Time-wasters
Posted: Sunday, January 03, 2010
by Joel Hirschhorn
http://www.delusionaldemocracy.com
Several recent negative experiences with people made me realize that far too many people we deal with, either in person or through electronic communication, end up being time-wasters. Nothing is more precious in life than our time. So when others through their stupidity, rigidity or ignorance keep provoking us into continued communication and involvement they should be summarily rejected as time-wasters.
To continue relationships with time-wasters is profoundly unhealthy, likely to increase our stress level as we try over and over either to change their views or, through politeness, keep listening to their repetitious drivel.
Yes, it is a tough and harsh decision to come to, but come to it we should. A major reason is that over time most of us have become increasingly time-poor. Meaning that more and more of a finite amount of time is being consumed with unproductive or certainly unnecessary activities, either that we choose or that are imposed on us, or become addicted to.
A major culprit in this time tragedy is technology. All the many so-called technological advances that our consumer culture makes us think are worthwhile end up gobbling our time, especially the many electronic devices and applications that so many people now find addictive. You know who you are. The people incessantly spending time on Internet sites or their iPhones and other wireless contraptions that plug you in and connect you up.
Both people and technologies can be time-wasters, if we let them. If we give up the freedom to control our lives, to break the chains of habit and addiction. If we do not apply critical thinking to decide if the person or activity is genuinely good and necessary for us.
There is no time to waste in deciding now what time-wasters can be eliminated from your life. Time to rediscover free time, time spent on introspection, daydreaming, silence, listening to nature, learning, and enjoyment without connective involvement.
Time to be more autonomous and less responsive, involved and consumed.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Exactly right. Time-wasters also have a habit, as do professional victims, of trying to bring you down. Well done, sir.
Joel,Excellent article. As much as I love the immediacy of the cell phone, in some respects, we are losing more than we are gaining by its presence. Even as one who runs a business online and am thus dependent on my ability to be connected, I am fully aware of what is being lost in the process.Thank you for a great write.
This is a great article; however, I think that connective involvement in most forms is healthy rather than a time-waster. Free time to explore one-self and other avenues of life can be great as well, so naturally it is all about balance than labeling any activity or another person as a time-waster. We should all learn to treasure time as you say but what may be good for another may be unhealthy for someone else. I do agree that rethinking what may be wasting productive time is excellent advice.
Very good, Joel. You didn't specifically mention it, but I'd rate gossip as among the biggest culprits. When you have time to complain, or even remark on someone else's actions, it's time to consider "getting a life. " :)
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