Everything about Time Anxiety
Time anxiety is the feeling of uneasiness caused due to running out of time. You will feel that you don't have enough time or the clock is ticking down. It happens to most of us when we ask ourselves, 'Am I creating the most value with my life that I can?'
As screen time increases, people are experiencing this type of anxiety more often. As we scroll through our feeds mindlessly, we are taking in a lot of information that is affecting us negatively.
If we take care of the moments, the years will take care of themselves. - Maria Edgeworth
In some easy words, the more you worry about time, the more time feels like something you need to worry about. If I had to break down time anxiety, it happens due to 3 reasons.
Future - Thinking about what will I do in future? Will I be able to achieve this or no?
Current - Daily feeling of completing the more in a short time. Also, impulsiveness to get the best results faster.
Existential Crisis - the desire to discover the meaning of life and actively make a difference in this world.
How to overcome Time Anxiety?
Do an audit on what time well spent means to you.
Define what makes you happier. Make a list of your daily activities. Bucket them under 'time spent well' or 'time not spent well. Self-awareness is the first step towards beating this demon inside us.
Slot sometime in your day to perform this activity.
Since you know what makes you more mindful. Practice it every day for a fixed amount of time. Don't stop doing it until it becomes an automated process. If you know me, 'Brewing coffee is a ritual for me!'
Try shifting your goal from outcome-driven to process-driven.
Shifting the focus from outcome to process is one of the famous ways to overcome time anxiety. While you are unable to control what happens in a particular event, you do have control over how it is handled.
Honestly, I struggle with time anxiety as well. Perhaps these strategies will help you if you are also experiencing difficulties with it.