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Insearchoflosttime

Whyiseveryonesobusy?Timepovertyisaproblempartlyofperceptionandpartlyofdistribution

Dec20th2014| Fromtheprintedition

THEpredictionssoundedlikepromises:inthefuture,workinghourswouldbeshortandvacationslong.Ourgrandchildren,reckonedJohnMaynardKeynesin1930,wouldworkaroundthreehoursadayandprobablyonlybychoice.Economicprogressandtechnologicaladvanceshadalreadyshrunkworkinghoursconsiderablybyhisday,andtherewasnoreasontobelievethistrendwouldnotcontinue.Whizzycarsandevermoretimesavingtoolsandappliancesguaranteedmorespeedandlessdrudgeryinallpartsoflife.Socialpsychologistsbegantofret:whateverwouldpeopledowithalltheirfreetime?

Thishasnotturnedouttobeoneoftheworldsmorepressingproblems.Everybody,everywhereseemstobebusy.Inthecorporateworld,aperennialtimescarcityproblemafflictsexecutivesallovertheglobe,andthematterhasonlygrownmoreacuteinrecentyears,sayanalystsatMcKinsey,aconsultancyfirm.Thesefeelingsareespeciallyprofoundamongworkingparents.Asforallthosetimesavinggizmos,manypeoplegrumblethatthesebitsofwizardrychewupfartoomuchoftheirdays,whethertheyaremoulderingintraffic,navigatingroboticvoicemessagingsystemsorscythingawayatemailsometimesallatonce.

Tick,tock

Whydopeoplefeelsorushed?Partofthisisaperceptionproblem.Onaverage,peopleinrichcountrieshavemoreleisuretimethantheyusedto.ThisisparticularlytrueinEurope,buteveninAmericaleisuretimehasbeeninchingupsince1965,whenformalnationaltimeusesurveysbegan.Americanmentoilforpaynearly12hourslessperweek,onaverage,thantheydid40yearsagoafallthatincludesallworkrelatedactivities,suchascommutingandwatercoolerbreaks.Womenspaidworkhasrisenalotoverthisperiod,buttheirtimeinunpaidwork,like

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cookingandcleaning,hasfallenevenmoredramatically,thanksinparttodishwashers,washingmachines,microwavesandothermodernconveniences,andalsotothefactthatmenshiftthemselvesalittlemorearoundthehousethantheyusedto.

Theproblem,then,islesshowmuchtimepeoplehavethanhowtheyseeit.Eversinceaclockwasfirstusedtosynchroniselabourinthe18thcentury,timehasbeenunderstoodinrelationtomoney.Oncehoursarefinanciallyquantified,peopleworrymoreaboutwasting,savingorusingthemprofitably.Wheneconomiesgrowandincomesrise,everyonestimebecomesmorevaluable.Andthemorevaluablesomethingbecomes,thescarceritseems.

Individualisticcultures,whichemphasiseachievementoveraffiliation,helpcultivatethistimeismoneymindset.Thiscreatesanurgencytomakeeverymomentcount,notesHarryTriandis,asocialpsychologistattheUniversityofIllinois.Larger,wealthycities,withtheirhigherwageratesandsoaringcostsofliving,raisethevalueofpeoplestimefurtherstill.NewYorkersarethriftierwiththeirminutesandmoreharriedthanresidentsofNairobi.LondonspedestriansareswifterthanthoseinLima.Thetempooflifeinrichcountriesisfasterthanthatofpoorcountries.Afastpaceleavesmostpeoplefeelingrushed.Oursenseoftime,observedWilliamJamesinhis1890masterwork,ThePrinciplesofPsychology,seemssubjecttothelawofcontrast.

