That's what they say at least. I know it's true for me. Whenever I find myself doing something I enjoy, the hours seem to speed by. Often when playing a game, spending time with my son or reading a book, I need to be reminded how much time has passed and what I am "supposed" to have already gotten done for the day.
How does that happen? Well, in actuality, the clock does not really move any faster. But, when we are doing something that we really like, our focus is entirely on what it is that we are doing and none is spared for clock watching or wondering how much time has passed. We are more interested in what we are doing presently than anything else that we could be doing at that moment.
Now what happens when you get to work? If you are like most people, you start off by dreading getting up, then you force yourself to get dressed, maybe have some breakfast and then head off to the job. By the time you get there you are ready to go. But, no, you have hours of waiting and clock watching until you get to go back home. You either don't like what you do, you don't like who you do it for, or you don't like the conditions that you do it under. Or some combination of all three. And the time just drags by, every minute seeming to get longer and longer, especially if it is not all that busy.
Some days at work are better than others, but none of them go by as quickly as when you are doing something you want to do. It doesn't seem fair does it? Our days aren't all filled with things that we enjoy doing. There is only so much time to parcel out to each thing. And the things that we like seem to whiz by in an instant.
But, what can you do about it? Well there's a couple of things. The first is to truly live in the moment whenever you are doing something you enjoy or spending time with someone you love. Be fully present in body and mind. Intentionally shut out distractions and really get the utmost out of every second, knowing that the time is fleeting and will be over much sooner than you want it to be.
And second, when working or starting out to do anything that you are not really fond of, find a way to flip the script, so to speak. Find some part of whatever it is that you are doing that you can make into something that is enjoyable. The idea is to literally make time fly for the things that you don't like, so that you can get back to the things that you do.
If you do a repetitive task, challenge yourself to find ways to make it more efficient, to cut corners without cutting quality. If you have downtime at work don't spend the time idly staring at the clock. Come up with new ways of doing whatever it is that you do. Figure out why your company does things exactly the way they do them and see if you can find a better way. This will serve to assist in alleviating your boredom and will show your employer that you have an interest in seeing the company do well. Find some way to make what you do a game, one that you can have fun with and of course win.
One of two things is likely to happen. Either, time will go by faster while you do the things you are not so fond of. Or many of the things you didn't used to like will become things you don't mind so much. Either way is a win-win for you.
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