The calendar paradox

We use calendars to give ourselves greater control over our time*

Then we can become so good at allocating every hour that we eliminate the experience of having time that is actually ours.

So here's a small experiment. For a week, at the end of each day, look back at your calendar and ask:

How much empty space was there in my calendar?

How much of that time actually felt unclaimed?

How much choice did I feel I had about what happened next?

Did today feel like my day?

Don't change anything. Don't block out “ME TIME” or create another colour-coded category called “TIME AFFLUENCE” (that rather defeats the point).

Just notice.

At the end of the week, look for patterns. Perhaps it's not the amount of free time that makes the difference. Perhaps it's where it falls in the day, whether it's interrupted, what comes before or after it, or whether you feel free to do absolutely nothing useful with it.

And you might, just might, begin to discover what “enough” looks like for you.

*“Control” is doing quite a lot of work in that sentence.