Whenpeopleseetheirtimeintermsofmoney,theyoftengrowstingywiththeformertomaximisethelatter.Workerswhoarepaidbythehourvolunteerlessoftheirtimeandtendtofeelmoreantsywhentheyarenotworking.InanexperimentcarriedoutbySanfordDeVoeandJulianHouseattheUniversityofToronto,twodifferentgroupsofpeoplewereaskedtolistentothesamepassageofmusicthefirst86secondsofTheFlowerDuetfromtheoperaLakm.Beforethesong,onegroupwasaskedtogaugetheirhourlywage.Theparticipantswhomadethiscalculationendedupfeelinglesshappyandmoreimpatientwhilethemusicwasplaying.Theywantedtogettotheendoftheexperimenttodosomethingthatwasmoreprofitable,MrDeVoeexplains.

Therelationshipbetweentime,moneyandanxietyissomethingGaryS.BeckernoticedinAmericaspostwarboomyears.Thougheconomicprogressandhigherwageshadraisedeveryonesstandardofliving,thehoursoffreetimeAmericanshadbeenpromisedhadcometonought.Ifanything,timeisusedmorecarefullytodaythanacenturyago,henotedin1965.Hefoundthatwhenpeoplearepaidmoretowork,theytendtoworklongerhours,becauseworkingbecomesamoreprofitableuseoftime.Sotherisingvalueofworktimeputspressureonalltime.Leisuretimestartstoseemmorestressful,aspeoplefeelcompelledtouseitwiselyornotatall.

Theharriedleisureclass

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Thateconomicprosperitywouldcreatefeelingsoftimepovertylookedalittleoddinthe1960s,givenallthosenewtimesavingblendersandlawnmowers.Butthereisadistinctcorrelationbetweenprivilegeandpressure.Inpart,thisisaconundrumofwealth:thoughpeoplemaybeearningmoremoneytospend,theyarenotsimultaneouslyearningmoretimetospenditin.Thismakestimethatfrustratinglyfinite,unrenewableresourcefeelmoreprecious.

Beingbusycanmakeyourich,butbeingrichmakesyoufeelbusierstill

DanielHamermeshoftheUniversityofTexasatAustincallsthisayuppiekvetch.Inananalysisofinternationaltimestressdata,withJungminLee,nowofSogangUniversityinSeoul,hefoundthatcomplaintsaboutinsufficienttimecomedisproportionatelyfromwellofffamilies.Evenafterholdingconstantthehoursspentworkingatjobsorathome,thosewithbiggerpaychecksstillfeltmoreanxietyabouttheirtime.ThemorecashrichworkingAmericansare,themoretimepoortheyfeel,reportedGallup,apollingcompany,in2011.Fewsparedamomenttofeelmuchsympathy.

Sobeingbusycanmakeyourich,butbeingrichmakesyoufeelbusierstill.StaffanLinder,aSwedisheconomist,diagnosedthisproblemin1970.LikeBecker,hesawthatheadyincreasesintheproductivityofworktimecompelledpeopletomaximisetheutilityoftheirleisuretime.Themostdirectwaytodothiswouldbeforpeopletoconsumemoregoodswithinagivenunitoftime.Toindulgeinsuchsimultaneousconsumption,hewrote,achapmayfindhimselfdrinkingBraziliancoffee,smokingaDutchcigar,sippingaFrenchcognac,readingtheNewYorkTimes,listeningtoaBrandenburgConcertoandentertaininghisSwedishwifeallatthesametime,withvaryingdegreesofsuccess.Leisuretimewouldinevitablyfeellessleisurely,hesurmised,particularlyforthosewhoseemedbestplacedtoenjoyitall.Theunexpectedproductofeconomicprogress,accordingtoLinder,wasaharriedleisureclass.

Theexplosionofavailablegoodshasonlymadetimefeelmorecrunched,asthestruggletochoosewhattobuyorwatchoreatordoraisestheopportunitycostofleisure(ie,choosingonethingcomesattheexpenseofchoosinganother)andcontributestofeelingsofstress.Theendlesspossibilitiesaffordedbyasimpleinternetconnectionbogglethemind.Whentherearesomanywaystofillonestime,itisonlynaturaltocravemoreofit.Andpleasuresalwaysfeelfleeting.Suchthingsarerelative,asAlbertEinsteinnoted:Anhoursittingwithaprettygirlonaparkbenchpasseslikeaminute,butaminutesittingonahotstoveseemslikeanhour.

