Most of us are aware of the flow of time around us which is commonly known as the pace of life. The pace of life varies geographically: it is generally faster in urban areas than in the country; and it is generally faster in industrialized countries than in non-industrialized countries. There are also individual differences. Social psychologist Robert Levine, in his book A Geography of Time, has outlined ten areas to look at to determine if your pace of life is fast or slow.
Concern with clock time: How aware of or concerned about time are you?
Speech patterns: Do other people consider you a fast talker or a slow talker?
Eating habits: Are you a fast eater or a slow eater? Do you through your meals or do you take time to enjoy them?
Walking speed: Do you walk faster or slower than other people?
Driving: Do slow drivers annoy you?
Schedules: Are you addicted to making schedules and adhering to them?
Listmaking: Are you addicted to making lists?
Nervous energy: Do you seem to have a lot of nervous energy?
Waiting: Do you do waiting well, or are you impatient when you have to wait?
Alerts: Have people around you suggested that you slow down?
People who have an overconcern with time are classified as a time-urgent personality. When time-urgency becomes extreme and habitual, you may have what some psychologists call “hurry sickness.” Social psychologist Robert Levine writes:
“The pace of life is a tangled arrangement of cadences, of perpetually changing rhythms and sequences, stresses and calms, cycles and spikes. It may be regular or irregular, and in or out of synch with its surroundings. The pace of life transcends simple measures of fast or slow.”
Having rushed through the material above, welcome to Street Prophets Saturday, an open thread where you can slow down, smell the flowers, and share what is happening with your pace of life.