Understand and Manage Time Like a Pro

 Time Perception and Difficult Emotions

The summer can be a busy time for many people and you may be able to manage time like a pro, but have a loved one who does not. Can you think of anyone who always seems to be running out of time even when it doesn't seem warranted? It's common for people to feel under time pressure, even when their to-do list is actually under control. This chronic time crunch and feeling of being out of control, even when it's not, can be a symptom of anxiety.

In their 2020 study, Sarigiannidis et al. found that anxiety is related to changes in our perception of time so that it feels like time is speeding by. Our perception can also be affected by our mood, level of stimulation and nervous system states. Depending on these factors, time may seem to speed up or slow down like that beautiful sunny day that seems to fly by and the rainy damp days that seem to drag on.

Support your loved one with compassion, and remember that skewed perceptions of time are often hard to shake. Other ways to provide support are to respond to the emotions related to their perception of chronic time crunch, not just the tasks at hand. Noticing the frustration or overwhelm and responding with a soft voice, friendly eyes and openness can calm your loved one's anxiety, rather than increase it. Remember that your friendly therapist is always willing to lend an ear and support for you or your loved one!

Manage Your Time Like a Pro

This month we invite you to reflect on how your daily or weekly schedule may be impacting your well-being, in both beneficial and harmful ways.

Does your schedule help bring you a sense of control and purpose? Do your plans overwhelm you and make you want to shut everyone out? Mindfully paying attention to your responses and setting the boundaries you need to feel better can be very helpful in enjoying your summer to the fullest!

A great tool to explore your daily to-dos and expectations is write out a realistic 24 hour time period for yourself. Be honest about how much sleep you need, the time it takes you to start your day, have meals, commute, rest etc. and see how much of your day is accounted for. You may be surprised that you can squeeze in that after work walk, or on the flip side, you may realize you are trying to fit 30 hours of activities into a 24 hour day.