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On Time: Finding Your Pace in a World Addicted to Fast

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On Time by Catherine Blyth reveals why time sped up, why there never seems to be enough, and how to make it yours again. We have more time than ever: each one of us can expect 1000 months on this planet if we're lucky. So why do we feel time-poor? Our world is addicted to fast and we have become its servant. Instead of grasping the liberating potential of technology, many of us are locked into a doomed race to outpace hurry. In this book, Blyth combines cutting-edge research from neuroscience and psychology with accessible stories - from Leonardo Da Vinci to Usain Bolt, Aristotle to Anna Wintour, and Kant to Keith Richards - to reveal timeless truths about humanity's finest invention. Angry, witty and enlightening, On Time is a handbook for navigating a fast-forward world that asks the questions productivity guides ignore. * Why do some hours trudge while others sprint by? * How do bright colours, fast food and rapid breathing affect our tempo? * How does autonomy take the stress out of pressure? * What are the hours that suit which activities best? Stop clock-watching, self-reproach and quit chasing white rabbits. Time is humanity's finest invention: with these small practical steps, it can become your servant.

336 pages, Hardcover

Published June 1, 2017

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264 people want to read

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Catherine Blyth

13 books15 followers

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5 stars
31 (22%)
4 stars
47 (34%)
3 stars
41 (29%)
2 stars
16 (11%)
1 star
2 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for James.
872 reviews15 followers
January 21, 2018
In summary, this was a difficult scientific or philosphical concept, covered by a writer with an interest in the subject, rather than an expert. I disagreed with some of the more subjective elements too, and came away from this with my understanding enhanced, but not as much as I'd expected.

Seemingly this was inspired by the modern concept of 'busyness', and the current phenomenon of people being time-rich and money-poor or vice versa. Blyth challenges this assumption, but the cries of 'I've been so busy' will probably be familiar to most of us. Although I'm sure no-one actively craves a complete dearth of spare time, I can't help but feel this mindset is one intended to show others how important (and popular) they are, rather than a genuine wish for more time.

The book is split into three sections: how our approach to time has changed; what is time; and what can we do to make better use of it. The first is a bit waffly, the second could have done with more science and the third has its merits, but is probably easier for a freelancer than the majority of workers who have their bosses at their workplace. The second section in particular was the least complete to me, the writer having gone too far in making a scientifically complex concept into a simple idea. A particular example was in explaining why time flies when we are having fun; time is slower when we are more engaged in more thought, such as concentrating on avoiding an error, and our minds flutter when we are doing something we enjoy. But I didn't feel it adequately described why doing something boring and unimportant is slow, and being with a pretty woman is over so quickly (both touched upon). I felt as though the primary sources had been condensed too much to ensure it wasn't too scientific.

There was then some discussion about wasted time at work, in particular email and meetings. Unless your job is measured entirely in measured performance (eg sales), the suggested actions are moot points unfortunately. The meeting may be useless, but it takes a brave soul to skip them if we don't feel they are useful, and responding immediately to an email gives a much better impression than the advice here, to never respond immediately. Adapting to the company culture is, for better or worse, a much less stressful experience. However, the difference in the way we remember time compared to how we experience it explains how the last year or so have been both a drag and a blur.

In some ways I think 2 stars is harsh, and were it not for the annoying format, I might have been more generous. But after each chapter there is a mini-article on an aspect of time, and a tacked-on bullet point list of themes and actions, as though this was intended to be a manual rather than an exploration of a theme. Aptly, it feels both too short and not detailed enough, but also a bit repetitive due to revisited themes, and more like a composition of long magazine features than a coherent book.
Profile Image for Vanya Prodanova.
830 reviews25 followers
January 3, 2023
Странна книга. Едва 20-30% могат да минат за насоки и съвети как да подобриш начина, по който ползваш времето си. Останалото беше като история на термина "време", видовете време и въобще размисли по темата.

Щеше да е чудесна книга ако авторката нямаше слабост към лирични отклонения, философски и поетични вметки и много често напълно излишни исторически, филмови и всякакви прекомерно дълги примери. Идва трудна за четене в такива моменти и мозъкът ти тотално се разсейва. Уви, бяха на всеки абзац.

