Saving Time

What if we could rethink time itself to feel less rushed, more present, and truly alive?

1. The Origins of Timekeeping

Time wasn’t always a neatly divided series of hours and minutes. In earlier civilizations, time was more fluid and attuned to the rhythms of nature. Sundials, clepsydras, and the rising or setting sun were sufficient to guide daily life. The idea of slicing time into measurable portions only emerged centuries later for specific purposes.

In the sixth century, Benedictine monks introduced canonical hours, dividing the day into eight sections for prayer. This practice helped frame time into predictable slots. Later, the Cistercian monks used bell towers to regularize the schedule, paving the way for mechanized timekeeping.

By the eighteenth century, marine chronometers in Britain and, later, global time zones standardized by GMT cemented time as a tool of global power. The establishment of standardized time enabled trade, industry, and transportation to flourish, emphasizing efficiency over organic experience.

Examples

• Monasteries introduced bells to signal fixed prayer hours for the community.
• Marine chronometers allowed British ships to win naval dominance in the 1700s.
• Standardized time zones and GMT emerged due to the growing need for railway coordination.

2. Time Equals Money

The idea that time is money has strong roots in industrialization. Benjamin Franklin’s maxim encapsulates how hours became commodities to be used or wasted. In modern workplaces, this concept has reduced the worth of human effort to hours logged and tasks completed.

From Charlie Chaplin’s satirical Modern Times, portraying factory life’s race against the clock, to the pandemic-era monitoring software that tracks every keystroke, the pressure to justify one's time remains relentless. Workers feel their lives being measured and squeezed like toothpaste tubes.

This mindset also fuels debates about fairness. When forced to clock in and out, researchers and professionals argue that intellectual or creative labor cannot be subjected to rigid time constraints.

Examples

• Charlie Chaplin’s The Tramp humorously critiques time-saving worker exploitation.
• During the pandemic, remote employees reported invasive time-tracking software use.
• Italian physicists resisted punching in and out, challenging time commodification norms.

3. Not Everyone Has the Same 24 Hours

The mantra, “we all have the same 24 hours,” often ignores structural inequalities. A parent juggling child care and work, for example, doesn’t experience time the same way as a single, affluent individual. Socioeconomic factors, career demands, gender, and health shape how time is spent.

Certain groups have greater autonomy over their schedules, while others are constrained by obligations they cannot escape. For those marginalized by society, whether through caregiving, poverty, or dual shifts, time becomes a resource they cannot fully control.

Time, Odell argues, is relational and intertwined with power. Differences in how people can control their time underscore deeper societal inequities in freedom, opportunity, and well-being.

Examples

• Philosophy professor Robert E. Goodin calls “equal 24 hours” a cruel illusion.
• Caregivers often sacrifice leisure time to meet family or societal expectations.
• Hourly wage earners typically sell time for lower rates compared to salaried professionals.

4. The Pandemic and Our Distorted View of Time

The COVID-19 pandemic altered how people perceived time. Days blurred together, routines collapsed, and the clear demarcations of past, present, and future seemed to evaporate. Many reported “losing track of time,” but Odell highlights how this distortion resembles a deeper truth about its nature.

French philosopher Henri Bergson likens time to lava flowing forward, always in process, rather than a set of neatly filed moments. Time is inherently messy and overlapping. The strange days of the pandemic simply yanked this reality into focus.

Additionally, the pandemic's slower pacing gave more people the opportunity to reflect on existential concerns, such as climate change, as the rhythm of daily life came to a halt.

Examples

• Memes about weekdays becoming indistinguishable went viral during lockdown.
• Henri Bergson’s analogy of time as a flowing duration gained renewed relevance.
• People used newfound time to notice environmental changes, like clearer skies.

5. Time and Power Struggles

Odell argues time is not neutral; it is intrinsically tied to power dynamics. Those in positions of authority hold sway over how others spend their time, whether by demanding overwork or adhering to unreasonable rules. This imbalance perpetuates societal inequity.

Sarah Sharma’s studies underline the intersection of power with temporal experiences. A CEO, for instance, might have “flexible” time, while their assistant juggles scheduled duties. Recognizing these inequalities is a crucial step toward leveling the playing field.

Odell urges a reevaluation of whose time is deemed valuable—and how work environments might share freedom and responsibility more equitably.

Examples

• CEOs often benefit from flexible schedules, unlike administrative staff.
• Time-tracking software often targets underpaid workers disproportionately.
• Sarah Sharma’s work highlights systemic bias in structural time perception.

6. Lessons from Fairytales: Avoid the Golden Thread

Odell recounts a childhood fairytale in which a boy uses a spool of magic thread to fast-forward through life. Eager to skip hardships, he accelerates milestones until he finds himself near death, wondering where his life disappeared.

This tale is a cautionary metaphor for modern time-management obsessions. Constantly focusing on what’s next—without savoring current experiences—leads to an impoverished life, where moments slip away unnoticed.

The witch’s gift symbolizes how attempts to control time can backfire, making it disappear more rapidly rather than feel richer.

Examples

• The boy pulls at the golden thread, missing his own wedding and raising a family.
• Time-management tools can increase stress over perceived time scarcity.
• Perfectionist productivity goals neglect the joy found in spontaneous experiences.

7. Seizing Kairos, Not Just Time

Ancient Greeks distinguished time as either chronos (linear, structured) or kairos (moment-driven and situational). Odell suggests embracing kairos: the art of recognizing and acting at the opportune moment. While chronos symbolizes rigid planning, kairos facilitates creativity.

Life in kairos relies not on strict schedules but on sensing when to act or pause. This mode of thinking is particularly useful amid rapid societal changes and uncertain futures—allowing for resilience rather than stress over lost control.

Reframing one’s mindset toward kairos opens up opportunities to experience life more presently.

Examples

• Gardening depends on kairos timing, like planting after certain weather conditions.
• Writing a poem might require inspiration, which cannot be forced on chronos schedules.
• Kairos thinking softens deadlines, offering flexibility for unexpected opportunities.

8. Time’s Connection to the Climate Crisis

Crisis often warps our understanding of time. With the global climate clock ticking, humanity feels pressured to avert catastrophe before it’s too late. Short-term thinking fosters anxiety over individual contributions rather than collective global action.

Indigenous peoples understand time differently. Having lived through their own apocalypses, such as colonization, many communities view disaster as recurring rather than purely climactic. This historical perspective can help navigate environmental challenges optimistically.

Individual awareness coupled with systemic reform is necessary for balancing hope and urgency.

Examples

• Native authors like Elissa Washuta explore resilient post-apocalyptic identities.
• Many Indigenous cultures contextualize collapse as cyclical, not linear.
• Rising “climate dread” memes reflect shared collective anxiety worldwide.

9. Living Inside Time, Not Against It

Trying to control or extend one’s time—through grueling schedules or buying wellness products—often results in feeling more rushed rather than fulfilled. Odell argues we need to shift from saving time to appreciating it.

By immersing ourselves in the present rather than constantly planning ahead, we can embrace life’s fleeting beauty. Reflection, relationships, and gratitude should take precedence over frantic efficiency.

Recognizing time’s fluidity allows us to let go of control, opening the door for authentic living.

Examples

• Mindful walks in nature encourage deep engagement with surroundings.
• Reducing reliance on productivity apps can deepen life satisfaction.
• Ancient proverbs emphasize living in the moment rather than chasing it.

Takeaways

1. Reflect on daily habits that over-prioritize productivity—shift focus to experiences instead.
2. Cultivate awareness of how inequity shapes time management in your own life or workplace.
3. Embrace kairos moments to slow down and live more fully, particularly amid uncertainty.