time orientation February 28, 2008

•  What are your views of time? Is it limited or is it unlimited?

• There are 2 types of views towards time-sequential view of time and synchronic view of time.What is sequential view of time?Some explanations are time is  like a commodity that can be used up and time is seen as a line of sequential events. The common comments by people who have a sequential view of time is “time is money”. Does this sounds familiar to you? It does sounds familiar to me as it is the frequent comment from my mother. 
• What about synchronic view of time? People with synchronic view of time views time as repetitive and cyclical. They feel that time is unlimited. 
• Having mentioned the 2 types of views towards time, let us apply them into common situations we encounter in our lives. 

1. Situation 1:Mother:”Can you help me tidy up the garden?”Girl:”Later”After a few hours, you may have forgotten about the errand that your mother has requested. The task of tidying up the garden may be accomplished another day. I find that this view of time is synchronic whereby they feel that time is unlimited  and there is no urgency to complete the task at hand. The rule that “time is money” may not be stated at home because different families have different rules in the house. Furthermore, some may find that the errands at home is secondly to their work-related tasks. 
2. Situation 2:Boss: Pleaseattend today’s meeting at 12pm.Employee: Sure, I will be on time!Many employees turn up early or on time to avoid being late because a common rule of “time is money” is explicitly or implicitly stated. If we disobey, we will create a negative impression of us.  

• I feel that people have either one or both types of views towards time. It depends on the importance of the task at hand and the situation we are in.