Наистина съм много раздвоена в отношението си към тази книга, тъй като имаше моменти, в които се спирах и прочитах отново дадено изречение или даже абзац, защото го намирах за вдъхновяващ или проникновяващ. Обаче, от друга страна, стилът й на писане ми дойде твърде наситен и тежък, особено в моментите като се правеше на умна с всякаквите безумни примери, вметки и отклонения. Бяха напълно излишни, ама напълно.
Profile Image for Jo.
94 reviews
November 22, 2023
Hi Catherine. Thanks for your book. I’m not really sure why you wrote it. There isn’t any original thought here, so it’s a collection of ideas which is great but you’ve ignored some of the best ones. I had to work so hard to extract some good and that’s defeating the point of time saving. Look I’m clearly not a writer so what the Charlie do I know, but I do wonder if an AI tool could have generated something similar and may have included more ideas? Sorry I’m generally a kind person and hope to god you never read this - if you do something seriously weird has happened with amazons algorithms because seriously my love this is review is not worth a second thought. You did good, I didn’t get it.
Profile Image for Ville Verkkapuro.
Author 2 books194 followers
November 13, 2022
This was such a perfect book to my right now in so many ways. I made a million notes and was very entertained along the way. Time is a subject that has been intriguing me since forever. I've been maybe a bit nostalgic, keeping diaries and tracking time, trying to capture it in photographs and texts and memories and, yes, books. I think that's why I write these reviews, too. And I will proceed to write something about time when I'm starting to write again and this was heaven-sent.
Profile Image for Ruxandra.
10 reviews
September 14, 2020
I had initially picked up this book couple of years ago for my dad who was drowning in work. To be completely honest, I was mainly determined to get it seeing the review of a UCL professor on the back of the cover, and, as a UCL student, it hit close to home.
Reading it now, years later when time is slipping through my hands and I’m looking for ways to stop that, I find it quite eye opening.
It’s very fact-full, which I like. Some people might be put off by the many historical facts about time, but they are fitted well into the context of the book.
There are many book references throughout which, not only consolidate the idea that the author is presenting, but make you pick up the book that’s been mentioned.
Overall, this book felt like a much needed conversation with a therapist. I’d highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Claire Johnson.
13 reviews2 followers
July 31, 2017
An interesting read about time, why there is never enough time and our current obsession with time and speed. A thoughtful and practical guide on making time for things that matter. Would make an ideal Christmas present.
Profile Image for Toons.
142 reviews3 followers
January 11, 2022
Really lovely book. More philosophical than self-help and all the better for that. Beautifully written.
Profile Image for Jessica Lu.
150 reviews16 followers
September 2, 2021
我們什麼都有, 就是時間不夠! 每個人都說自己”太忙, 沒時間!”, 曾幾何時, 我們已成為”時間貧民”!
其實不是時間不夠, 事實證明, 我們現代人可以運用的時間, 是人類有史以來最多的. 人類文明跳躍式的推進, 許多突破性的創新讓我們能在更短的時間內, 輕鬆地完成許多在從前是不可能的任務, 可以有效率地做更多的事.
工作時間過長, 彈性工時, 數位媒體社群, 網上資訊及超高速頻繁溝通是現代工作生活的常態, 造成時間壓力不斷升高. 我們喊時間窮的元凶, 正是這種把生產成果當作消費時間證據的強迫心態. 忙碌其實把我們變成速度的奴隸, 把時間變成我們的競爭對手, 我們不知道自己面對時間的態度已給生活造成了嚴重的影響.
常常處於匆忙狀態中的人會覺得時間過得比較快; 忙碌和不斷轉移注意力會讓人覺得時間過得很充實; 一心多用讓人產生速度快效率高的錯覺. 而這些感覺又會驅使我們趕得更急, 惡性循環後, 不僅比較辛苦, 花的時間也多了很多.
當我們的每個當下都疲於奔命, 不但無法活在當下, 也無力著眼未來做遠見思考. 未完成的事持續佔據心思, 變成新壓力, 消耗著我們的注意力. 這些會干擾我們的思考或空想做夢, 妨礙我們去想像神奇的事. 更糟的是, 我們還會變得粗野無理, 粗心輕率. 匆忙之間, 大腦沒空, 我們不但變笨, 也變壞.
於是時間恐慌症變成現代社會最普遍的挑戰, 嚴重到有人甚至被冠名”完美主義兼焦慮型拖延症患者”. 似乎生活在時間壓力下才是正常的, 事事無成也有正當的理由. 更糟的是, 當我們為時間付出的成本越高, 時間的壓力就越高, 就更難放鬆享受休閒時光. 時間壓力導致缺乏耐心, 缺乏耐心就會降低幸福感. 我們每天奔波但卻不快樂!
本書告訴我們時間匱乏就跟其他匱乏一樣, 都是一種無力感的形式, 想要成為”時間富民”, 就要從改變想法開始.
其實人們對時間的感知是意識的衍生物, 是我們大腦創造出來的, 時間的快慢轉變都是出於我們注意外界的方式, 對此的覺知及注意力能決定我們生活的節奏, 改變步調能變化心情, 攸關思考的品質, 決定身心靈的基調.
