Settle Into Deep Time
Recently my mentor Dr. Jennie Byrne introduced me to the concept of time confetti - the process of trying to do too much during scarce periods of free time, such that each moment is occupied with another minor task. Time confetti nibbles at our days, making them pass quickly in a blur that is inherently dissatisfying in its rapidity. Time confetti gives us the sense of being always busy, yet never getting anything done. The experience is highly stress-inducing, and extremely normal. Numerous forces in our lives push towards time confetti, the most pervasive and noxious being smartphone notifications that pull us out of focus and normalize multi-tasking.
Contrast this with the experience of deep time, an experience of the awareness of the transient nature of our own lives and the precious and perhaps touching on the fleeting opportunity to find and offer great joy, thoughtfulness, kindness and presence. Deep time asks that we see ourselves as humans in the context of geologic time, and become humble and present given how brief our time on Earth truly is.
To connect with a more spacious version of time, I have found that abandoning time-tracking and notifications sometimes is a critically important step. When I take off my watch, put down my phone and step outside, I am able to connect with the world all around me, unfolding on its own time. Immersion in my outdoor tasks such as building or gardening becomes a measure of time. Our imposition of clock time onto a mind and body that evolved to tell time by the sun and track tasks with the seasons gives us immense power, but can also be a source of significant stress on our physical and emotional systems. Taking breaks from the stress of time confetti and days punctuated by unfulfilling micro tasks seems both sensible and necessary to me.
In some sense, the traditional Sabbath was designed to be just this - a day when people could collectively take a break from the press of worldly concerns to settle into deep time. Each of us has the power and space to create spacious Sabbath traditions that fit our modern lives. I recommend at a minimum turning off your phone, removing your Smart Watch if you have one, and going outside to observe and contemplate the rhythms of nature unfolding around you. These days we need time set aside for rest and reflection more than ever, so explore Sabbath traditions that feel the most nourishing and sustainable for you. You were not put on this Earth to respond to notifications and messages continuously, and taking back your time is a way of establishing your sovereignty over your own life.