Time poverty: modern distress and how to escape from its grip

In our fast-paced, technology-driven world, a strange and somewhat contradictory phenomenon has emerged: lack of time. Although we live in an age where technology provides us with unprecedented amenities and efficiencies, we often find ourselves feeling overwhelmed, as if there are not enough hours in the day. Our inboxes are overflowing, our to-do lists are endless, and our personal commitments seem to be constantly competing for our attention. Add to that the constant societal pressure to do more and achieve more, it's no wonder that many of us feel like we're running in a never-ending vicious circle. This article touches on the concept of time poverty, explores its causes, its impact on our lives, and most importantly, strategies to escape its relentless grip.

What is temporal poverty?

Time poverty occurs when a person is unable to fulfill their responsibilities, pursue their interests, or participate in activities that contribute to their well-being due to various demands on their time. It is characterized by a feeling of fatigue due to a constant feeling of impulsiveness or pressure. Although they objectively have enough time, competing commitments can drain them and leave them feeling helpless for their lives. As a result, people are not encouraged to make the most of their time positively or effectively.

Moreover, time poverty has been on the rise for some time. This should be a concern because many people constantly feel "lack of time", which negatively affects well-being, health and productivity. Research shows that it can cause higher levels of stress, burnout, self-neglect, income poverty, poor food choices, lack of exercise, as well as an inability to fully participate in meaningful activities.

Causes of time poverty

External factors

"Always ongoing" culture: Technology has blurred the line between work and personal life. The constant flow of notifications, emails, and notifications makes it difficult to disconnect and recharge.

Glorifying busyness: In modern society, preoccupation is often equated with productivity and success. As a result of busy schedules, there is constant pressure to do more and fear of missing out on the opportunity (FOMO).

Increased job demands: As a result of globalization and technological change, the workplace has become more demanding. We are often under constant pressure to stay connected, resulting in longer working hours and blurry lines between work and personal time.

Mobility and long working hours: Long commutes and long working days eat away at our free time, making spending time with family, friends and hobbies difficult.

Changing family dynamics: Families with dual incomes, single parents, and increased expectations of parental involvement in children's activities can feel time pressure.

Internal factors

Perfectionism: the desire to do everything perfectly can lead to excessive time being spent on tasks. This can lead to feelings of fatigue and lack of time.

Poor time management: Inefficient use of time or lack of planning can lead to time poverty. This includes procrastination, lack of prioritization, and failure to delegate.

Over-committed: Saying yes to many tasks or responsibilities can lead to a lack of time for core activities.

Lack of self-care: Neglecting self-care activities such as exercise, relaxation and hobbies can exacerbate feelings of lack of time.

Inability to say no: People who struggle to set boundaries or say no often find themselves very committed and lack time.

How to escape the grip of time poverty

Here are four ways to become "time-rich," according to a 2024 study:

Aligning actions with core values: This strategy involves deep reflection on what really matters to you. It's about identifying the principles or beliefs that are most important to you, which can include aspects of your life such as family, career, personal growth, health, or community involvement. Once you've defined your core values, you can then articulate specific goals and priorities that align with those values. This alignment can help you make more conscious decisions about how you spend your time. For example, if family is a core value, you can prioritize spending quality time with your loved ones over working late hours. By aligning your actions with your core values, you can make sure you spend your time on the things that really matter to you, thereby reducing feelings of time poverty.

Simplify your life: This strategy involves reducing clutter in all areas of your life. Physical chaos can lead to mental chaos, which can make you feel overwhelmed and short of time. By organizing your physical environment, you can create a more peaceful and efficient space. Simplifying your life also includes reducing obligations. This may mean learning to say no to tasks or responsibilities that don't align with your core values or goals. By simplifying your life, you can free up more space and time for the things that really matter to you.

Mindfulness practice: Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present in the moment and accepting it without judgment. It involves paying attention to your thoughts, feelings and sensations in the present. By practicing mindfulness, you can learn to slow down and appreciate the present moment, rather than constantly worrying about the past or the future. This can help reduce feelings of lack of time, as you learn to appreciate every moment when it happens, rather than feeling rushed or pressured to move on to the next thing.

Develop healthy coping skills: This strategy involves developing skills to manage stress and other negative emotions that can contribute to feelings of lack of time. These skills may include grounding techniques, breathing, journaling, or seeking therapeutic support. By developing healthy coping skills, you can learn to manage your emotions in a way that doesn't contribute to time constraints. For example, if you're feeling overwhelmed by a long to-do list, you can use grounding to calm your mind and focus on the task at hand, rather than worrying about everything you need to do.

In conclusion, time poverty is a modern problem that many of us suffer from on a daily basis. It is a product of our fast-paced and ever-present society that can have serious implications for our well-being, productivity and overall quality of life. However, by understanding its causes and implementing effective strategies to better manage our time, we can escape from its grip and live a more fulfilling and balanced life. Remember that time is our most precious resource, and it is up to us to use it wisely. It's not about getting more time, it's about making the most of the time we have. By aligning our actions with our core values, simplifying our lives, practicing mindfulness, and developing healthy coping skills, we can become more "time-rich" and regain control of our lives. Ultimately, the key to escaping the grip of time poverty is not to do more, but to do what is more important to us. So, let's regain control of our time and live the life we really want to live.