Slow Down and Embrace "Solomon Time"

Picture a world without the constant ticking of the clock or the relentless pressure of deadlines – a place where time isn't sliced into minutes, hours, or appointments. Where waking up to an alarm for the 7:12 am bus is unheard of.

This world existed before our lives became measured and segmented by time, as we know it today. Earlier this year, my family and I experienced a remarkable two weeks on a remote island in the Solomon Islands, where I discovered the beauty of "Solomon time."

In the Solomon Islands, especially in remote villages, time isn't dictated by schedules, meetings, or clocks. People live in harmony with nature, rising with the sunrise and resting when they feel tired. They walk slowly, laugh freely, and embrace a more relaxed approach to life.

Adjusting to "Solomon time" was a delightful challenge. Without our usual gadgets or internet access, we stowed away our watches and unplugged from notifications. Plans weren't confined to specific hours; instead, they unfolded naturally, fostering a slower pace of life. We slept more, paid attention to the sun, sea, and stars, and felt remarkably human.

As challenging as it can be to maintain a space-filled schedule in a society like Australia, governed by mechanical time, there is something we can all take away from the attitudes of islander life.

The Unnatural Pace of Mechanical Time

In our bustling Western society, we've grown accustomed to organising our lives around a strict schedule, forgetting that our modern perception of time is relatively new.?

The mechanical clock wasn’t invented until 1510, and it wasn’t until the introduction of the incandescent bulb in 1870, that humans began to rely on ‘time’ as an artificial construct. By extending our waking hours beyond natural day-night cycles, we became more dependent on human-made constructs of time, losing touch with the ebb and flow of the seasons.

Joan Chittister, in her book "The Gift Of Years ," laments the loss of mystery that follows our regimented view of time.?"We live lives that are so precisely timed now,"?she says.?“Before people owned watches, dawn and dark were enough of a frame to live by. "I'll come tomorrow" meant I will be there when I get there tomorrow. Now, "I'll come tomorrow" only means when, precisely: by the minute, to the moment. No mystery there. Just expectation.”

There's something refreshing and almost spiritual about slowing down and wasting time. Living by the clock, we forget to pay attention to the stars, losing perspective on what truly matters. We may achieve more activity but speed past the moments needed to enjoy laughter, relationships, and spontaneity.

Making space this January

Back in Australia, I've returned to mechanical time, with my schedule once again segmented into half-hour increments. However, I've retained my yearning for a bit of “Solomon time” and capture small moments when I can.

This Christmas and holiday season, as many of us have an opportunity for a bit more space away from work and hurried schedules, my encouragement to you is to take time to unwind and experience a slower pace of life, unhurried by the clock.

If you need guidance, here are 25 out-of-the-box suggestions to help you make space for a slower pace of life over Summer. Can you use this as an opportunity to put aside the clock, take a breath, and recapture a natural rhythm of life to enjoy some “Solomon time”?

1. Don’t wear a watch for a week
2. Put aside a day without any plans
3. Get lost in a book
4. Lie in the sunshine and have a nap
5. Spend time breathing slowly and deeply
6. Say “yes” to the next request your children make
7. Take a warm bath
8. Deliberately ‘waste time’ with people you care about
9. Walk slowly or even aimlessly
10. Take a day trip to a nearby town you've never visited
11. Sing out loud in the shower
12. Pat a dog
13. Do something childish, like a summersault, or rolling down a hill, or enjoying a Tim Tam slam with warm milk
14. Write a letter to a friend or family member
15. Bake something tasty and eat it warm
16. Listen to an album from start to finish with your eyes closed
17. Write down three things you are grateful for
18. Spend an entire day without checking your phone
19. Take a scenic drive with no destination in mind
20. Sit on a beach with a cup of tea or coffee
21. Enjoy deliberate silence, staring at a candle, or a sunrise, or vista
22. Attend a local farmers’ market and eat something interesting
23. Watch a classic movie with a bunch of friends
24. Relax in a hammock
25. Walk around your neighbourhood and notice something new

Thank you for being part of the Spacemakers journey in 2023 – make space and?have a wonderful Christmas and New Year break!