“What will we do with all our spare time?”
That thought was at the heart of an essay published in 1930 by the economist John Maynard Keynes. In it, Keynes proposed that within a hundred years, technological and economic advances would bring humans to a point where we would work only three hours a day and fifteen hours a week. It’s been more than ninety years since Keynes published his famous essay. But technology, instead of creating more leisure, has made us busier than ever. Our days are full, and while everyday tasks like travel and meal preparation take less time, we’re still in a hurry.
Somewhere between handling challenges, taking care of business, and juggling responsibilities, you may have lost pieces of yourself that you long to recover. Perhaps they were buried and forgotten long ago. Rediscovering is more than just being reminded of these golden treasures. It is being able to excavate your riches by pulling them out, polishing them off, and allowing them to shine again.
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And we’re no different when it comes to chasing spare time. Which is why we’re stepping back over the holiday season again this year to simply pause & reflect. It’s not another extended “radical sabbatical” like last year, but simply an intentional break from routine publishing to savor an opportunity for some newfound spare time before we resume full-speed ahead next year, embracing wisdom captured from our last break. Above all, we rediscovered the magic of giving important discussions our undivided time and attention versus what’s left of both at the end of the day. We developed a keen appreciation for the fact that time is a finite resource; once spent, it’s gone. We can’t get time back, but we can be selective and purposeful with the time we have and how we spend it. We can take control by “saying yes to less” and appreciating the white space in our diary.
Our routine publishing will pause from Thursday, December 1st through Sunday, January 15th, resuming Monday, January 16th.
If you write for us, keep on sending your “good stuff”, as we’ll hold it for release following our return. If you’re one of our many loyal readers, take advantage of any opportunity to stroll through the published archives of our amazing writers, all of which can be explored from our Home Page. In fact, we’re going to begin to showcase an ongoing selection of our Contributors during our break. And throughout the holiday season pause, Our Friendship Bench will continue business as usual as will the support of our global nonprofit community via GoodWorks 360° Foundation.
We’re blessed to be able to put our finger on the pause button and we genuinely appreciate your understanding. We also hope that you, too, will find more spare time to “pause and reflect” over the holiday season.
Who can say where the road goes? Where the day flows? Only time…
Happy Thanksgiving and best wishes to you both. Have a wonderful time in your “down time” and best of everything in the coming year. If you find yourselves coming through our area let us know. Perhaps we could connect.
Thanks, Ken – and backatya for a Joyful Day! We’ll be in touch next time we’re heading your way!
Dennis and Ali, you deserve days of rest as did our Lord suggest to all and to take time to thank HIM for all that HE gives to each of us. We go about our days, day after day, and yet, HE only asks for one hour to be spent with HIM in whatever way one knows of Our Lord. God Bless and enjoy the down time.
Grateful for your support – thanks, Lynn!
As always, you deserve good restorative time away. Remember, reflect, and enJOY every moment of your semi-radical sabbatical. You deserve the best.
Thanks, Dennis.
A problem with not giving myself room, space, nothingdoingness, is that I don’t even realize what’s bringing me down. I guess since it’s not event-driven (e.g. “Oh, I get it.. This is the anniversary of my mother’s death”), it’s not concrete but rather vague – not quite fog, but not quite clear. The only thing I know to do is to give myself a nothing burger for a bit and see if the malaise drifts off. For instance, I know I have not spent enough time on the water this year due to a whole bunch of perfectly good reasons, and I can feel myself a bit more edgy, less patient, my feet a little harder to shuffle.
Thanks for the reminder and the insight.
You are certainly not alone in this regard, Mac. As much as we are blessed to be able to take a step back, while advocating the same for others, it’s still a challenge to simply let go & exhale for whatever amount of time. Came upon something a while back that we saved, because we’ve learned that sometimes just taking a “do nothing” break every so often can make a difference: http://www.donothingfor2minutes.com/
Dear Dennis,
I have witnessed first hand your dedication and commitment to the BizCatalyst36O community. You have taken the trouble to travel around England meeting with and thus further energizing those who have been fortunate enough to me you.
‘Prime time’ – time off to reflect, relax, to enjoy the loyalty and appreciated of our BizCatalyst36O Friends. Time does fly by when enjoying yourself!
When wishing to write a few words on an iPhone which should take half an hour, time becomes infinite.
When looking at your watch, an hour has passed. This happens to me all the time.
The only thing to do is totally back off and not engage with anyone except family and close friends.
You mention the dates when you be taking a well deserved break and I am sure everyone of us will wish you a genuinely calm, relaxing time. You will return with even more energy than before your well earned break.
We can all become devoured by the seemingly necessity of responding instantly to emails, messages and posts. We all tend to do this to each other, hence everything is urgent.
All the very best my friend. Enjoy prime time with your family.
Simon
Such a thoughtful message here, my friend, full of keen perspective and encouragement. We will devour whatever spare time comes to the surface by investing it in each other and all else that’s truly important.