How to Disconnect from the Clock

Recently while on an extended vacation, I realized none of the clocks in our condo were working, except for one.

There's something to be said for "island time," that expression that refers to the slower pace of life experienced in the tropics and while living on an island. No one is in a hurry (except maybe the tourists), and time itself becomes unimportant.

Time is such a peculiar concept. It doesn't really exist (except as a man-made concept) and yet we put so much stock into it.

We're constantly measuring time...biological clocks are ticking, we fume over wasted minutes spent in traffic or standing in lines, we think about the years we've wasted on this or that, how long it's been since we've seen so-and-so, and how quickly the kids do grow up.

We're overbooked and overscheduled, rushing from this to that and multitasking like fiends to cram as much crap into as little time as possible.

And nearly everyone I meet says things like "there just aren't enough hours in the day."

Poppycock.

Time is just an illusion, and we can control how we spend it. Of course, it would require us to first stop thinking that we are stuck in any particular time, space or circumstance, or that our time is not our own.

There's a digital clock in my car, three in my kitchen (microwave, oven and coffee maker), one in my bedroom, one in my bathroom, one on every computer and iPhone in our house (and that's quite a few) and goodness knows where else. I don't suppose it matters much that I stopped wearing watches years ago.

But what if we truly lived on island time? No stress, no rushing, no hurrying up the children, just taking things in stride and moving at whatever pace feels most natural.

It's easy to be on island time when you're on vacation. There's no place to go, nowhere you have to be at any given time.

But what happens when you get back home? "Back to reality," most people would say. You ditch the stress-free lifestyle and get back to the grind, ruled by the clock and counting down the days till your next vacation or day off. What would your life even look like if you were less ruled by the clock? Would you be less productive, or more? Would you spend more or less quality time with loved ones? More or less vacations? More or less stress?

Yes, there are important and time-sensitive matters (such as court dates, appointments and getting the children to school on time), but besides all that, can you see that there is much room for you to disconnect from clocks and time in general?

Can you see how it would virtually eliminate impatience from your demeanor?

Let's be honest: are you completely satisfied with your relationship to time, or is it "time" for a change?

This week, look for ways that you can put yourself on "island time" and disconnect from the clock -- even if it's only for an hour or so. You're sure to be glad you did.