Time Left on the Clock

Thomas Whitehead

It seems as if in this past decade there have been more stories written about time management, clock management, work-life balance and anything else in the business and personal world that pertains to how we are spending our time.

Every year, there are stories of new ways and volumes in which workers are “wasting” their time at work with NCAA Tournament talk, fantasy football or online shopping. There have been tons of articles about tips that famously successful people do on a daily basis. Heck, there was even a book about the four-hour work week.

The bottom line, to me, is that all this talk can be exhausting. Yet, it is a strong reminder that time is precious and we are now, more than ever, aware of how much and little time we do have.

And of all the devices we have that remind us of the clock, there is one that gets me every single time – the countdown clock on the microwave.

If you have ever been in a workplace that has a microwave, then you may be able to relate to what I am about to describe. How many times have you gone to heat something up and you look at the clock and it says 0:04 to indicate that the previous food still had four seconds remaining on the clock. Yet, the person decided that it was enough time and went with it.

I have to be honest, when I am waiting what seems like forever on the microwave timer, there is a temptation to just stop it a few seconds earlier. But, at the same time, I am also asking myself what is the rush. Is it possible for me to just be a little more patient and let the clock take care of itself?

Sometimes, I think about how that pertains to my work life. Am I patient enough to give relationships, needed answers, responses and approvals a few more seconds before I go into anxiety mode? Or, am I always pushing ahead with a “Now! Now! Now!” attitude

Honestly, it is a middle ground for me with it. And when I do feel myself getting anxious, I think of the extra four seconds on the microwave to remind myself to let things cook, and they will still get done on time.