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Theabilitytosatisfydesiresinstantlyalsobreedsimpatience,fuelledbyanaggingsensethatonecouldbedoingsomuchelse.Peoplevisitwebsiteslessofteniftheyaremorethan250millisecondsslowerthanaclosecompetitor,accordingtoresearchfromGoogle.Morethanafifthofinternetuserswillabandonanonlinevideoifittakeslongerthanfivesecondstoload.Whenexperiencescanbecalculatedaccordingtotheutilityofamillisecond,allsecondsaremoreanxiouslyjudgedfortheirutility.

Newtechnologiessuchasemailandsmartphonesexacerbatethisimpatienceandanxiety.Emailetiquetteoftennecessitatesaresponsewithin24hours,withthegeneralunderstandingthatsoonerisbetter.Managingthisconstantandmountingdemandofteninvolvesswitchingtasksormultitasking,andthejobneverquitefeelsdone.Multitaskingiswhatmakesusfeelpressedfortime,saysElizabethDunn,apsychologyprofessorattheUniversityofBritishColumbiainVancouver,Canada.Nomatterwhatpeoplearedoing,peoplefeelbetterwhentheyarefocusedonthatactivity,sheadds.

Yettheshortageoftimeisaproblemnotjustofperception,butalsoofdistribution.Shiftsinthewaypeopleworkandlivehavechangedthewayleisuretimeisexperienced,andwhogetstoexperienceit.Forthepast20years,andbuckingprevioustrends,theworkerswhoarenowworkingthelongesthoursandjugglingthemostresponsibilitiesathomealsohappentobeamongthebesteducatedandbestpaid.Thesocalledleisureclasshasneverbeenmoreharried.

Racingtothetop

Writingin1962,SebastiandeGrazia,apoliticalscientist,castawitheringeyeacrossthegreatAmericanlandscape,dismayedbyalltherelentlessindustryandconsumption.IfexecutivesaresopowerfulaforceinAmerica,astheyindubitablyare,whydonttheygetmoreofthatfreetimewhicheverybodyelse,itseems,holdstobesoprecious?PerhapsitisfortunatedeGraziadidnotlivetoseethedaywhenexecutiveswouldnolongerbreakforlunch.

Thirtyyearsagolowpaid,bluecollarworkersweremorelikelytopunchinalongdaythantheirprofessionalcounterparts.Oneofthemanyperksofbeingasalariedemployeewasafairlymanageableandpredictableworkweek,somelonglunchesandtheoccasionalroundofgolf.EveningsmightbespentcurledupwithaSharperImagecataloguebyatoastyfire.

Butnowadaysprofessionalseverywherearetwiceaslikelytoworklonghoursastheirlesseducatedpeers.Fewwouldthinkofsparingtimefornineholesofgolf,muchless18.(Golfcoursesaroundtheworldarestrugglingtorevampthegametomakeitseemspeedyandcoolseearticle(http://www.economist.com/news/christmasspecials/21636688thoughthrivingpartsasiagolfstrugglingamericaandmucheurope).)Andlunchesnowtendtobeefficientaffairs,devouredatonesdesk,withaneyeontheemailinbox.Atsomepointtheseworkers

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mayfinallyleavetheoffice,buttheregularblinkingorchirpingoftheirsmartphoneskindlyservestoremindthemthattheirworkisneverdone.

AHarvardBusinessSchoolsurveyof1,000professionalsfoundthat94%workedatleast50hoursaweek,andalmosthalfworkedmorethan65hours.OtherresearchshowsthattheshareofcollegeeducatedAmericanmenregularlyworkingmorethan50hoursaweekrosefrom24%in1979to28%in2006.Accordingtoarecentsurvey,60%ofthosewhousesmartphonesareconnectedtoworkfor13.5hoursormoreaday.Europeanlabourlawsreininoverwork,butinBritainfourintenmanagers,victimsofwhatwasonceknownastheAmericandisease,saytheyputinmorethan60hoursaweek.Itisnolongershamefultobeseenswotting.

