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Friday, June 26, 2015

Hours in the day



There are only so many hours in the day. Everybody fills every single hour. So how does anyone do anything new? By eliminating some of the things taking up time now. Basic math, but it's not all that simple.

Logically, it would seem easy to eliminate less productive things for more productive pursuits. The problem is that “less productive time” is filling some sort of need right now. For example: we'd like to think we'd give up mindless TV watching for reading great literature. Who can defend mindless TV, right?

Here's the thing, that mindless TV watching is currently filling a need. Maybe after a hard day's work some mindless comedy is just the thing for helping you unwind. Switching to the works of Shakespeare might not do it for you. It takes a bit of work, especially if you've never read the Bard before. The language takes some getting used to and maybe even some time reading all the footnotes. Learning a bit of History for some context will probably be necessary to fully appreciate what's going on. Maybe after the hard work of getting into good literature is done it'll then fill the need that mindless TV fills. I've heard of people who do mathematical problems to relax, so anything is possible.

Don't feel bad if you don't want to give up your mindless TV. Maybe you want TV and great literature in your life. Fine, but something else will have to go. Maybe you can find the time by giving up something else -preferably something that's not adding much to your life.

That forces a person to really take stock in what's going on day to day. Where does your time go? Are you spending time doing things you don't enjoy to impress people you don't like? How much of your life is rote and habit? How about your personal relationships? Just because someone is an old friend doesn't mean they are a good friend. Tough questions. Tough decisions.

The first bit of time that has to be cut out your day is the time for self reflection. Too many of us are too busy to think. Many like it that way, as thinking can be very uncomfortable. Change is also uncomfortable, but discovering what one really wants and making the decisions necessary to make it happen are priceless.

Oh, one little footnote. Avoid the mistake of cutting out hours of sleep. A good night's sleep is necessary for good health. It's also necessary for the proper assimilation of new knowledge. We've all shorted ourselves on sleep from time to time. Life sometimes makes that necessary. Just don't make it a habit.

-Sixbears

8 comments:

  1. My problem is more in line with staying productively employed. I read a lot, listen to the radios, try to do something outside each day. But it's been so damned hot and humid I can only work in the shade about thirty minutes at a time. Anything that has to be done in the sun has to be done at dawn or dusk.

    I have the completed collected works of Shakespeare , Easton Press editions. My daughter loves them but it's not among my interests. Other than good quotes, just not my cup of tea.

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    1. Rain keeps messing up my plans. Really hard to keep to any sort of a schedule. Much cooler here. I'm reminded of the times before AC when all the city folk would head to our mountains for the summer.

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  2. I've heard it said that we generally find the time for the things REALLY important to us. When you actually consider that, it can change your perspective about a lot of things.

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    1. You know, by looking at how we actually spend our time we can gain the insight of what's important to us rather than what we think is important.

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  3. Every night after prayers, I reflect on my day. What I did wrong or what I wasted time on. I try to eliminate those things the following day. Sometimes it works.

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    1. By putting your mind to something you are way ahead of those who don't.

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  4. Good thoughts, Sixbears. Devoting time to oneself is important, in whatever form it may come. Some are social animals, and some loners, but to each his own. I, like Chickenmom, try to have self-reflective quiet time, but mine is in the just-before-sleep moments. Good time spent for me, as I do waste a lot of precious time. One of the 3 things that once gone, are not recoverable, the other two being words and opportunity.

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    1. All we have in life is time, and know not the sum of our days.

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