Today, our times are synchronized on our mobile devices down to each second by a third party. But from a first-person perspective, you may have experienced days when time appears to pass quicker (e.g., when enjoying your holidays) or slower (e.g., when anticipating an important outcome) relative to the stated synchronized time. Can it be more than just a perception? Is it possible for you to experience more or less time than 24 hours in a day?
This book brings to light the modern scientific findings about time (e.g., Einstein's theory of relativity) and bridges them with management concepts to bring you a modern philosophy of time management based on the notion of timeflow. How much time you experience each day is not fixed, but depends on how you manage yourself and your surrounding environment. Learn what drives your timeflow and how to control it to increase your daily time supply, your productivity, and happiness!
Inside
Master Your Timeflow
The extant popular time management books are grounded in the philosophies of the industrial age and treat your time from a third-person perspective.
From a third-person view of your time, each hour of your life appears the same in length as the next. It’s easy to recommend what to do and demand the same discipline each hour. However, from the first-person perspective of time, the first hour can feel much longer than the third hour or vice versa.
Time: It's Personal
Reinventing the Time Scale
Let us represent the time you experience in a given day as the length of a piece of yarn. Traditionally, we assume time passes at a constant rate, represented either by the yarn fluctuating at a constant amplitude or the time scale maintaining the same thickness throughout.
By contrast, a modern time scale acknowledges that time can pass at different speeds. This is represented by the yarn fluctuating at varying amplitudes, or by the time scale changing in thickness accordingly. The thicker the line (more yarn packed), the slower time passes; the thinner the line (less yarn packed), the quicker time passes.
It is possible to experience more or less time than what is indicated by synchronized time.
Timeflow refers to the amount of time experienced within a synchronized time interval. It depends on the "potential energy" you experience and can be visualized as the area under the potential energy curve.
Introducing "Timeflow"
Time is the greatest gift. With more time, we can accomplish more, heal wounds, enjoy greater flexibility and a healthier work-life balance. Lack of time is the biggest constraint we face.
Modern time management principles focus on increasing your daily time supply by tapping directly into the source of time itself. Learn how to increase your timeflow in the most effective way and achieve timeflow mastery!
Achieve Timeflow Mastery
About the Author
Onesun Steve Yoo is Professor of Operation and Marketing Analytics at UCL School of Management, and a co-director of the UCL Centre for Sustainable Business, University College London. He conducts research on topics around innovation and entrepreneurship, where the time plays a critical role.