So yesterday I did a little experiment and covered all the clocks in the house so I wouldn’t be constantly aware of what time it was. Have you ever tried something like this before? It’s quite interesting, the time crawls by (mostly because I was also not allowing myself to surf the internet), and I assume it’s later than it actually is. It kind of throws you for a loop, and I realize how much I actually glance at the clock throughout the day. It definitely forces you to slow down too, because you’re not held captive to the clock. I think everyone should give it a shot, just to see how it affects us – and how our habits can actually control us in many ways. Why not try it – if not time, then why not any other habit (like surfing the net, wearing a certain piece of clothing, doing something at a certain time) and see how that changes things for you? I think forcing ourselves out of these habits for a day really makes us more aware of them, and whether or not we want them in our lives. (I actually quite like not knowing exactly what time it is :))
That would drive me nuts, which is precisely why I should try something like that. I’m all about cramming a lot of things into a small chunk of time, which means I am always looking at the clock. Before 2002, I always wore a watch because I needed to know exactly what time it was, and to make sure I was on time. Then I went to Brazil, and was told to just take off my watch and chill out a little bit about getting places on time. If the bus gets you somewhere late, so be it. You don’t have control over that. So since then, I haven’t worn a watch….but that doesn’t mean that I don’t still look for the time elsewhere. :P