I don’t like the idea of killing time. I don’t like the idea of killing anything. But when it comes to killing time, do you do it?
I can’t remember when it was I heard this quote, but it’s stuck with me like a sticky bun sticks to my fingertips.
‘Life and time is like a toilet roll
Unknown
The nearer you get to the end
The quicker it runs out.’
How to manage time before retirement.
Before I retired from full-time work in 2012, my life was hectic, and time was often my enemy. With deadlines to meet and places to be, I was forever rushing around like somebody who was too busy to tell anybody how busy I was.
I’d look at people’s schedules and wonder how they could easily complete everything. Some people seem to be naturally gifted at managing their time – or maybe they were better at saying “no” to distractions than I was?
However, I’m proud that I’ve always been a good timekeeper. I’d rather look after time than kill it.
I always arrive at appointments with lots of time to spare. And then it backfires on me as I start questioning myself about the time I am wasting when sitting in a waiting room or killing time when window shopping in the high street while I wait for a friend.
Maybe I should start arriving late than early? But the thought of being late for anything is something I can not face.
How do I look after time?
In many ways. But one thing that has helped me is to use time wisely by keeping a daily schedule.
I write down the things that I want to accomplish that day, and then I try to stick to that schedule as much as possible. Of course, things come up, and I need to be flexible, but having a structure in my day helps me feel like I am using my time wisely.
Another thing that helps me is to prioritise my tasks. I try to focus on the most important things rather than wasting time on things that don’t matter. This helps me be more productive and feel less stressed.
How do you kill time if you don’t have enough of it?
I’ve never liked the thought of killing time because I don’t usually have enough of it to get everything done in my day. After all, how can you kill something that you don’t have?
How often do you hear somebody say, ‘I don’t have enough time’ or ‘I wish I had more time?’
When we’re enjoying ourselves, time tricks us. It makes us think it’s going fast or gone quickly. Whereas when we’re doing something we don’t enjoy, it reverses that trick by making us think it’s going slow. Yet, all along, it has travelled at its usual pace.
When I was at school, time seemed to go slowly. I remember the school summer holidays and how those six weeks of freedom seemed to last forever. They seemed endless until the nightmare of the night before returning began.
Even the two-week Christmas school break seemed to last forever. Back then, time was my best friend. It was always there and gave me as much of what it had as I wanted.
When time runs out on you.
Then, I got my first job and soon found myself fighting for time and trying desperately not to allow it to leave. It was as if time was upset with me and wanted to leave. If only I had saved up some of the spare time from my childhood. It would have come in very useful.
Work days would always go quickly. Somebody told me it was a sign of being busy. I’d arrive at work dreading the full week ahead, but it would often pass me by like an intercity express train.
When Friday afternoon arrived, the thought of all that free time over the weekend would put a big smile on my face.
Even better was when the weekend was extended because of a public holiday. I remember being told by a work colleague, ‘ Three days of time to roam free‘. It’s yet another ‘time’ quote I’ve never forgotten.
Time is like money. Those who spend it wisely, will never lose it.
Hugh W. Roberts
Yet, when the office clock struck five and a long weekend was upon me, why did I resist going home and getting the long weekend started? Was I fooling myself by believing that the long weekend would last even longer if I delayed it? Or was it because I wanted to enjoy that feeling of ‘three days of time to roam free’ even longer?
Time doesn’t stop for anybody, so why was I kidding myself?
Time after retirement. And why do some people find time boring?
When I retired, the thought of all that spare time on my hands was one of the benefits of retirement.
At first, I had no idea what I would do with all my spare time. However, I knew that I would not allow myself to get bored or become addicted to daytime television or social media.
When I hear people say they are bored, I want to arrest them and put them in ‘time jail.’ How can anybody get bored with their time?
When I see people on social media saying they’re bored, not only do I ask them how anybody can get bored on social media, but if they’re bored, do something less boring than spend time on social media.
I’m proud to say that I’ve never been bored or addicted to daytime television or social media.
Looking back, I wonder how I managed to fit everything in. Where did I find the time to work and find all the time enjoying a social life that often took me away on vacation or on long weekend breaks? It’s something I never found out the answers to.
Fast forward to the present, and I ask, ‘Where does the time go?’
Unlike my early years, days, weeks, and months seem to zoom past even more quickly. I often compare my life to the toilet roll I mentioned at the beginning of this post.
I was never good at mathematics. And when it comes to time, the maths still doesn’t add up.
But even with good time management skills, sometimes I feel like time is slipping away. It’s a strange feeling – like I’m racing against the clock and can never quite catch up.
