Time Crimes™ Dailen Wrather Final Blog Post

    As I review the notes I took on my passage from Four Thousand Weeks, it seems each conflict was a consequence of feeling the need to control time, rather than existing in it—needlessly intense planning, postponing the present to live in a hypothetical, desired future, feeling guilty about time “wasted” on rest and recuperation. I, myself, developed a very unproductive complex about time when I got to college. I would rarely allow myself to enjoy recreational activities or even go visit my family, because that’s time I could be using to do my homework. Even if I got nothing done during that window, even if I just ended up laying down the entire time, I’d feel less guilty about how I spent that time. At work, making unfortunately low wages, I began feeling frustrated with how my time was monetarily valued. Whether it be for a check or an academic investment, there always seems to be a transaction when I make a decision with how to “spend” my time. Before each semester, it became a gag for me and my family to joke about how I “won’t be a whole person for a while,” or to share sarcastic farewells such as “see you at Christmas!” 

    Chapter 7 dealt with the unproductive habits of worrying and planning. Logically, it makes sense that worrying doesn’t impact the future and that excessive planning influences an uncertain future very minimally. That reality isn’t enough to convert people like me, though, who live in fear of failing or disappointing people or myself for not having put that consideration into the future. This article helps articulate why anxious people can’t just turn it off. We get it’s often irrational, and we don’t want to feel this way any more than you don’t want us to. What has helped me personally and rang true with friends and family members I have discussed this with is to become more accepting and comfortable with an uncertain future. Remembering that regardless of what happens, you will get through it, as you have for your entire life. Recognizing that the amount of time and energy poured into being anxious and trying to control the future is itself a waste of time. Time that could be used more productively in the present. It’s not the perfect solution, still maintaining that complex about using time “productively,” but by redefining what I consider to be a “productive” use of time, I can rewire my problematic habits into a more fruitful and mindful practice. 

    Another time crime™ I’m guilty of is postponing activities or desires to wait for the perfect set of circumstances to enact them in. I discussed in class that body image has kept me from doing certain things or even behaving in certain ways, but I’ve found that my unproductive relationship to time has kept me the most stagnant. If I don’t have a surplus of time to do something I just want to do, I abstain. Particularly for creative projects, I won’t start something unless I have the next day free, as well. I’ve always wanted to start writing fiction, but always say that when I’ve learned more or read more, then I can start. There always seems to be a justification I can craft based on a (hypothetical) better use of my time or (hypothetical) better time period down the line.

    The next chapter focuses in on exclusively using time to situate yourself to be in a better position in the future. In the United States, capitalist and “pull yourself up with your bootstraps” ideologies are incredibly prevalent. When striving for that American Dream keeps you from enjoying your present every step of the way until age sixty-seven, it’s not worth it. 

    Additionally, when we allow ourselves to do something that isn’t tied to productivity, we demand enriching experiences almost to compensate for a lack of professional or economical value. He expands on this notion in chapter nine when he warns that we could fall victim “…to add[ing] to your mental storehouse of experiences, in the hope that you’ll feel later on, that you’ve used your life well” Each moment is commodified in some way, as we attach a value (whether monetary, professional, or a measure of personal, human growth) to every minute of our lives. We decide what can be considered a worthwhile use of our time based on its lasting ramifications, which eliminates every potential and capacity for truly enriching present moments. I aim to emulate his son by “…participating unconditionally in the moment in which he found himself.” Every now and then I have to remind myself that I exist outside of my academics, outside of my jobs—that I can do anything I want, and many things can bring me genuine joy right then and there. 

    Chapter 9 redefined what we consider as rest and leisure, which have become such dirty words in a hyper-independent and productive country. Every encouragement of self-care and rest is offered with the intent to make you more productive by taking care of yourself; that rest is only valuable if it enables you to continue working or to work harder, in whatever context. To rest for the human enjoyment of leisure, we must first understand that skipping rest does not get us any closer to an unattainable position of invulnerable happiness. This notion has been implemented to reinforce the industrialist work ethic and systems during a time when we have the most free-time to enjoy. 

    All pictures are from this pinterest board because I find content creation to be one of the most insightful interactions with profound and arbitrary topics like these (in particular because anyone can contribute without requiring some level of accreditation or qualification). Drop your username in the comments if you want to be a collaborator on the board:) or, drop your favorite meme or post having to do with happiness, time, or anything else we have discussed this semester. I owe may thanks to you guys for making this course a fulfilling experience, rather than just a mark on my transcript.