Saturday
30Jan2010
Wondering about Free Time
So what is this thing called "free time"? What are are we supposed to do with it? If we do do something with it, is it no longer free?
I have a great deal of difficulty with free time. To me, free time is idle and idle is not something I do well. Take right now, for example (at the time of this writing). I've been in back-to-back meetings, including a lunch meeting, since 9:00 a.m. Its now after 3:00 p.m. I'm in Starbucks with a Chai Latte, my Blackberry and the local paper. This is "free time" until my next scheduled appointment at 4:00. But what, exactly, is free about it?
- I paid for my Chai Latte.
- I checked my Blackberry and answered all of my email and text messages for the day.
- I read the paper (the parts worth reading).
- And now I'm writing this piece questioning the "free" in "free time".
Admittedly, I have no answer here. Some people have told me that having free time helps to quiet their minds so that they can think. For me, quite the opposite happens. Free time tends to allow my mind to shift into overtime because its not focused on any particular task or activity.
Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be one of the lucky people who can take mini power naps and meditate their minds into blank pages. There are many days when I would welcome that ability... I just don't have it.
Let us focus for a moment on language. The word "free" as related to "time" is an oxymoron of sorts. Maybe I should refer to it as unscheduled time or time not yet dedicated to a particular purpose. Also, when we have un-dedicated time, but have a list of tasks to be completed... shouldn't some of that time be allocated to the tasks at hand?
- Hmmmm... as an organizer and self-proclaimed time-management expert, I would immeidately respond "yes", you should cross something off of your to-do list.
- The somewhat creative person in me says "do something crafty like knit or paint or redecorate your living room."
- The tired writer, currently sitting in Starbucks finishing the last drop of a now room temperature Chai Latte says "screw it... just sit, listen to the music, look at the people, and continue to scribble on this piece of looseleaf paper (yes, long-hand)".
Note to self: only cats have free time. This is a picture of Malachy enjoying his.
Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 11:14PM
Reader Comments (1)
To me free time is un-dedicated time, moments when nothing "must" happen. That is my definition of a vacation. Which doesn't mean that I don't do anything. Sometimes I even do more than when I plan a lot. I do whatever comes into my mind. Possibly knitting indeed, or reading. Or ironing, just two or tree pieces. When I do that several times a week, al laundry is back in the closet.