Time Famine

What is time famine? It is a mental feeling of being starved for time; always feeling there is not enough time to do everything that we want to do and a state of being where the time is always less and the to-do list always longer. The term, Time Famine came about in scientific literature around 1999 and is now commonly understood to mean a mental state of not having enough time.

Time Famine makes us rush through the motions of life; sprinting across the days feeling exhausted and overwhelmed as opposed to savoring the existence. Time Famine can lead to mental health issues such as burnout, anxiety and depression which are on the rise. Time famine is becoming more common in the 21st century, as people find themselves struggling to keep up with the constant connectivity and are at same time losing control over their own time. According to the Families and Work Institute for the Department of Labor, two-thirds to three-quarters of wage earners say they don’t have enough time to be with their children, their spouses, or to spend on themselves.

It is not just that we are working longer and always staying connected to our devices but this lifestyle is made worse by our frantic mental state that makes us always function in a crisis mode. A study done of software engineering team found that the group’s crisis mentality perpetuated their sense of time famine. The study concluded that it’s not the number of hours you work that leads to time famine; it’s a frantic mindset of having too much to do and not enough time to do it that gets in the way of how you use time.

There are many factors that contributing to the increasing feeling of time famine. One of the biggest is the speed at which our lives are moving. Advances in technology have made it possible for us to communicate, work, and access information at a faster pace than ever before. This has increased the pace of work, leaving us less ‘down time’ and longer hours and more pressure to get more things done in same amount of time.

Another factor is the rise of multi-tasking. With so many demands on our time, people are often trying to do several things at once. A number of studies have shattered the myth that multi-tasking results in more efficiency and in reality, multi-tasking actually decreases our productivity and increases our stress levels.

Third, the pressure to be constantly connected is another major contributor to time famine. With the rise of social media and constancy of mobile phones, people are expected to be available and responsive around the clock. This can lead to feelings of guilt and stress, as well as a never-ending cycle of work and distractions.

Despite the challenges posed by our modern day overbooked schedules and pervasive technology, there steps that all of us can take to overcome Time Famine and get to a state of Time Affluence. Time Affluence is a state of being where you feel that you have free time. It’s feeling having “wealthy” in terms of your time. Here are some of the most effective strategies for getting to Time Affluence that that have been noted in various studies:

1. Learn to say no: Since the hours are limited in a day the key strategy for overcoming time famine is to reduce the list of tasks that have get done in a day; learn to say no to some things and make your the to-do list not all encompassing and exhaustive. This means learning to prioritize your own needs and goals, and declining invitations and requests that drain your time but are not important to you. By saying no, you are taking control of your time and this gives you a feeling of agency; and by making sure that you have the space and energy to focus on what is truly important to you there is a feeling of Time Affluence.
2. Take breaks to prioritize self-care: Taking regular breaks and ‘wasting’ time or more accurately indulging in time to do what you enjoy is essential for overcoming time famine. This means making time for activities that are not work related and are not errands and are things that you do just because you enjoy doing them or do them to only rest and recharge —doing nothing for the sheer pleasure of it gives you a state of Time Affluence. By having these time indulgences, you reduce the feeling of time famine and reduce the risk of burnout.
3. Use technology wisely: This point has been made repeatedly in recent times across various research, studies and testimonies that Technology can be a major distraction and drain on our time and energy. To overcome time famine, it is important to use technology wisely, setting boundaries around its use and learning to disconnect when necessary.
4. Delegate and outsource: This is the most important tool available to overcome Time Famine and it is to delegate and outsource tasks where possible. This means buying time by outsourcing tasks such as cleaning, grocery shopping, or administrative work to others, freeing up time for more important tasks. Studies have shown that buying time also promotes happiness. Delegating and outsourcing can also help to reduce stress, as it means that you no longer have to worry about everything being done perfectly.

Time famine is a growing challenge in the 21st century, but it is one that can be overcome. By setting priorities, recharging our minds and bodies, using technology effectively, and getting more time by outsourcing non-essential tasks, we can start savoring our lives – start learning how to consume time like eating a three course meal at fancy restaurant and not consume time like a starved person at a buffet.