The Concept of “Our Time”
Damodar Padhi
Former Chief Learning Officer of Tata Consultancy Services, Advisor to individuals, teams and start-ups, Author of the self-help memoir 'The Scrapper's Way: Making It Big in an Unequal World'
God created an unequal world as far as money is concerned. But when it comes to ‘Time’, it is an equal world. Everyone gets 24 hours; not a second more, not a second less. Time is often considered the most valuable commodity in life, hence the saying – ‘Time is Money!’
Success, whether in the realm of professional achievement or social fulfillment, has undeniably strong ties to how effectively we manage our time. Among the myriad strategies that have been proposed for efficient time management, the 8-8-8 Rule stands out as a simple yet profound guideline. This rule divides the day into three equal segments: 8 hours for work, 8 hours for sleep, and 8 hours for leisure activities and hobbies.
While the first two categories are relatively straightforward, the third one - a seemingly discretionary block of time, offers unique opportunities for meaningful transformation.
Most people refer to this block of time as “Me Time”, which I feel is kind of sad…
If we have 8 hours for work, 8 hours for sleep and 8 hours as “Me Time”, where is the time for family – spouse, children, parents and extended family, friends, relatives, and to some extent – the communities we live in?
By no means I am saying that some amount of “Me Time” is bad, but 8 hours! I, therefore, have nicknamed the so-called “Me Time” as “Selfish Time”!
From “Me Time” to Our Time”
Enter into a concept called "Our Time". I have coined this philosophy that advocates turning individual leisure time into a shared, impactful experience for oneself and others.
'Our Time', instead of focusing solely on self-centered activities, advocates spending leisure time into creating meaningful connections, fostering collaboration, and developing skills that benefit not only our own lives but also of our families, communities and networks. It bridges the gap between personal fulfillment and collective impact, demonstrating that individual leisure can be an engine of shared success.
How to make the shift?
Integrating ‘Our Time’ into daily life would require intentional planning and a willingness to explore activities that blend personal enjoyment with collective benefit.
Here are some practical ways to achieve this: collective learning and sharing including helping children in homework, team games and projects, walking with spouse and friends – not alone, helping (or seeking help) with cooking and other housework, volunteering and community work, networking events and social gatherings, family and friends engagement - strengthening bonds with loved ones, mindfulness and shared reflection such as meditation or yoga in group settings, and most importantly, never drinking or watching TV alone!
Let me hear your thoughts…
Constipated Strategist and Delusional Innovator
2wThis is a truly thought-provoking piece, Damodar! I completely agree that the concept of "Our Time" and building shared connections is incredibly important. However, I respectfully disagree on two points. I feel that what you've called "Me Time" is often essential for personal growth and recharging. The 8-8-8 rule also seems to overlook the time we spend commuting. This time, although not spent at work or at home, can be valuable for catching up on podcasts or just listening to music. Thank you for sparking such a great conversation!
Expert in Training Interventions & Leadership Development. Helping Organisations Achieve Excellence
2mo‘Me’ or ‘Our’ - is cool. We can give only what we have. Imo, first try to generate ‘Me Time’ which can then graduate to ‘Our Time’. A related question here: how many people really have enough of Me Ttme? What impact does having this have on mental health, efficiency, productivity etc.?
Lead Corporate Trainer and Campus Training Expert • AI Powered Data Analytics- Cyber Security- Fraud Examination- Risk Management- Leadership & Personality Development
2moIt's very much required to have ME TIME as Constantly giving your attention to clients, teams, learners and stakeholders drains your cognitive reserves. Me time—whether it’s reading, meditating, walking, or simply being quiet—restores clarity and sharpens focus.Damodar Padhi
Senior Contract Executive - Legal
2moVery good thoughts on renaming me time into our time Damodar Padhi and a wonderful article . But to me ..Me time isn’t a luxury or a selfish time it’s a necessity. Taking time for self-reflection helps us pause, realign with our values, and return with clarity and purpose. In the midst of constant noise and busyness, and chatterbox all around , those quiet moments often lead to the most meaningful insights.Its very very important as world has become a our time , regardless with people flaunting their our time episodes on social media all the time 😊. Needless to say that social connections are vital !
Damodar, it is an important topic for discussion. In my view the time for yourself or ourselves is important, but it is not about the magnitude but about quality. Even a one hour of positive and engaging time can have a ripple effect for the rest of the day or week. But more is always good and nice to have. I have also experienced that when you plan in blocks of 30 minutes the "me or our time", it helps in better outcomes and improved satisfaction levels...my two cents!