“When I placed shores around its limits and put up the doors and the bars; And I said to the sea, ‘Here you may come, but no farther. And here is the shore where your grand waves will crash.’” (Job 38:10-11 VOICE)
Have you ever tried eating soup from a flat plate? The liquid just spreads out, making it difficult to scoop up with a spoon. Bowls with high edges are better for fluids. Containment can feel restrictive, but it is practical in some instances. Fences keep our dogs from running into our neighbor’s yard. Speed limits keep drivers safe. Breaches in natural boundaries, as in the case of floods or tsunamis, can be catastrophic. Limits are useful.
Over the last several months, many of us have experienced a disruption in our schedules. Some of us now work and learn remotely from home. Many of our plans for the near future are uncertain. We have more unstructured time in our days than we did before. The lack of time limits for tasks can feel relaxing, but it is often unproductive.
Time, like most things that are fluid, is most useful when contained. Without limits, it dribbles and scatters. Creating corrals for time can give your day structure and rhythm. Think of your time like soup that is poured into different size bowls: a few hours for focused work, an hour for personal hygiene, short breaks for diversions, etc. These arbitrary limits can feel random and restrictive at first. Since there is no one to enforce these regulations but yourself, it can also be tempting to quit. Yet, if you stick to this method of self-imposed time boundaries, your days will be much more fruitful and fulfilling.
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