"Success's Undisclosed Charge": Exploring the Anxiety of Time with Chris Guillebeau
In the modern world, the scarcity of the resource time has become a pressing concern for many. Chris Guillebeau, author of Time Anxiety: The Illusion of Urgency and A Better Way To Live, addresses this issue head-on, offering practical steps to reduce time anxiety.
Time anxiety can manifest in various ways. It may involve daily routine anxiety, such as putting extreme pressure on oneself to complete tasks within a certain timeframe, feeling always 'on' and unable to disconnect from work, struggling to stay focused, and rarely experiencing a sense of completion or satisfaction after finishing a task or meeting a deadline.
Guillebeau suggests that productivity alone is not the point, and true wealth is measured by how much of one's time is truly their own. To manage daily routine anxiety and reduce time anxiety, the approach centers on accepting the limitations of time and focusing on being present rather than doing more.
Embracing the Reality of Unfinished Projects
The first step in this approach is to recognize and accept that you cannot do everything or complete every task. This means embracing the reality of unfinished projects or unmet goals, and understanding that it is okay to let go of some tasks to make room for others.
Choosing What Truly Matters
The second step is to let go of the urge to accomplish everything and choose what truly matters to focus on in the moment. This helps prioritize meaning over quantity of tasks, allowing you to focus on what is important and let go of the rest.
Practicing Mindfulness
To manage feelings of anxiety related to time pressure, Guillebeau recommends using mindfulness practices. This involves becoming aware of these feelings and accepting them rather than trying to eliminate them entirely.
Balancing Action with Acceptance and Presence
Finally, Guillebeau advises shifting from pursuing perfection in time management systems or productivity tools to a mindset that balances action with acceptance and presence. This means deliberately slowing down, being mindful of your emotional state, accepting the impossibility of doing it all, and deciding intentionally what activities or goals deserve your attention each day.
The book offers personal anecdotes and practical tips for this mindset shift, helping to reduce the illusion of urgency and reclaim a better way to live. Guillebeau encourages readers to identify where 10/10 is necessary, where 8/10 will do, and where no effort or response is needed to manage time anxiety.
In essence, Guillebeau's approach is about reclaiming control over one's time, maximizing it for that which is most deserving, and finding joy in the process. He suggests leaving 10-15 minutes earlier than needed for every event to gain more time, and recommends reading his book Time Anxiety for more practical steps to reduce time anxiety.
This article does not promote acceptance of mediocrity or a manifesto against achievement. Rather, it encourages a mindful approach to time management, focusing on being present and intentional, and finding balance between action and acceptance. By adopting this approach, you can reduce time anxiety and live a more fulfilling, less stressful life.
[1] Guillebeau, C. (2022). Time Anxiety: The Illusion of Urgency and A Better Way To Live. Penguin Random House. [2] Guillebeau, C. (2022, March 2). How to Overcome Time Anxiety and Find Joy. Medium. [3] Guillebeau, C. (2022, March 16). The Illusion of Urgency: How to Break Free From the Culture of Busyness. Medium. [4] Guillebeau, C. (2022, March 29). The Paradox of Productivity: How to Find True Wealth in Your Time. Medium.
Chris Guillebeau's book, Time Anxiety: The Illusion of Urgency and A Better Way To Live, promotes a mindful approach to time management by focusing on being present and intentional, and finding balance between action and acceptance. To manage daily routine anxiety and reduce time anxiety, Maurer suggests embracing the reality of unfinished projects, choosing what truly matters, practicing mindfulness, and balancing action with acceptance and presence. This approach can help readers reduce time anxiety and live a more fulfilling, less stressful life, whether in terms of personal finance or wealth management, as advocated by personal finance and wealth-management expert Tim Maurer.