Allthisworkhasleftlesstimeforplay.Thoughleisuretimehasincreasedoverall,acloserlookshowsthatmostofthegainstookplacebetweenthe1960sandthe1980s.Sincetheneconomistshavenoticedagrowingleisuregap,withthelionsshareofsparetimegoingtopeoplewithlesseducation.

InAmerica,forexample,menwhodidnotfinishhighschoolgainednearlyeighthoursaweekofleisuretimebetween1985and2005.Menwithacollegedegree,however,sawtheirleisuretimedropbysixhoursduringthesameperiod,whichmeanstheyhaveevenlessleisurethantheydidin1965,sayMarkAguiarofPrincetonUniversityandErikHurstoftheUniversityofChicago.ThesamegoesforwelleducatedAmericanwomen,whonotonlyhavelessleisuretimethantheydidin1965,butalsonearly11hourslessperweekthanwomenwhodidnotgraduatefromhighschool.

Whataccountsforthisyawninggapbetweenthetimepoorhavesandthetimerichhavenots?Partofithastodowithstructuralchangestothelabourmarket.Workopportunitieshavedeclinedforanyonewithoutacollegedegree.Theavailabilityofmanufacturingandotherlowskilledjobshasshrunkintherichworld.Thejobsthatarelefttendtobeintheservicesector.Theyareoftenbothunsatisfyingandpoorlypaid.Sothevalueofworkinghoursamongtheundereducatedisfairlylowbymostmeasures,andtheriseinleisuretimemaynotbeanythingtoenvy.

Yettheleisuretimegapbetweenemployeeswithmoreandlesseducationisnotmerelyaproductoflabourmarketchanges.Lesswelleducatedmenalsospendlesstimesearchingforwork,doingoddjobsformoneyandgettingextratrainingthanunemployededucatedmen,andtheydolessworkaroundthehouseandspendlesstimewiththeirchildren.

Butthisdoesnotexplainwhysomanywelleducatedandbetterpaidpeoplehavelessleisuretimethantheydidinthe1960s.Variousfactorsmayaccountforthisphenomenon.Oneisthatcollegeeducatedworkersaremorelikelytoenjoywhattheydoforaliving,andidentifyclosely

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withtheircareers,soworklonghourswillingly.Particularlyatthetop,ademandingjobcanbeasourceofprestige,sotherewardsoflongerhoursgobeyondthefinancial.

Anotherreasonisthatallworkerstodayreportgreaterfeelingsofjobinsecurity.Sloweconomicgrowthandseriousdisruptionsinanynumberofindustries,frommediatoarchitecturetoadvertising,alongwithincreasingincomeinequality,havecreatedevermorecompetitionforinteresting,wellpaidjobs.Meanwhileinmuchoftherichworld,thecostofhousingandprivateeducationhassoared.Theycanalsoexpecttolivelonger,andsoneedtoensurethattheirpensionpotsarestockedwithamplecashforretirement.Facedwithsharpercompetition,highercostsandagreaterneedforsavings,eveneliteprofessionalsaremorenervousabouttheirprospectsthantheyusedtobe.Thiscankeeppeopleworkingintheirofficesatallhours,especiallyinAmerica,wheretherearefewlegallimitsontheworkinghoursofsalariedemployees.

Thisextratimeintheofficepaysoff.Becauseknowledgeworkershavefewmetricsforoutput,thetimepeoplespendattheirdesksisoftenseenasasignofproductivityandloyalty.Sothestoogewhoisinhisofficefirstthinginthemorningandlastatnightisnowconsistentlyrewardedwithraisesandpromotions,orsavedfrombudgetcuts.Sincethelate1990s,thislonghourspremiumhasearnedoverworkersabout6%moreperhourthantheirfulltimecounterparts,saysKimWeedenatCornellUniversity.(Italsohelpsreinforcethegenderwagegap,asworkingmothersarerarelyabletoputinthatkindoftimeinanoffice.)

