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- Article By Lawrence Ko, Associate Director of Arrows With Soul

Many of us suffer from time pressure as we experience the compression of time in a rapidly changing world with so many possibilities and so little time to pursue them. Hence the oft-heard lament in Singapore: ‘Not enough time!'
 
At work, it is commendable that there are a few multi-taskers who seem to excel in doing several things simultaneously.
 


They remind us of those amazing acrobats balancing a dozen plates on the tip of several sticks ? The challenge is of course, not to keep them balanced but also spinning.


Not many of us do well with all the tasks that are stacked on us, each making a demand on our time like a delicate plate on a stick and appealing to us to keep them spinning above ground. Before long, our heads are in a spin too while our tummies churn relentlessly.
 
Stephen Rechtschaffen says that most of us suffer from ‘time poverty' as we are so busy seeking to go faster, do more and buy more so much so that we never get a chance to experience being alive.
In other words, we appear so rich in resources but yet are poor in being able to find time to enjoy life's blessings. Inevitably time poverty leads to stress and to stress-related ailments like heart disease, diabetes, fatique, insomnia and high blood pressure.
 
In his writings on timeshifting, Rechtschaffen reminds us that it is important to become aware of time as our resource to be used and enjoyed rather than our master who enslaves us.
 
We agree that we can become aware of the moments in our life and learn to enjoy each task at hand. In this way we truly develop greater work-life integration and discover greater satisfaction in our lives and work rather than become stressed by the demands on our precious time.
 
Here are a few suggestions to help us become aware of the moments in our lives...
 
Do one thing at a time, giving it your full attention rather than trying to rush into several things simultaneously.
As David Lock, founder-director of Arrows with Soul, often says, we have not seen multi-tasking street musicians or buskers cut CDs. Shift into the present moment and relish the task at hand, give it your best shot and do it well.
 
Pause and become aware of the phone ringing, the fragrance of the morning coffee, the afternoon tea, the photograph on your colleague's desk, and indeed take time to be inspired by the picture or poem you've placed on your own work desk !

Take several 3-5 minute ‘mini breaks' in the course of your busy day to breathe literally. Take time slowly to inhale and exhale, closing your eyes to relax and refresh your body. Get in touch with your senses again and revitalise your mind.
 
Honour the mundane. Be aware of the ordinary tasks you are doing, whether you are emptying the waste paper basket, cleaning your desk or sweeping the floor. This is an invaluable advice from Rechtschaffen who does appear to say the commonsensical but we need the reminder. I have learnt to enjoy the task of filling my jug of water and relishing the moment, giving thanks for clean potable water instead of getting flustered and impatient in the process. After all, it is only a minute or two of our time.
 
Create time boundaries. This could include getting early to meetings and allowing ourselves some time to compose and collect our thoughts without undue rush. It also could mean setting aside undisturbed time daily for ourselves to do nothing... no phone calls, no meetings, no activities. It could be our quiet time where we are not rushed and where we can unwind, journey inwards and shift into our internal rhythms.
 
The American poet Longfellow, once wrote to remind us that we are not mere animals marching meaninglessly to the muffled drumbeats through time to our graves. If life is precious and has inherent meaning, then we can discover that indeed to everything there is a season and time for everything under heaven.
 
Be aware of the gift of time today. Enjoy each moment and relish every task at hand and do it well. There is a time for everything on earth. 
 
copyrights reserved (C) 2010 Arrows with Soul Pte Ltd. Asian Journeys
 


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