Time scarcity refers to the feeling of not having enough time for everything we need and want to do.
This experience has also been called time poverty, time urgency, time stress, and time pressure. All of these terms highlight the concept of deficit, or not having enough of something, in this case, time.
What we do with our time connects to how we see ourselves.
Time and Identity
This might be a touchy conversation for those of us who regularly feel like we are rushing to get everything done…the feeling that seven new items pop up on our to-do list each time we check something off.
This might also be uncomfortable for those of us who feel we have too much time on our hands. We may grapple with boredom or loneliness. We may feel disconnected from purpose or productivity.
The point I’m trying to make here is that time is a sensitive and emotional topic, largely because it relates to our deeper sense of identity.
What we do with our time connects to how we see ourselves.
Think about this in terms of relationships and roles. We invest our time into the roles of friend, partner, parent, child, employee, boss. As we invest time into these roles it helps us to enforce the sense of identity built from these roles.
Let’s add a layer to this. What we do with our time connects to how we see ourselves…but how we see ourselves also connects to what we do with our time (the relationship here is bidirectional).
This is where time scarcity comes in. When we see ourselves as not having enough time, it changes the way we spend our time.
Time scarcity has wide-reaching impacts that effect our daily experiences as well as our long-term health and happiness.
Consequences of Time Scarcity
Research shows when we feel like we don’t have enough time, it impacts decisions we make that have both short and long-term consequences.
When we feel we don’t have enough time, we are more likely to eat unhealthy foods (fast food, and foods high in sugar and sodium, for example). We tend to eat less fruits and vegetables.
When we feel we don’t have enough time, we are less likely to exercise regularly.
Further, research shows that experiences of time scarcity make us less likely to help others and make environmentally friendly choices. We tend to experience more stress and decreased happiness and wellbeing.
Time scarcity has wide-reaching impacts that effect our daily experiences as well as our long-term health and happiness.
Research shows when we feel like we don't have enough time, it impacts decisions we make that have both short and long-term consequences.
What Can We Do About Time Scarcity?
1. Become more aware of our time and the role it plays in our lives.
2. As we become aware of our time, we can identify habits and decisions that are influenced by time scarcity and not ultimately aligned with who we want to be and how we want to live our lives.
3. Once we have identified some habits and decisions we can begin to experiment with changes that will help us to use our time well.
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