There are some universal truths about time. There are sixty seconds in a minute. There are 365 days in a year (except for leap years that have 366, of course). There are 24 hours in every day. Try as you might, there’s no changing these truths — it’s just how things are.
However, the formulaic nature of time doesn’t mean it always feels the same. Some days fly by in the blink of an eye, while others drag on endlessly. The difference isn’t in the hours, minutes, or seconds that make up those days; it’s how they are perceived. When you perceive time differently based on your schedule or work style, it naturally impacts your productivity. Here’s a breakdown of how that happens and what you can do to make it work in your favor.
The Procrastination Approach
Waiting until the last minute before something’s due is anxiety-inducing. Doubts pop into your head, wondering if you’ll make it in time or if an issue will prevent you from finishing. However, procrastinating is still a preferred approach for many people in several areas of life.
It’s not for everyone, but procrastination is integral to how some people approach work. And procrastinators tend to feel like time goes twice as fast when they’re productive. If that’s you, the seconds on the clock ticking down with great speed as you approach your deadline drives you. It’s the fuel to your fire and the wind in your sails. If you’re good at procrastinating, it doesn’t prevent you from getting the job done; it simply provides motivation.
However, procrastination doesn’t have to be your go-to approach. You can use your calendar’s functionality to better prepare for upcoming tasks. Most calendar tools — like Google Calendar and Calendar — offer ample scheduling resources. Put those to use and, at the very least, make your procrastination time as efficient as possible. Or change your ways and start planning ahead so you have enough time to complete the necessary tasks.
Busy Bees
Being busy keeps you moving, whether it’s meeting heavy days at work or a packed social calendar. You’re jumping from one activity or obligation to the next before tackling even more after that. The days are exhilarating, and time often feels like it’s flying by.
The best part? You’re probably so caught up in the chaos that you hardly notice. You’re working away without so much as glancing at a clock. Before you know it, the day is nearly done — and the same can be said about your to-do list.
Being busy can be highly motivating because you’re forced to keep moving. That creates momentum and encourages more to get done. However, it can also be a quick way to burn yourself out and struggle to maintain a manageable pace. If you love being busy but feel thin, take a step back to refocus. Don’t worry; you can return to your productive ways when you’re feeling ready and more efficient.
Having Slow Days
Some days, you’re grasping at straws, trying to find something to do. You have wide gaps in your calendar and are left twiddling your thumbs. Without so much as a task to check off a list, you’re counting the seconds until it’s time to do something else.
This is probably a familiar feeling for most people. A few days of the week are hectic, with more going on than you can manage. Others are slower, with each minute dragging on. Even though the days have the same amount of time, slow ones can feel 10 times longer. And that perspective can make productivity feel out of reach.
It’s funny because you’d think the opposite is true — a day that feels longer means more time to get stuff done. However, slow days often occur because tasks are few and far between or already done. So, lean into the day’s slowness and soak up your free time. Spend the extra time tackling something you keep putting off or plan for a busier time to get ahead. Before you know it, your responsibilities will reoccur, having you longing for a chiller pace.
Meticulous Planners
With every second of your day accounted for, it’s hard to think about anything other than what you have planned. There’s time for all your work or school requirements, personal interests, and social obligations. For this reason, meticulous planners often feel time moves at a more consistent pace.
They’re not caught up in the chaos procrastinators feel during crunch time. They’re not overcoming the boredom of slow days either. They simply have a plan and are sticking to it. Of course, that doesn’t mean their days aren’t busy — rest assured they are. It just means there’s a guide for the day that can make even the craziest schedules feel more digestible.
With that comes a maintainable level of productivity. There’s flexibility to schedule productive time as well as relaxation. There’s time to readjust if a task doesn’t take as long as anticipated, too. And there’s harmony between the work, chill time, and productivity that avoids burnout. While it’s not always possible to plan for everything, this approach and perception of time are sustainable and fun.
A Little Bit of Everything
While you may identify as a procrastinator or a planner at heart, most people fall somewhere in the middle. There are days with a strict timeline that are busy. There are also days with flexible schedules and a lighter workload.
Navigating this middle ground is instrumental when productivity is your goal. You’re living in the in-between, teetering between days that speed by and ones that go on for what feels like forever. With that big fluctuation from day to day, you need to be adaptable. Find pockets of time where you can be your most productive self. Leave other periods for guilt-free relaxation and recovery.
This balance isn’t as easy to strike as it may appear. You may feel drawn to be productive during slower days and be left feeling restless. Or you could be hit with a wave of laziness on a busy day where responsibilities won’t stop. Navigating each of those while maintaining a good headspace is challenging but possible. It just requires a bit of experience and skill development over time.
Be Your Most Productive Self
Aiming to be more productive or get more out of each day isn’t a new goal for many. An extra hour or two could be all you need to finish your to-do list or get to that task you’ve been avoiding. But that’s unfortunately not how it works.
Instead, you’re forced to find an approach to your time that works for you. And how you perceive time in the day can significantly influence that decision. So, keep a close eye on what your typical day feels and looks like. Use that to inform the perception you seek to create regarding time and your responsibilities. Once that’s in place, you can confidently make the most of all 24 hours in your day.
Featured Image Credit: Photo by Mikhail Nilov; Pexels
Abby Miller
Student at UC Berkeley, currently working on a degree in Electrical Engineering/Computer Sciences and Business Administration. Experienced in CSX, productivity management, and chatbot implementation.