
Time
How do you spend it?
Attention
How do you use it?
As more and more studies come out on the effects of screen time, I can’t help but notice changes in how I manage my time and attention. I am striving to slow down, smell the roses, hear the music, and be more present in the physical world around me.
When I let myself drop into an activity such as improvising, rehearsing or learning music, cooking, or exercising, I enjoy the process so much more when I let nothing distract me. This is a tall order for a small business owner with family, friends, multiple interests, and responsibilities.
Time can be managed. I set aside time in the day for email and admin work. I limit my time on social media, I even removed the Facebook and Instagram apps from my phone. I ask my friends to call instead of text. I feel more present, I feel more calm and focused.
When I am with people, I have started leaving my device in my purse so I can be fully present and in the moment. I don’t need to look up every single item that comes up in a conversation, or photograph every single event. I want to be IN what is happening. I find it easier to listen to someone when they talk, and I stop myself when I jump to interrupt. When I come to speak, I take my time and focus on expressing ideas in full sentences. Conversations feel more meaningful.
In the evening, I seek activities that don’t involve looking at a screen.
I sleep better at night.
Even my dreams are more immersive. For several years I was dreaming a lot about unanswered email and text messages. When something was happening, I was the observer standing outside looking in, or I was trying to find my way through hallways and groups of strangers. I now find myself dreaming of people I know, people who have passed on, of nature, water, and mountains. I wake up feeling more rested.
I have nothing against AI, but I want it to be a useful tool, not my world.
My house is becoming neater. My plants are healthier.
I am playing more music.
My attention is a precious asset: How do I use it?
If I am distracted by thoughts, worries, my schedule, or my phone, I fall into a state of frantic doing. When I can drop into the realm of my senses, listening, seeing, feeling, sensing, I can truly drop into creativity and improvisation in life and music.
I have been taking walks and when I can let go of that running to-do list in my head, I find myself enjoying the wonders of winter: fresh white snow gleaming in sunlight, spiraling snowflakes dancing in the wind, fresh animal tracks on untouched early morning snow, the whispering sounds we hear when the wind blows through the pines, the crunching of snow under my boots. I improvise on the piano, I drum, I play guitar and sing, or I sound with my singing bowls without any goal except to be in music. It is during those quiet moments that I rebalance. It is during those quiet moments that I realize how lucky I am.
I started going to the gym again. It was difficult at first. I worried about managing my time, ashamed for not taking better care of myself, and discouraged by how much strength and flexibility I lost. Now I WANT to exercise because it makes me feel better.
I am still getting a lot done.
Quality Over Quantity
David Darling’s philosophy has taught me that when I let myself be a master of what I can do, I can go deep into my sound and really say something in my music. It’s less about how many notes I can play or sing, or how high, loud and fast I can go. It’s about content. I ask myself what am I saying?
If my day is too packed with scheduled activities, I find myself unable to be fully present in each activity. Less becomes more.
I never thought about the beautiful link between time and attention. Attention determines how we use the time we have. If I focus on what I am doing in the moment, I am truly living that moment.
It’s a cliché statement, but it’s totally worth trying!
Try this: walk, drive or cycle without any distractions such as music, podcasts or phone conversations. Notice the sky, notice the places around you, notice your breath. Notice how you feel when you arrive at your destination.
Try this: Improvise on five notes. How much can you do with those notes? Notice what your tendency is. Be curious, not judgemental. If you stray, come back to those five notes.
Try this: do even handed drumming. How steady can you keep the pulse? Play with accents. Don’t speed up or slow down, keep it steady. Be curious, not judgemental. If you stray, come back to the steady pulse. Challenge - do it with a metronome and notice whether your tendency is to speed up or slow down.