But at the end of the day, I try to be grateful for my time and make the most of it. Because, as the saying goes, time waits for no one.
How do you manage your time? Do you kill time, or are you somebody who never seems to have enough of it? Is time your friend, or is it an enemy? Do you have any tips on freeing up more time? Share them in the comments section.
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Great insights! 👌 Your blog always offers valuable and engaging content. Keep up the fantastic work! 🙌
Thank you so much.
Loved this post Hugh. I know I’m not alone in feeling, the older we get, the faster time feels it’s moving, or maybe it’s just the whole universe. But kill time, no way. Time is precious, and I don’t remember the last century I ever said I was bored. Somehow. there isn’t enough time to get everything done, especially as writers. <3
Thanks, Debby. Even with retirement, there never seems to be enough time. And I still don’t know how I held a full-time job, had a social life, and did all the chores within 24 hours a day. I would have thought that as we slow down as we get older, so would time. But it doesn’t seem that’s the case.
You are correct, somehow it doesn’t slow down, it’s racing by, so we have to enjoy every day. :)
So much of this blog resonated with me and I suspect, many others. The summer holidays did feel like it would stretch on forever, the thought of time dragging at the start of a school or work week – it’s like Einstein said, time is relative.
It’s something I am constantly battling with – how do I spend more time on creative pursuits? I aim for an average of two hours a day, but so far this year I’m barely above half of that. Why? I’m getting the house ready to sell and obviously that has an impact but the truth is, I was struggling before that to get near two hours.
I’m taking ownership of it. It’s my fault, which is good because the solution is in my hands. Like today, Sunday, I’ve decided to spend the first four hours on creative things (blogs and blogging being one of them) and four hours after lunch on more practical things. If I achieve that I’ll feel settled, I won’t go into the new week thinking I’ve done too much of one thing but not enough of the other.
A thought provoking blog Hugh, and I consider it time well spent reading and commenting on it!
Finding the perfect balance on what we spend our time on can sometimes be difficult, Paul. When I find myself doing chores that can wait a day longer, I tell myself that I’ve earned time to do creative things like working on my writing and blogging. Time runs out quickly, so use it wisely.
Good to hear that you’re spending your time wisely today. I hope nothing got in the way.
Have a great week.
Thanks Hugh I will, my birthday which I’ll be spending in the studio on new song which I love doing, then off to Cumbria at the weekend to see my family. Have a good one yourself!
Happy Birthday, Paul. I look forward to hearing the new song. And enjoy your time with the family.
Cheers Hugh.
Ahh time. The one thing none of us can get more of, yet some people just seem to be able to squeeze so much out of the same 24 hours we all have. Personally, I’m a big fan of making lists and setting priorities. I start each day/week with a prioritized list. I usually get through it all, but not always.
As for boredom, I have an overactive brain and so many things to do an explore. I don’t recall the last time I felt bored.
I still can not understand anyone being bored, Michelle. There is so much in life and the world to discover. I only have to look out of the window to see what is waiting for me outside.
Great post, Hugh. I retired in 2012 and have never been bored. In fact, I could a few more hours in my day. WordPress keeps me busy and fills the void of those hours spent when I worked. I am a very energetic person and enjoy every moment of the day and night.
Good to hear you’ve never been bored, Eugi. It sounds like retirement is keeping you busy. You retired the same year as I did. I can’t believe it’s been 11 years. Where did the time go?
I know the feeling as it seems time just flew by.
Good post, Hugh. This: ‘When I hear people say they are bored, I want to arrest them and put them in ‘time jail.’ How can anybody get bored with their time?’
Time is the most important thing we have! Too many things to do and find out about, too little time!!
Glad you enjoyed it, Terry.
I agree with what you say. That’s why I can’t understand anyone saying they are bored. I see it so much on social media.
I’ve took early retirement eight years ago and still feel like I don’t have enough time. The lovely thing about not working, though, is that I can fill my time with more of what I love – time with my beloveds (canine and human!), walking, writing, travelling and the sports I enjoy, such as skiing and windsurfing.
Like you, I think people should be sent to boredom prison, although I would like to run rehabilitation there to introduce people to all the possibilities and wonderful things the world has to offer! I’m fortunate to have a curious nature, so I have tried so many different things. That is how I found my passions – and what I didn’t like. Despite rock climbing, ballooning, skydiving, flying, gliding, paragliding and bungi jumping, I have still not overcome my fear of heights!
Good to hear you are making the most of all the time retirement has given you, Jacqueline.
It sounds like retirement has opened many new doors for you. And well done for trying out so many new things. I also fear heights, although not so much when there is glass between me and what is on the otherside.