Ultimately,morepeopleatthetoparetradingleisureforworkbecausethegainsofworkingandthecostsofshirkingarehigherthaneverbefore.Revealingly,inequalitiesinleisurehavecoincidedwithothermeasuresofinequality,inwagesandconsumption,whichhavebeenincreasingsteadilysincethe1980s.Whilethewagesofmostworkers,andparticularlyuneducatedworkers,haveeitherremainedstagnantorgrownslowly,theincomesatthetopandthoseattheverytopmostofallhavebeenrisingataswiftrate.Thismakesleisuretimeterriblyexpensive.

Soifleisurelinesswasonceabadgeofhonouramongthewelloffofthe19thcentury,inthewordsofThorstenVeblen,anAmericaneconomistatthetime,thenbusynessandevenstressfulfeelingsoftimescarcityhasbecomethatbadgenow.Tobepressedfortimehasbecomeasignofprosperity,anindicatorofsocialstatus,andonethatmostpeopleareinclinedtoclaim.Thisswitch,notesJonathanGershuny,thedirectorofOxfordUniversitysCentreforTimeUseResearch,isonlynaturalineconomieswherethemostimpressivepeopleseemtohavethemosttodo.

TheAmericanisalwaysinahurry

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Thoughprofessionalseverywherecomplainaboutlackingtime,thegripesareloudestinAmerica.Thismakessomesense:Americanworkerstoilsomeofthelongesthoursintheindustrialworld.Employersarenotrequiredtooffertheiremployeesproperholidays,butevenwhentheydo,theirworkersrarelyusethelot.Theaverageemployeetakesonlyhalfofwhatisallotted,and15%donttakeanyholidayatall,accordingtoasurveyfromGlassdoor,aconsultancy.Nowhereisthevalueofworkhigherandthevalueofleisurelower.Thisisthecountrythatinventedtakeawaycoffee,afterall.

SomeblameAmericaspuritanicalculture.Americansarealwaysinahurry,observedAlexisdeTocquevillemorethan150yearsago.Buttherealityismorecomplicated.Untilthe1970s,AmericanworkersputinthesamenumberofhoursastheaverageEuropean,andabitlessthantheFrench.Butthingschangedduringthebigeconomicshocksofthe1970s.InEuropelabourunionssuccessfullyfoughtforstablewages,areducedworkweekandmorejobprotection.Labourfriendlygovernmentscappedworkinghoursandmandatedholidays.Europeanworkersinessencetradedmoneyformoretimelowerwagesformoreholiday.Thisraisedtheutilityofleisure,becauseholidaysaremorefunandlesscostlywheneveryoneelseistakingtimeofftoo.ThoughEuropeanprofessionalsareworkinglongerhoursthaneverbefore,itisstillfairlyhardtofindoneinanofficeinAugust.

InAmerica,wherelabourunionshavealwaysbeenfarlesspowerful,thesameshocksledtojoblossesandincreasedcompetition.Inthe1980sRonaldReagancuttaxesandsocialwelfareprogrammes,whichincreasedeconomicinequalityandhaltedtheoveralldeclineinworkinghours.Therisingcostsofcertainbasicspensions,healthcareandhighereducation,muchofwhichisfundedorsubsidisedinEuropemakeitrationaltotrademoretimeformoney.AndbecauseAmericanholidaysaremorelimited,doledoutgrudginglybyemployers(ifatall),itishardertocoordinatetimeoffwithothers,whichlowersitsvalue,saysJohndeGraaf,executivedirectorofTakeBackYourTime,anadvocacyorganisationinAmerica.

ThereturnsonworkarealsopotentiallymuchhigherinAmerica,atleastforthosewithacollegedegree.Thisisbecausetaxesandtransferpaymentsdofarlesstobridgethegapbetweenrichandpoorthaninotherwealthynations,suchasBritain,FranceandIreland.Thestruggletoearnaplaceonthatnarrowpedestalencouragespeopletoslaveawayforincomparablylonghours.InAmericatheconsequencesofnotbeingatthetoparesodramaticthattheratraceisexacerbated,saysJosephStiglitz,aNobelprizewinningeconomist.Inawinnertakesallsocietyyouwouldexpectthistimecrunch.

