Are we in control or time controls us? What do you think? Time is in control because it pre-determines aspects of our life and it is unstoppable. How? Well that is what we are about to figure out as we read this blog post. Also, if time controls us then what are we in control of? We will discuss that as well. So, let us not waste more time and get started 😉
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What is Time?
Time is way of measuring the duration or sequence of events. Time is used to organize the past present and future.
Ways of measuring time are as follows:
- A year or how long it takes the Earth to go around the Sun once. The yearly calendar widely used throughout the world is based on the birth of Jesus. The birth of Jesus was a starting point of calculating each year from then on. A year would be every time Earth completes an orbital revolution around the Sun and reaches the point at where Jesus was born.
- A month or a section out of the 12 sections in a year. Every year is split into 12 and each of those section are months.
- A week or a section out the 4 sections in a month.
- A day or a section out of the 7 sections that make up a week. A day is a measurement of how long it takes the Earth to go around itself once.
- An hour or a section out of the 24 sections in a day.
- A minute or a section out of the 60 sections in an hour.
- A second or a section out of the 60 sections in a minute.
As we can see that time is a means of making it easier for us to comprehend past present and future. For example, how would someone keep track of there age without time? Oh, I have been a live for while?
Time is also an important factor in many physical and scientific theories.
One theory in science that emphasizes the importance of time is the theory of relativity, first proposed by Albert Einstein in 1905. According to this theory, time is not absolute, but is relative to the observer and the speed at which they are moving.
This means that time can appear to move more slowly or more quickly depending on the observer’s relative motion.
Is time real?
The idea that time might be an illusion is a concept that has been explored in philosophy, physics, and other fields. One of the reasons why time could be considered an illusion is that our perception of time is subjective and can vary depending on our experiences and circumstances.
For example, time can seem to move more slowly or quickly depending on our state of mind. When we are waiting for something to happen or are bored, time can seem to drag on, while when we are engaged in something we enjoy or are excited about, time can seem to pass very quickly. This suggests that our experience of time is not objective but is instead shaped by our perceptions and emotions.
Additionally, in some physical theories, time is not considered a fundamental aspect of the universe but rather emerges from other physical phenomena.
For example, in certain interpretations of quantum mechanics, time is considered an emergent property that arises from the entanglement of particles. This view suggests that time may not be an absolute or fundamental aspect of reality, but rather a consequence of other underlying physical processes.
Overall, the idea that time might be an illusion is a complex and controversial concept that has been explored from many different angles.
While there is no consensus on whether time is an illusion or a fundamental aspect of reality, it is clear that our perception and experience of time are highly subjective and can vary depending on our context and circumstances.
The 2 ways in which time controls us
Pre-determined
Time controls us through certain aspects of our life being pre-determined. The time for those certain aspects is set and we are not able to change them. Here are a couple examples of how time controls us through pre-determined aspects:
Age
Age refers to different stages or periods of life, such as childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. These stages are often characterized by specific physical, cognitive, and emotional changes and milestones.
We are born at a certain time that is not under our control, and we are determined to leave this world at a certain time as well. Nobody is able to negotiate how long they live. Furthermore, no one knows exactly when they will die. Hector Berlioz once said, “Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils.”
If you check out this website, they have a timer for a lot of statistics. One of them is death rate.
We all have a specified amount of time for childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. If you graduated high school that is it, you are never ever going to be in high school again. There is also no guarantee we will get through all these stages.
This explains why time is in control over how long we have to live. When it is time, it is time!
Cosmic events
The movement of planets and stars, eclipses, and other astronomical events are predetermined and can be predicted using mathematical calculations.
All of these are out of our control. We don’t control how long it takes for the Earth to go around the Sun(year) or around itself(day).
You can’t wake up one day and say I need a repeat of the night because I didn’t sleep well. No, it doesn’t matter what happened it will never change based on your needs. C.S. Lewis once said, “The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.”
We see here that days are a matter of time. A day is always going to be 24hrs no matter how differently you calculate it.
