37 seconds doesn’t really seem long enough to do much of anything, does it? Put something in the microwave and set the timer for less than a minute and what do you do? Maybe grab a spoon out of the drawer so that you can be ready to stir. But, otherwise, you just wait, right?
If you saw the movie, Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, you know that “just wait” is absolutely the wrong answer! If you didn’t see it, you missed a fairly charming film starring Dustin Hoffman as Mr. Magorium, a 243 year-old toy store owner with a unique outlook on life. Natalie Portman played his young assistant, Molly Mahoney, a role that was a far cry from her Oscar winning performance in Black Swan, which I found really disturbing. Anyway, at one point, Mr. Magorium and Molly are waiting for a clock-store prank to unfold, when Molly says, “Okay, now we wait. Exactly 37 seconds.” To which he replies, incredulously, “No! We breathe! We pulse! We regenerate! Our hearts beat. Our minds create. Our souls ingest. 37 seconds, well used, is a LIFETIME!”
Maybe not the most memorable movie, but what he had to say about 37 seconds really stuck with me. How much are we missing out on by wasting small blocks of time that we consider inconsequential?
I have a friend who owns a fitness studio and when she was asked what can be done in 37 seconds, she rattled off a whole list, without even thinking:
- Hold your navel to your spine for an isometric crunch.
- Read the ingredients on that package of food you’re considering buying — ask yourself if you really want this in your body.
- Give yourself a back-of-the-neck rub.
- If you’re sitting at work, stand up and stretch your body.
- Get a glass of water and drink some. Put the rest nearby to sip on.
- Look away from your work and focus on a distant spot for a few seconds.
- Make a list of things to do next time you have 37 seconds to use.
What about you? How big of a list can you build of things to do the next time you have a few extra moments? Obviously, it doesn’t have to be what we consider a traditional block of time. Less than a minute can be enough to ease the tightness in your neck from sitting too long. Or, give your eyes a break from staring at your computer screen.
When I’m really focused on a project, I can be oblivious to how long I’ve been working. Not only does this usually result in stiff shoulders and a dull throb behind my eyes, it’s not even all that productive. I do far better work when I take frequent breaks. These days, I set my Time Timer PLUS for an hour and when the red disk is gone, I make myself take a break — even if it’s only for a minute. Makes a huge difference for me!
Here at Time Timer, everything we do is about understanding the concept and the management of time. We truly believe in “making every moment count”.
Mr. Magorium would approve, don’t you think?
