Time is money, and other relative matters
Hercules and the Hydra
That’s an interesting phrase, “time is money.” It’s kind of like E=MC^2: you seem to only ever have one or the other. I’m no scientician, but roughly speaking, the laws of conservation of matter and energy dictate that there is a ratio (for some weird reason it’s the square of the speed of light) between energy and mass, and that neither can be created or destroyed. There seems to be a similar relationship between time and money.
For the last decade I’ve been working jobs that paid the bills, but had very little to do with my career goals. Consequently, having spent 8-12 hours a day focusing on things that only kept my interest on an abstract love of learning or detached people watching kind of way, during my remaining free time my energy was already spent.
One of the many things that appeals to me about writing is that you can pretty much do it anytime, anywhere. I always told myself I could keep a day job and get up early to write. Or do it on the metro. Or after the kids were in bed. I still think I could do that, but the bottom line is I don’t.
Technically, I still have a job. I still have to show up tomorrow just to get laid-off. This weekend shouldn’t have been much different than any other weekend. But this has been one of the most inspired, enjoyable, relaxing weekends I remember in quite some time. I stayed up late and woke up early. I started a blog, produced a webisode of a cooking show (I’d never done anything close to that before) wrote a children’s book and started talking with an illustrator about it, had some quality time with my kids, exercised, and caught up with friends and family.
All these things I should have had plenty of time to do any other given weekend. What was different? On Friday, my boss asked me to finish what I could on any projects I had open, and talk to the guy who now has my former lay-off proof position to pass on any knowledge I could before I left. When I went home that Friday, for the first time since I started working there, I had closure.
I said I try hard to leave work at work, but a 9-5 job takes more than just 1/3 of your day between the commute, the getting ready, the unwinding, the etc. Then add any professional development I never seem to have time to do on the clock, between the meetings and actual the work. On top of that I never really figured out how to “turn off” ongoing projects in my head. Was I prepared for the meeting tomorrow? Did I remember to send that email? Did I remember to attach the file? What if I approached the problem from a different angle instead?
I always had an urge to prepare for the next day. I always wanted to complete the hydra of tasks and projects that sprung up every day. I kept forgetting there would always be two more to take its place.
So I didn’t get all my goals done from yesterday’s post. I didn’t get to the unemployment research yet. I only applied for 4 and joined another prospective employer’s job database. I was always worried I’d miss the right opportunity if I didn’t at least read everything that was posted on Craig’s list each day and apply for almost every one. I’m going to miss some really good opportunities now and again. But that’s ok. There will be two more the next day.