作者真正想談的是自由, 是解放時間對我們的壓力. 也就是拿回控制權, 照著自己優先順位來生活. 如古羅馬箴言: ”Festina Lenten”所形容的”從容緊湊”(Hurry slowly), 是經過思考做抉擇後的流暢步調.
書裡有許多幫助我們加強時間管理的撇步, 同時也提醒了我們要花更少的精神管理時間, 更要放慢速度好好享受時間.
筆記:
- 停下腳步, 別再想跑得比時鐘更快就對了. 學會延遲, 暫停, 但非拖延.
- 將每件待辦事情做好優先順序的考量, 檢視順序背後的意義; 重新評估人際關係, 標出重要的人及浪費時間的人.
- 放慢速度, 集中精神, 只把時間花在必要事項(不是緊急的事), 能增加價值的事, 重要的人或能讓你愉快的事物上.
- 重新設計任何必需做的活動, 來提高自己的興趣, 設立目標, 加入想像, 增加投入感.
- 保留不工作的時間, 走出戶外, 注意觀察, 放空, 冥想靜坐, 抗拒填滿每一刻的衝動. 偶爾當一下科技隱士, 完全不用3C產品.
- 有意識地做選擇, 讓自己的生活完全按照自己判斷的輕重緩急來安排. 計劃時, 先停下來問兩個問題: 一, 我是不是非做不可? 這事非我做不可嗎? 二, 這是我選擇去做的事嗎? 除非至少有一個答案是肯定的, 否則不要花時間去處理這件事.
- 盡早規劃任務排序, 提早開始, 預留緩衝空間; 做事需要準時, 生活需要彈性.
- 主動經營自我沈思的時間或專屬於與另一個人高品質的相處時間.
- 正面看待過去, 回憶一生中各個階段的幸福時刻, 從悲傷的回憶中找出有用的教訓; 保持當下平衡, 專注投入在能主宰人生的任務上; 積極展望未來, 讓自己永遠有一個期待的目標和明確的自我形象.
- 時間的消失是因為沒有能幫助記憶的東西. 拒絕自動駕駛模式, 重要的決定自己下, 積極嘗試新鮮的經驗, 累積值得分享的回憶.
- 任何需要意志力的事, 都會消耗自制力, 也會耗損自信心. 意志力是有限度的, 請勿超支!
- 慎密思考, 訂下目標後, 分配好時間, 減少必須做決定的次數, 不需依賴動力或意志力, 在無壓力下堅持到底. 擬定最好的計劃, 就能減輕期限的壓力.
- 遵循生理時鐘, 找出自己的黃金時段, 並試著加以延長, 用它來做需要花腦力的工作.
- 保有固定的日常規律, 當行為成為習慣後, 就能減少自制力的消耗. 檢視所有不假思索的習慣行為, 日常例行活動是否該升級? 或用好習慣取代壞習慣? 做出取捨, 重新分配安排時間.
- 抓出時間小偷, 凡是會讓你變慢, 或害你朝沒用方向空轉的都是時間小偷: 讓你分心的事物, 噪音或旁邊的人, 亂成一團的工作環境, 不必要的會議, 堆積的文件, 不需要回的電子郵件或群組訊息.
- 集中注意力不只是出於禮貌或在乎形象, 更是一種技能, 是我們需要培養的能力.
- 內心之所以富饒, 不是因為擁有的多, 而是因為有時間有心情來享受.
- 幸福就是擁有決定如何使用時間的選擇權. 財富就是擁有更多這樣的選擇權. 投入程度其實就是一項幸福感的指標.
- 時間的品質取決於當下關注對象的品���.
- 比時間還重要的是時機, 察覺關鍵時刻才能掌控情勢, 做最正確的決定, 成為主動者. 養成思考最佳行動時機的習慣.
Profile Image for Reza Amiri Praramadhan.
610 reviews39 followers
February 24, 2019
“Time is money”, is a phrase we often use and hear. Time is precious, for once it is used, you cannot gain it back. So valuable time is that we become a slave to it, trying to do the most things possible in shortest of time. The more advanced our technology, promised to help us use time more efficiently, the faster the time seems to go. We rarely ask ourself, since when time become valuable as a commodity? Especially when looking at the past, when life seems more idyllic (and backward). This book discussed all of them, and filled with tips on how to use time, free yourself from the chain of time, avoid procrastination, and many other things, time-related. And now, I have to pay for the time spent reading this book.
Profile Image for Alex Linschoten.
Author 13 books149 followers
June 16, 2017
How do we experience time? Is it possible to have a different relationship with time in a world that seems to be perpetually speeding up? Blyth attempts to answer these questions, but ultimately fails. The book starts well, and the issue of time and our relative experience of it is surely an interesting one. Unfortunately, the end degenerates into a discussion of habit formation, sleep rituals and goal-setting exercises that are heavily derivative of other (better) works. Skim the book in a bookshop to get the general idea, but you can probably skip this otherwise.
1,106 reviews
July 18, 2017
Our world seems to be on fast forward. There never seems to be enough time. We are all racing against time and why is that when modern technology provides so many aids to our everyday lives.
Catherine Blyth discusses why we are slaves to time and how this affects our work life balance. She advises how to stop clock watching and the secret to routines and deadlines. She suggests that we declutter our day and offers advice on sleep and the benefits of a good nights sleep in our navigation through life.
I received this book from the author and Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
284 reviews14 followers
July 20, 2017
Thank you Goodreads for sending me this book. A fascinating book about time and how it affects us all. We all have a relationship with time, which constantly changes. Packed with interesting facts, theories and experiences, the author gives insight into the ways we view time and use it. We cannot change or avoid it, but the book provides suggestions on how to make better use of the inevitable march of time.
Profile Image for JC.
183 reviews1 follower
February 14, 2022
I did struggle to finish this.

