2016). Temporal cognition: Connecting subjective time to perception, attention, and memory. Psychological bulletin, 142(8), 865 : https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2016-24586-001.html
