🎶It’s 4pm, it’s already dark again
Who are you saving the daylight for? 🎶
That’s a lyric from the song “The Future is Dead” by musician and friend, Ken Yates.
Well, aren’t we off to a depressing start this week!
I know, I know, this newsletter usually has a more positive slant, but this lyric has been circling my head lately and maybe getting it out on paper will help with the earworm.
I just can’t stop thinking -
Who are you saving the daylight for?
We live in a time of unbelievable convenience.
We have dishwashers, grocery delivery, calendar automation, AI writing assistants.
We can book flights in 30 seconds. We can send money to almost anyone, instantly.
We can outsource pretty much anything.
Thanks to all of this, we are constantly “saving time.”
Getting your groceries delivered saves you a 45 minute grocery shop.
Having someone build your IKEA furniture saves you two hours (although this is my favourite job so before outsourcing this, just ask me to do it.) Reading AI-generated meeting notes with deliverables saves you from having to watch the whole hour-long meeting recording.
As we all move through the increasing conveniences of modern life, we are saving more and more time every day.
But do we really feel like we have more time? Or is it slipping away as quickly as we obtain it?
I’ve started reading RAPT: The Science of Attention and the Focused Life by Winifred Gallagher. It’s a very simple core principle, combined with some lovely prose and slightly complex writing style. Ironically, I can’t read too much of it at one time.
Her belief? Your life is what you pay attention to.
It’s not your values or even where you spend your time, but what you pay attention to each moment of every day. What you decide to focus on shapes your entire reality.
So, if you save an hour but spend it fragmented across 20 micro-distractions, you don’t experience “an hour back.” By mindlessly flitting through distractions, you managed to pay attention to.. nothing. (We’ve all been there.)
However, if you save an hour and intentionally walk outside before it gets dark, paying attention to the trees, birds and sounds, or call a friend and really listen to them, you may experience truly focused attention. You will feel that hour as part of your intentional life.
So What Are We Saving It For?
I’ve been asking myself: If I’m saving time… what am I saving it for?
And more importantly. Am I paying attention to it?
Here are a few ways I’m experimenting with actually feeling the time I save:
Name the time you saved.
When something makes your day more efficient, say it out loud. “That just saved me 20 minutes.” Awareness is step one.Immediately assign it somewhere.
Don’t let it float. Decide where it goes. A walk. A stretch. A phone call. A chapter of a book. Even 10 intentional minutes counts. (I only assign saved time to non-work related things that help flex my creative muscles.)Set a Timer. I know I already used this one in my 20 minute cleaning advice, but setting a timer makes me feel better and makes sure I don’t let my 10 minute time saving relaxation/phone call/walk leak into the rest of my day.
Ask the uncomfortable question.
If I’m always “too busy,” what am I actually busy paying attention to?
It’s not just about saving daylight, it’s about saving it for something better - something that allows you to feel engrossed, inspired, connected or relaxed.
If you’ve been using your new found time to pick up a new hobby, reconnect with an old friend, or work on a personal goal, let me know!