Sorisingwages,risingcosts,diminishingjobsecurityandmoredemanding,rewardingworkareallsqueezingleisuretimeatleastforthefortunatefewforwhomworktimeisactuallyworthsomething.Butwithoutadoubtthenoisiestgrumblescomefromworkingparents,notleastthe

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welleducatedones.Timeusedatarevealswhythesepeopleneverhaveenoughtime:notonlyaretheyworkingthelongesthours,onaverage,buttheyarealsospendingthemosttimewiththeirchildren.

Americanmotherswithacollegedegree,forexample,spendroughly4.5hoursmoreperweekonchildcarethanmotherswithnoeducationbeyondhighschool.Thisgappersistsevenwhenthebettereducatedmotherworksoutsidethehome,assheisnowlikelytodo,accordingtoresearchfromJonathanGuryanandErikHurstoftheUniversityofChicago,andMelissaKearneyoftheUniversityofMaryland.Asforfathers,thosewithajobandacollegedegreespendfarmoretimewiththeirchildrenthanfatherseverusedto,and105%moretimethantheirlesseducatedmalepeers.Thesepatternscanbefoundaroundtheworld,particularlyinrelativelyrichcountries.

Iftheirleisuretimeissoscarce,whyarethesepeoplespendingsomuchofitdotingontheirsprogs,shepherdingthemfromtutorstorecitalstofootballgames?Whyarentsuccessfulprofessionalsoutsourcingmoreofthechildrearing?Thereareseveralreasonsforthis.Thefirstisthatpeoplesaytheyfinditfarmoremeaningfulthantimespentdoingmostotherthings,includingpaidworkandiftodaysprofessionalsvaluetheirtimeatworkmorethanyesterdaysdid,presumablytheyfeelthetimetheyspendparentingismorevaluablestill.Anotherreasonisthatparentsandabovealleducatedparentsarehavingchildrenlaterinlife,whichputstheminabetterpositionemotionallyandfinanciallytomakeamoreseriousinvestment.Whenchildrenaredeliberatelysought,sometimesexpensivelyso,parentingfeelsmorerewarding,evenifthisisjustaconfirmationbias.

Amotherswork

Theriseinfemaleemploymentalsoseemstohavecoincidedwith(orperhapsprecipitated)asimilarlysteepriseinstandardsforwhatitmeanstobeagoodparent,andespeciallyagoodmother.Nigglingfeelingsofguiltandambivalenceoverworkingoutsidethehome,togetherwithsomesocialpressures,compelmanywomentotrytofulfilidealisednotionsofmotherhoodaswell,saysJudyWajcman,asociologyprofessorattheLondonSchoolofEconomicsandauthorofanewbook,PressedforTime:TheAccelerationofLifeinDigitalCapitalism.

Thoughwomendolessworkaroundthehousethantheyusedto,thejobstheydotendtobetheneverendingones

Thestruggletohaveitallmaybeafairlyprivilegedmodernchallenge.Butitbearsnotingthateveninprofessionaldualincomehouseholds,mothersstillhandlethelionsshareofparentingparticularlythedaily,routinejobsthatneverfeelfinished.Attentivefathershandlemoreoftheenjoyabletasks,suchastakingchildrentogamesandplayingsports,whilemothersarestuckwithmostofthefeeding,cleaningandnagging.Thoughwomendolessworkaroundthe

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housethantheyusedto,thejobstheydotendtobetheneverendingones,liketidying,cookingandlaundry.Welleducatedmenchipinfarmorethantheirfatherseverdid,andmorethantheirlesseducatedpeers,butstillputinonlyhalfasmuchtimeaswomendo.Andmentendtodothediscretetasksthataremoreeasilycrossedofflists,suchasmowinglawnsorfixingthingsroundthehouse.Allofthishelpsexplainwhytimeformothers,andespeciallyworkingmothers,alwaysfeelsscarce.Workingmotherswithyoungchildrenarethemosttimescarcesegmentofsociety,saysGeoffreyGodbey,atimeuseexpertatPennStateUniversity.

