Time poverty is an interesting concept. And one, in months or years passed, I might’ve qualified for. But we can all thank Rick Steves for backing an event that will help bring us back in the black.
“Take Back Your Time is a major U.S./Canadian initiative to challenge the epidemic of overwork, over-scheduling and time famine that now threatens our health, our families and relationships, our communities and our environment.”
Oct. 24 is Take Back Your Time Day
“participants will select four “windows” or periods of time for slow, quiet, reflective, life-renewing activities. During these four “windows” of time, which might be, for example, four Wednesday evenings, or four weekend mornings, or any four time periods appropriate to one’s schedule, participants as individuals or with their families or loved ones might engage in activities such as taking a walk in the woods, playing games, eating a meal and talking together, or perhaps just sleeping! Since resisting excessive work hours and an overscheduled lifestyle is not purely a personal choice, participants are also invited to reflect on public policy initiatives which can promote more time for all.”
Damn.
We have the freedom editorialize. We have organizations to stand up for us. We can market our concerns on T-shirts in organic cotton and hemp. We have the freedom to print and distribute our views. We have the power to legislate. We can convene, commiserate, hold conferences. We have Girls Scouts. Girls Scouts vying for “Stress Free” badges. Kids. Stress Free Kids. Vying for badges.
Er, what was the issue again? Some sort of poverty? Time? I say perspective is as much at risk as time. One feeds the other, though. Right?
Great eye-opening post!
I don’t know if it needs to be a “major” initiative. Why would I volunteer if I could use that time to take more naps or the occassional mental health day. Not that I’d want to offend any people who think that term is not pc. I used to call it playing hookie, until something bad happened to me every time I tried it. Now, I just call it holiday. And it works quite nicely. Actually, you can only take a holiday if you are actually working. And it’s been quite some time since I’ve done that. So…this post was really for everyone else and not for me. Glad you were amused, Annette.
Hmmm, I was bleary. It was early. I’m not sure how my post came across. I had a strange reaction to the “Take Back Your Time” page in your post. I’m just more and more amazed at how badly many of us (not pointing at anoyone, or any group, in particular) ritually treat ourselves. We have all these luxuries, all these tools (outlined on the “TBYT” page and merely reflected in my response) with which to carve out the most fulfilling, peaceful, balanced lives on the planet. Yet we still have to remind ourselves, to be reminded, to take care of ourselves.
Yeah, Jen, since my job is of the decidedly NON-high-powered sort, I’m kinda right there with ya!
My post was meant to say, “Whoa, what have we been doing to ourselves that we need this kind of initiative? And why?”
The initiative is a great idea. I’m going to have to blog it, as well. I hope it catches on!
this has got to be some of the stupidest shit i’ve ever seen. are you sure someone’s not fucking with you? giving your free time to support an initiative to increase free time is like organizing a protest march to support apathy. and their mascot for the ideal of work-life balance is a medieval peasant? in the history of earth, i can’t really think of any group that had a lower quality (and shorter span) of life. as a joke, it is kinda funny, though.
Well, I woke up at 8am this morning only to go to the spa. And then to lunch. And then shoe shopping. And after that, Susan and I sat in the sun at a coffee house in Palo Alto and did some writing. Me, I was brainstorming a new book idea. (Not the Man book).
Susan asked me if we could do this every day.
So, suffice it to say that there are two ladies out here enjoying their Friday who definitely don’t need to be targets for thisTBYT effort.