Unstoppable
We just learned about the pre-determined aspects in our life that relate to time. Furthermore, time is also unstoppable. Time waits for no one. Take a look at the clock on your wall or on your phone. The second hand will keep on ticking and ticking away. Take a peak at what if time stopped by watching this video made by the YouTube channel What if https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQGDx1Z-B-0.
Time controls us through not stopping because it creates a sense of urgency and inevitability in our lives. The fact that time is always moving forward means that we are constantly faced with deadlines, goals, and expectations that we need to meet within a certain timeframe. This can create a sense of pressure and stress, as we feel the need to constantly keep up with the pace of time.
For instance, we may be rushing to catch a flight, and make careless mistakes or forget important items as a result. Or, we may be trying to meet a deadline at work, and sacrifice the quality of our work or our own well-being in the process. Time never slows down or stops to wait for you to catch up.
Additionally, the passage of time creates a sense of impermanence and transience in our lives. The fact that everything is constantly changing and moving forward means that we can never fully hold onto anything, and that we are always in a state of flux. This can create a sense of unease and anxiety, as we grapple with the inevitability of change and the fact that everything is fleeting.
If time controls us, what are we in control of?
While time is a fundamental force that shapes our lives, we still have some degree of control over how we use the time that we have. We may not be able to stop or slow down time, but we can choose how we spend it, what we prioritize, and how we respond to the events and circumstances that unfold around us.
We are in control of our own choices, actions, and attitudes, which can shape our experiences of time and the outcomes that we achieve. For example, we can choose to be productive with our time, or we can waste it on unimportant or unfulfilling activities.
We can choose to focus on the present moment, or we can spend our time worrying about the past or the future. Lao Tzu once said, “Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time,’ is like saying, ‘I don’t want to.”
We know now that time controls us and we are only in control of how we choose to use it. A great way to get started controlling how you use your time is by tracking what you do with your time. If you know what you do with your time regularly, you will be able to control what you do.
I found this video made by Matt D’Avella on YouTube where he explains his experience tracking his time for the length of three months.
If you are someone who likes to write things down and use a pen and paper I would recommend this time tracker note book on Amazon. There are spaces to track your daily time spent on projects by hour. And also, they have a selection of other kinds of useful notebooks.
The top 4 time tracking apps
Time tracking apps are designed to help users track and manage their time spent on specific tasks or projects. They can be useful for individuals, teams, and organizations looking to improve productivity, increase accountability, and analyze time usage patterns.
RescueTime
RescueTime is a time tracking app that runs in the background and automatically tracks time spent on different apps, websites, and activities. It includes features like goal tracking, productivity reports, and the ability to set alerts for excessive screen time.
Check out their video walkthrough on their website and they are also offering a free two-week trial! https://www.rescuetime.com/
ManicTime
ManicTime is a time tracking app that records and analyzes how you spend your time on your computer. It includes features like automatic time tracking, detailed reports, and integrations with other apps. It also works offline because it is a local app with no connection to a cloud. They are offering a free 30-day trial! Check it out here for more details. https://www.manictime.com/
Forest
Forest is a time tracking app that uses gamification to help users stay focused and avoid distractions. It includes features like a virtual tree-planting game, progress tracking, and integrations with other apps like Trello and Google Calendar. Want to track your time and have fun doing it?! https://www.forestapp.cc/
DeskTime
DeskTime is a time tracking app that allows users to track time spent on different tasks and projects, view productivity reports, and manage team schedules. It includes features like website and app monitoring, idle time detection, and integrations with popular apps like Trello and Asana. https://youtu.be/auJ0kqjGEbM
These are just a few examples of the many time tracking apps available for different purposes and needs. When choosing a time tracking app, it’s important to consider factors like ease of use, features, pricing, and integrations with other apps and tools.
To conclude
Hopefully I was able to shed some light on the topic of time and how it is in control. And I hope you are anxious to know how your time is slipping away.
Something is telling me you are interested in investing your time wisely. I would recommend you take a look at my time management tips blog next.
Yes, time controls us, but you control you!
So long…