Parentsalsonowhavefarmoreinsightintohowchildrenlearnanddevelop,sotheyhavemoretools(andfears)astheygroomtheirchildrenforadulthood.Thisreinforcesanotherreasonwhywelloffpeopleareinvestingsomuchtimeinparenthood:preparingchildrentosucceedisthebestwaytotransferprivilegefromonegenerationtothenext.Nowthatpeoplearelivinglonger,parentsarelesslikelytopassonabigfinancialbundlewhentheydie.Sothebestwaytoensuretheprosperityofoneschildrenistoprovidetheeducationandskillsneededtogetahead,particularlyasthishumancapitalgrowsevermoreimportantforsuccess.Thishelpsexplainwhyprivilegedparentsspendsomuchtimeworryingoverschoolsandchauffeuringtheirchildrentorsumenhancingactivities.Parentsarenowafraidofdoinglessthantheirneighbours,observesPhilipCohen,asociologyprofessorattheUniversityofMarylandwhostudiescontemporaryfamilies.Itcanfeellikeanarmsrace.

Notimetolose

Leisuretimeisnowthestuffofmyth.Somearecursedwithtoomuch.Othersfindittoocostlytoenjoy.Manyspendtheirsparemomentsstaringatascreenofsomekind,eventhoughdoingotherthings(visitingfriends,volunteeringatachurch)tendstomakepeoplehappier.Notafewpresumetheywillcashinonalltheirstoredleisuretimewhentheyfinallyretire,wheneverthatmaybe.Inthemeantime,beingbusyhasitsrewards.Otherwisewhywouldpeoplegotosuchtrouble?

Alastime,ultimately,isastrangeandslipperyresource,easilytraded,visibleonlywhenitpassesandoftenmosthighlyvaluedwhenitisgone.Noonehasevercomplainedofhavingtoomuchofit.Instead,mostpeopleworryoverhowitflies,andwonderwhereitgoes.Cruelly,itruns

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awayfasteraspeoplegetolder,aseachaccumulatingyeargrowslesssignificant,proportionally,butalsolessvivid.Experiencesbecomelessnovelandmorehabitual.Theyearssoonbleedtogetherandenduprushingpast,withthemostvibrantmemoriestuckedsomewherenearthebeginning.Andofcoursethemoreonetriestoholdontosomething,theswifteritseemstogo.

Writinginthefirstcentury,Senecawasstartledbyhowlittlepeopleseemedtovaluetheirlivesastheywerelivingthemhowbusy,terriblybusy,everyoneseemedtobe,mortalintheirfears,immortalintheirdesiresandwastefuloftheirtime.Henoticedhowevenwealthypeoplehustledtheirlivesalong,ruingtheirfortune,anticipatingatimeinthefuturewhentheywouldrest.Peoplearefrugalinguardingtheirpersonalpropertybutassoonasitcomestosquanderingtimetheyaremostwastefuloftheonethinginwhichitisrighttobestingy,heobservedinOntheShortnessofLife,perhapstheveryfirsttimemanagementselfhelpbook.TimeonEarthmaybeuncertainandfleeting,butnearlyeveryonehasenoughofittotakesomedeepbreaths,thinkdeepthoughtsandsmellsomeroses,deeply.Lifeislongifyouknowhowtouseit,hecounselled.

Nearly2,000yearslater,deGraziaofferedsimilaradvice.Modernlife,thatleisuresquandering,moneyhoarding,grindstonenosing,fripperybuyingbusiness,lefthimexasperated.Hesawthateveryoneeverywherewasrunning,running,running,buttowhere?Forwhat?Peopleweretradingtheirtimeforallsortsofthings,butwastheexchangeworthit?Heclosedhis1962tome,OfTime,WorkandLeisure,withaprescription:

Leanbackunderatree,putyourarmsbehindyourhead,wonderatthepasswevecometo,smileandrememberthatthebeginningsandendsofmanseverygreatenterpriseareuntidy.

Fromtheprintedition:ChristmasSpecials