Top 3

1) The formatting
Whomever made the formatting needs to shot into the sun.
Changing fonts repeatly and sometimes in the same page is so jarring I had to stop.
I'm not talking about italics but a jarring context subject switch

2) Interesting bit on pre industrial time perception

3) There are *some* useful suggestions.
There are a lot of lists with a bunch of take it or leave it items.

Would I recommend? - Meh. Nah.
Would I reread? - No.
Profile Image for Julie.
235 reviews5 followers
June 1, 2019
I’ve learned about my circadian rhythms, the importance of sleep, the addictive ness of social media and also the difference between delaying (good) and procrastination (bad).
I’m now going to list my priorities and try not to get distracted by say, reading Goodreads reviews or faffing around on Facebook..
Profile Image for Mick.
242 reviews20 followers
March 9, 2018
I found this quite insightful.
Profile Image for QH.
25 reviews20 followers
February 23, 2021
What drew me into this book was what's written under the title. I think for me, this is an important topic living in a world that constantly produces and praises such slaves for speed as fast-food and fast-fashion conglomerates are hailed as exemplary business operation. However, the content of this book is beyond disappointment. Apart from some useful paragraphs worded with a dead-boring writing style, the whole book is densed with a whole lot of bombshell survey stats and name-dropping analogies. Not much of anything valuable to my time!
Profile Image for Pinar.
531 reviews33 followers
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February 2, 2019
Bilimsel veya felsefi bir kitap olarak düşünmeyip, kişisel gelişim kitabı olarak okursanız daha çok faydalanabilirsiniz. ben kendi adıma konuyla ilgili okumalar yapmış olmama rağmen (çeşitli çok satan kitaplara da referanslar var içinde -alışkanlıklar, teknolojinin bağımlılık yapan yönü vs. nasıl kurtulunur, nasıl yeni alışkanlıklar edinilir, nasıl verimli olunur vs.-) faydalı buldum diyebilirim.
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