The Limits of “Time Management” Thinking
For years, productivity has been obsessed with time management.
In one sense, we must manage our time to ensure that we do the things that are most important to us. Doing anything worthwhile takes time, so some management is necessary.
However, this mentality has often led us to see time only as an instrument and all blocks of time as equal, which they are not. Worse, this has led us to perceive our primary role in life as filling up our time with worthy actions, to the point where we feel guilty if we’re not “being productive” all the time.
One unit of time is very different from another unit of time. Rhythms within our bodies and within the world around us make each hour different from the next.
Mind Management, Not Time Management, by David Kadavy
We’ve been taught to manage time as if every hour is equal. But life doesn’t work that way. The quality of our moments matters more than the quantity of tasks we complete. Let’s examine two perspectives on time that can transform how we live.
Chronos and Kairos Time: Quantity vs. Quality
In her recent book, Tiny Experiments, Anne-Laure Le Cunff notes that the ancient Greeks employed two distinct words to denote different concepts of time.
Chronos described the quantitative difference in time. It treats time as something measurable — minutes, hours — without regard to the experience within them. A productivity and instrumental mentality toward time focused on Chronos time. It failed to recognize that different periods have different qualities.
However, another word, Kairos, was used to emphasize the unique quality of each moment. As humans, we don’t experience equal blocks of time in the same way. Sometimes, when we’re absorbed in our work, time “flies by.” At other times, such as when experiencing pain, it moves much more slowly. Sometimes, we are energetic and incredibly creative; at other times, we are tired, stressed, and struggle to focus or complete complex tasks.
Chronos time helps us to schedule activities and “manage” our time. What matters in life, however, often focuses on Kairos time.
Life Happens in Quality, Not Quantity
Writing in Tiny Experiments, Anne-Laure Le Cunff says, “Life is not about how much we do, but how well we do.” The real importance is not found in how many productive activities we can stuff into our lives, but what kind of a life we live.
The important questions about life are qualitative, not quantitative: Is it a life well-lived? Are we becoming the best person we can be?
I’m following a life roles-based system described in David Sparks’ Productivity Field Guide. As part of that system, I have written descriptions of what I consider my ideal behaviors in each role. I’m trying (but often failing) to use my time to live up to my ideal behaviors. That’s a focus on the unique quality of each moment of time (kairos), not the quantity of time (chronos).
Live Your Life With An Emphasis on Quality
The most significant step we can take is to notice what is happening now. Is there a beautiful view or sunset we should take some time to experience? How do we feel in the moment, exhausted or energized?
Lest this become too philosophical, there are some practical questions. How do you maintain deadlines and commitments while focusing on quality and intention? How do you get things done without focusing on quantitative blocks of time?
Flexible Focus Over Rigid Schedules
One option is not to practice strict advance time blocking, which typically treats all time blocks as equal. For instance, I list several tasks and a priority task I intend to complete during the day in the NotePlan app each morning.
As I go through my day, I monitor my circumstances and how I feel, especially my energy level (which tends to be much higher in the morning than in the afternoon), and select which tasks to work on at that time. This general approach works for me.
My approach is not the model; it’s simply what works for me. I encourage you to experiment and find what works best for you.
Moments That Matter, Not Minutes Filled
Life isn’t about how much time we fill, but how we fill the time we have.
Everything changes when we stop measuring time only by what we do and start noticing how we live. Tune into the moments that matter. That’s time well spent.
AI Note: I wrote this blog post myself, using my own words and thoughts for the initial draft. I used AI only to suggest headlines, section headings, and text improvements.
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