Plan a mini-adventure today

More memories means more time. Find out how (and why) to make today stand out.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Good morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.
Today's tip is to plan a mini adventure into your day.
A few years ago, I came across a great quote
from Alan Burdick in his book Why Time Flies. He
wrote that very often when we remark how did time

(00:22):
fly by so quickly, what's actually meant is some version
of I don't remember where the time went. Memories and
time are closely related. When time isn't memorable, we don't
remember it. When time is memorable, we do remember it,
and that can make us feel like we have more time.

(00:44):
I saw this relationship in action when I had nine
busy people track their time for a day a few
years ago from my book Off the Clock. I asked
them questions about how they felt about their time. I
found that the people with the most abundant perspective on
time were highly likely to have done something very memorable.
On the March Monday, I had them track. One woman

(01:05):
went to sels the dancing lessons. Somebody else went to
a big band concert on a Monday night. Now this
might seem like a bit of a paradox that going
to a big band concert might make you feel like
you have more time. After all, buying tickets creates something
of an obligation. You have to go do something rather
than just crash on the couch. So this should make

(01:27):
you feel like you have less time, right, But time
isn't that simple. Time moves at different paces depending on
how we interact with it. Our perception of any given
length of time is shaped by how many memories we
have of that length of time. This is why the
first day of a vacation somewhere exotic seems very long.

(01:49):
Your brain has no idea what it needs to remember,
so it's remembering all of it. More memories means more time.
An evening spent on the couch isn't particularly memorable, so
we don't remember it. That time disappears as if it
doesn't exist. Too many days like this, and whole years

(02:09):
can disappear into memory sinkholes. Times ceases to be a
rich tapestry and feels more like a slick linoleum floor. Obviously,
it's not feasible to go to big band concerts every night,
but it is possible to do something to make each
day memorable, so we're more likely to remember it. In

(02:30):
the Jewish tradition, before the passover meal, the youngest person
at the table asks why is tonight different from all
other nights? For passover, the answer is clear, it's a
holiday and you're celebrating at defining event in extended family history.
But you can ask this question of any day. Why
is today different from all other days? Indeed, let's ask

(02:53):
this for today. How is today going to be different
from other days? Take some time to about this. What
many adventure could you plan into today so that today
stands out in memory. Your adventure doesn't have to be
expensive or time consuming. You might grab lunch with a

(03:13):
new group of people from work. You might take a
walk through a nearby park to perk yourself up. In
the afternoon. You might stop at an intriguing store you
see as you walk back to your apartment. You might
catch a weeknight movie or take your kids to a
playground after dinner. Rather than going through the usual march
of bath and bed. But plan in some little adventure,

(03:37):
and as you're having your adventure, pause to note that
it's happening. Really, take everything in. This will make your
memories deeper, and really, in the end, memories are all
we have. In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for
listening and here's to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody,

(04:03):
I'd love to hear from you. You can send me
your tips, your questions, or anything else. Just connect with
me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Before Breakfast Pod.
That's b E the number four, then Breakfast p o D.
You can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast
Podcast at iHeart media dot com that Before Breakfast is

(04:26):
spelled out with all the letters. Thanks so much, I
look forward to staying in touch.