HOW DO WE PERCEIVE LIFE’S ACCELERATION?

Grabbing a coffee on the go, rushing to the office, checking emails or chat messages every minute, heading to the gym after work and then rushing home to take care of the family or the household chores: in many areas of life, the pace is getting faster and faster. Researcher Nadine Schöneck has investigated how different people deal differently with this so-called ‘acceleration’ in the workplace and in their everyday lives.

TYPE 1: THE REFLECTIVE, TIME-STRESSED PERSON

Work: Type 1s have got a lot on, are working professionals and often very successful. They work up to 60 hours a week – if not more. Their jobs dictates how they divide their time.

Personal life: They don’t separate their professional and private lives; the two merge seamlessly. Trying to juggle everything gives them the feeling of being driven by time.

Time perception: They’re frequently short of time, trying to manage everything. For this reason, they’re often focused on the here and now. But their gaze also extends beyond the moment: above all, they act in the present with an eye to the future, taking into account the consequences their actions might entail. They’re able to reflect on their time situations and on time itself.

Typical sentence: “No problem; I’ll get on top of it somehow.”

Acceleration level: Very high

TYPE 2: THE SELF-CENTERED, TIME-SENSITIVE PERSON

Work: Type 2s have also got a lot on: they have jobs that they value very much and with which they are completely absorbed.

Personal life: Yet work isn’t everything. They’re strongly integrated into their social environments. Their time is also taken up with hobbies that they enjoy and pursue intensively.

Time perception: The older they get, the more they worry about not having enough time. Therefore, they divide their time all the more precisely and try to make the most of the time they have left – which is why their time management often seems very focused on themselves.

Typical sentence: “I’ve already made other plans.”

Acceleration level: High

TYPE 3: THE CONTENTED PERSON WITHOUT A TIME STRATEGY

Work: Type 3s are very committed to their jobs and are often absorbed with their work. They tend to be found in jobs that are project-based – for instance, they work in various different companies for fixed periods of time.

Personal life: Towards friends and family, they are generous with their time. They don’t pursue any pronounced interests or leisure activities that take up a lot of time.

Time perception: From their perspective, there’s always enough time for everything. They rarely plan, like to be spontaneous, but occasionally lose sight of the big picture in their time management. The here and now is most important to them.

Typical sentence: “Okay, why not? I’ll be right there!”

Acceleration level: Medium

TYPE 4: THE ROBUST TIME PRAGMATIST

Work: Type 4s have demanding jobs in which they invest a lot of time.

Personal life: Often, they have families with children to take care of. They pursue at least one hobby that they like to practice regularly.

Time perception: They would characterise themselves as “very busy”, but they don’t let that bother them. Their time scheduling is highly pragmatic: they strictly separate their professional and private lives, adapt time to their needs, use every free minute and are generally very energetic. They are highly focused on the here and now, care less about the future or the past – and despite their many commitments and interests, they rarely feel driven by anything and are well-balanced.

Typical sentence: “Everything’s fine.”

Acceleration level: Low