Enjoy all the free time retirement brings, and never allow boredom to enter your life.
Schedules are the answer, especially as we age and have more difficulty remembering. Thank you for this post, Hugh.
I’m amazed at how little downtime I have in retirement. I prefer to be busy as long as it doesn’t feel like work. The only people I know who are unhappy in retirement are those without things in their lives that get them excited for a new day. I could use an extra 3-4 hours a day.
Same here, Pete. I prefer to be busy during the day but come late afternoon, I like to wind down a little and relax even more. I always switch off technology around 5pm so that evenings are technology free (apart from streaming TV shows).
And you’re right about doing things that do not feel like work. I see so many bloggers who turn blogging into a chore and end up abandoning something they intended to enjoy.
Bloggers who apologize because they’re looking after their self-care or family and personal obligations leave me scratching my head. This is supposed to be fun, and if it ever becomes something that isn’t, I’m looking for a new hobby.😎
I totally agree with you, Pete.
Hi Hugh, what a great conversation piece that clock is. Love it!! My days fly by. It’s so funny that you wrote about this because my husband and I were just talking tonight about how fast time has gone. We’ve known each other for 40 years, wow!! Been married for 29 of those years.
I’m a caregiver and keep a calendar. A lot of my tasks roll over to the next day, and even next week. Other things come up that take priority. It’s always a balancing act.
I never understood people being bored either, Hugh. I can honestly say I’ve never been bored. There is so much to do in this life. I suppose not everyone has hobbies or other interests? And there are always opportunities to volunteer if someone has too much time on their hands.
I found the clock in a hotel we stayed at a few years ago, Leigh. It was ‘Alice in Wonderland’ themed.
Everything seems to come around so quickly now. Birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries… It never used to be like that.
Good to hear you have never been bored either, Lea. The thought of being bored is something I’d put in a horror movie. I’m guessing those who say they are bored are not motivated to do anything. That seems a total waste of time and life to me. I’m so pleased I never became like that.
Congratulation on 40 years of being together. My partner and I have been together for 30 years this September. Those 30 years seem to have gone in the blink of an eye.
Now retired, I often find myself saying ‘How did I ever have time to work?!’
I cannot imagine being bored, either. Great post.
I know, right? How did we manage everything we did when we were working full-time? It must have been some kind of magic.
I am completely with you! I cannot imagine ever being bored and having the need to kill time. Too many ideas, visions, interests… no, that can never happen 😂
I hope it never does, Erika. I still don’t know how anyone can be bored. When I lived in London, there was a saying – bored of London? Then you’re bored with life!’
Ha, that nails it well 😄
Loved this post, Hugh! My brain goes so many ways in this discussion. When I worked full time and was a single mom, time was non-existent. Everything flew by but in my 30s and 40s I had the energy to handle it. I even had a part time gig doing proofreading! Time is definitely a construct but I tend to live by the hours on the clock. Being retired has given me permission to let some time go by, it’s mine I earned it and if I want to “waste” a few minutes, then I will. I don’t like killing time, it’s been good to me. I enjoy having a schedule I follow every day.
That being said, when time does fly by, something called “flow” gives us that impression. When skill matches the challenge, time goes quickly while we do the things we love. We can even get into flow at work because skill matches the challenge often times.
Regardless I am a multi Tasker by nature. I’m sitting in the nail salon getting a pedicure and reading blog posts. Great way to spend my time.
Thanks for a thought provoking post, Hugh!
Thanks for explaining the science behind why time seems to go fast or slow down, Terri. I sometimes still feel hard done by when time goes quick, though. I feel like I’ve lost some of it because I’ve enjoyed it so much. And when it slows down, I feel hard done by because of what I’ve been doing. Nevertheless, I try and enjoy it as much as I can. It’s a fascinating subject.
Good to hear you don’t waste time even when having your nails done. I’m not good at reading on my phone. I think I’ve spoilt myself with a 27-inch computer screen on which I do most of my reading. Now if only I could take that when I’m sat in a waiting room.
Great post! I like how you expressed how time goes so quickly when you’re doing something you like, and so slowly when you’re doing something you don’t like. That’s so true I find. I’m retired as well. I’m on a whole food plant based diet and it just seems like most of the time I spend to extend a healthy life, is on food prep. and walking (running) 10 miles a day. So, to make room for other things like posting hear, I find getting up by 5 am. is key.
I don’t know about you, but when I was working, when the alarm went off in the morning to get up, I had to drag myself out of bed. I could have stayed there for a few more hours. Now I’m retired, I like to get up early and make the most of the day, although not as early as you. I’m up and about by 06:30 every morning.
