Let’s try a thought experiment. Pretend that there is an eighth day in the week, or an extra hour in the day. What would you do with more time?
Many people feel they are too busy, that their days are too full. Between work, family, social obligations, and so on, there isn’t much extra time for hobbies or exploring other interests.
This starts at an early age, as school work can take up a lot of our childhood years. For many, there is a relentless pressure to get good grades, in order to get into a good college. This sets you up for graduate school, law school medical school, or the like.
It doesn’t get any better once you get into the working world, as a young employee will often be expected to work long hours in order to get established (and pay off school debt).
Add in a spouse and some kids, and every hour of the day can easily be taken up with one chore or another.
Related: Listen to an episode of the Intellectual Roundtable Podcast, where Lee and Michael discuss this question: ‘Are we too busy?’ We discuss another question as well, ‘What are our responsibilities to others?’
But what if it wasn’t that way? What if you had some time every day to an interest of some sort? What if there was an extra day to spend on an extra project? How would you spend that time?
Maybe you would write a novel. You might get your friends together to film an amateur movie. Perhaps you would host a regular party for friends, or learn to paint. Who knows? You might watch more TV.
What would you do if you had more time?
Related questions: Are we too busy? If you had an assistant, what would you have them do? What are your favorite hobbies? What is time?
If I had extra time in my days, I would do more of three things I already like to do to occupy my time. First, I’d talk with Rebecca more, perhaps while taking our pup for a walk. She’s a wealth of wisdom. I love her and am lucky to be with her. Second, I’d read more. There’s just so much to learn! And, third, I’d exercise more. My current exercise routine is more abbreviated than I’d like.
Now, if I had an extra month and some change, I’d walk one of the Camino de Santiago routes. While I am an atheist (so I wouldn’t get much out of the pilgrimage aspect of this excursion), I’d cherish the contemplative time this long walking trek would provide me. I’m sure I’d think lots of big (and small) thoughts that would open me up to future possibilities.
I would read more. I already read a lot, but I own more books than I’ll ever have time to read in my lifetime. I’d appreciate the chance to make more of dent in my reading backlog.
It may sound funny, but I’d watch more TV. I think we’re living through the Golden Age of television, and there is so much good, high quality TV being produced that there is not enough time to watch it all. Most of the time this question is asked, I think the expected the answer is to do something adventurous, or active. Sitting on the couch doesn’t quite fit the bill, I know.
I also would like the chance to do more with Intellectual Roundtable. Michael and I have done a good job, I think, of building the website, and posting consistently. Readership has continued to grow each year we’ve been around. So that’s great.
But I thought the podcasts turned out great and I would welcome the chance to record some more. And with some more time, we might be able to try to find the right person to join us in our endeavor. Maintenance is possible with the current amount of time, but growth may well require more.
So essentially, my answer is: do more of what I already do.
My first thought was that I would spend more time listening to God. But I already have enough time to do that now. So what’s keeping me from doing that? My internal voice that is constantly chattering. “Be still and know that I am GOD.” Psalm 46
I don’t need more hours in the day (I’m retired), but I could use the hours I have in a wiser way: Learning more about the world. Trying more interesting recipes in the kitchen. More exercise. Definitely thinking more about other people and being helpful.