Running 10 miles a day sounds exhausting, but well done for doing it.
Not everyday. Just three times a week. The rest of the time I walk. I used to stay in bed until 7 am. But then I got bored with myself. So now I get up at 5 so I can fit being here on WordPress into my day.
That’s a great reason to get up earlier. I fit WordPress in during my day. I sign onto it almost daily, but it varies how long I spend on it daily.
Good show Hugh! Can’t wait to see what you write about next :0)
A very timely topic, Hugh. :)
I think we can all add a chapter to your post about time, as it is so important to us. I know for a fact that I will never, ever be bored. Ever! And, when someone says they are bored, like you, I don’t understand and I wish they could just give that extra time to someone who could use it.
So, I’m someone who never has enough time and for whom the end of the day always arrives too quickly. I an and was super busy in any stage of my life, even now when traveling around the world. I don’t have a TV and am selfish on social media, meaning, I just post photos, check my notifications, and react to comments. I don’t browse and I don’t check how or what my friends are doing. That would suck too much time out of my day. It’s busy enough.
On the flip side, Mark and I have a lot of time. We are doing what we want and we travel very slowly. We always say that we are not rich in money, but we are rich in time, because we don’t live a conventional life with nine to five jobs. Our wealth comes in the form of time and experiences.
And isn’t it a curious thing that the older we get, the faster time goes. I have no explanation for that. Maybe because we have more responsibilities, hobbies, and commitments than when we were young?
Time is a subject that has always fascinated me, Liesbet.
Glad to hear that you’d never be bored. Given that you are constantly travelling and exploring new places, I can understand why.
I’m not sure people who say they are bored need more time. They seem to have too much time on their hands to know what to do with it. Or it could be that they are not motivated enough to do anything. But anything has to be better than being bored.
Your days sound like they are full to bursting. And I think that’s great. There must never be a dull moment in it. Given your blog posts, I think I’m right.
Being rich in time sounds great. I only wish I had more of that spare time when I was younger.
You could be right about time going faster because of the extra commitments and responsibilities we have when we get older. Maybe we care more carefree in our younger years?
Thanks so much for joining the conversation about the fascinating subject of time. Now I need to find where I parked my TARDIS.
Great post, Hugh. You are so right. If we are not careful, time can so easily get away from us. I am so busy trying to manage everything required for work at the same time as my personal interests and hobbies, not to mention the boring domestic stuff – laundry and ironing anyone? I dream of the time I will have once I’m retired to let me do everything I want, but I realised I was putting so much on hold. I need to live now and manage my time as effectively as I can to allow me to do that. Now I make use of scheduling and keeping a bullet journal. Ifind it keeps me better organised and focused. I loved your comment about being able to save time from the summer holidays – if only! 😆
Glad you enjoyed this post, Brenda. Time is a subject that fascinates me.
Regarding time and retirement, I thought I’d have plenty of time once I retired, yet time plays tricks on me because it seems to go quick and I seem to never have enough time to do everything I want. If only I could get back some of that everlasting time I had when I was a child.
Having a schedule does help, and I love crossing things off lists, yet there always seem to be something else to add. But what I need to remember is that time is for us to enjoy. So long as you enjoy your time, then you’re not doing anything wrong. So when retirement does come, enjoy every moment of it.
I plan to … thanks Hugh 😁
I love that pic!
And the quote about time running out quicker as it nears the end of the roll couldn’t be more true. It feels as though I only recently retired and suddenly it’s 13 years ago!
Returning retirees used to tell us they didn’t know how they used to find time for work, and that’s true as well. Every evening when I finally sit down to unwind I have a list of things I intended to do today, now shunted on to tomorrow.
And we don’t live near the grandchildren, so I don’t even have that excuse… until we visit.
Isn’t it strange how the days, weeks, months and years go so much quicker in the latter years of our lives. It’s hard to believe just how quickly events of the year come around. Much faster than when I was younger.
And it’s true about looking back and wondering how on earth we managed to fit everything in when we were working. It has to be some kind of magic, yes?
My work days are very busy, so I try to get one thing (something outside my work) done every day. Then, I can get more than 200+ things done in a year, which isn’t too bad, I guess. 😅 Just waiting for early retirement with less money saved!
That’s a great way of looking at it, Joey.
‘Never put off today what can be done tomorrow. ‘ That’s another quote I love.
I’ve never been bored, Hugh. I tend to take time as it comes and try to make the best of it.
That’s great advice, Dan. As my grandmother said ‘every moment of time is precious, so enjoy every moment of it.’ She was right.