Humanity has always held a fascination with the concept of time. Carvings of the phases of the moon dating over 20,000 years ago are attributed to European ice age hunters. The tracking of solstices and lunar eclipses are evidenced in the ruins of Stonehenge. Ancient obelisks and sundials continue to mark the sun's daily travel in shadows. Egyptians created the first 365-day calendar in 3100 BCE, and large mechanical clocks arrived on the scene in the 14th century. Those that have a moment will acknowledge the focus of time measurement has shifted to time management. Mainstream time management can be marked by Kenneth Blanchard's One Minute Manager, Covey's Franklin Planner, Palm Pilots, and BlackBerrys.  Dr. Edward M. Hallowell weighs in on our overstretched and overbooked modern life in CrazyBusy.

Dr. Hallowell taught at Harvard Medical School for 20 years and is founder of the Hallowell Center for Cognitive/Emotional Health where extensive Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) research takes place. One underlying theme of CrazyBusy is that the masses chasing Ritalin need to understand that it may not be themselves, but the world that has gone ADD. Modern life is becoming more overwhelming and the consequence is that it is harder to focus and be effective.  

Labor-saving devices/multitasking/the great social disconnect
They are a paradox. Consider the professional office outfitted with landline, cell phone, PDA, fax machine, computer, and television. It looks like ground control. Throw in snail mail, inter-company communication, a few overnight deliveries and executives can easily be bombarded with dozens of demands for their attention in any given instant. Devices that were invented to save time serve to move a greater amount of work faster. When CBS predicted years ago that the average week of work would drop from 40 to 30 hours, they moved in the wrong direction – that week is nowhere to be seen. Long hours and multitasking are spoken badges of honor, but they have a downside. Dr. Bryan E. Robinson (Forbes) calls workaholism "America's best-dressed addiction." Hallowell states, "It is a myth that you can perform two tasks simultaneously as well as you can perform one" and likens it to playing the game of tennis with two balls. Imagine cars being backed up by a man talking on his cell phone while weaving in traffic on his bicycle!  Another major consequence to all this busyness is connections are made with electronic equipment in an illusion of genuine relationships. Consider the growing popularity of myspace.com.

Finding time and the mind for new ideas
This is probably the most essential dilemma posed by today's lifestyle. Sample some of Hallowell's jargon. Where will the space for new ideas come from when we are frazzing (multitasking ineffectively), screensucking (infinite computer/electronic time), and surrounded by kudzu (clutter)?  Adults may be resigned to the faster pace, but it is all our youth know. They know life in hyper drive and are being taildogged all over the place by gigaguilted parents. Academics question the loss of thought process with Internet research. Hallowell states, "The greatest danger of being overwhelmed is not that you will fail to meet your goals, but that you will fail to think at your best and give birth to your best ideas. Today's world provides us with too much data and not enough thought."

CrazyBusy solutions
Dr. Hallowell boils the management of modern life down to 10 key principles. The number one principle is to "do what matters most." It seems so simple, but the implementation is difficult to achieve. Momcentral.com reported 55 percent of survey respondents indicated they spend more time doing what they have to do over what they want to do. "Have to" is a fact of life, and Hallowell presents a formula to evaluate time use/value received as a valid tool to examine time investment. Two other principles are creating a positive emotional environment by eliminating leeches/cultivating lilies and finding rhythm by being in your zone. A mantra that should be added to "seize the day" is "be here now."

There are some 2,700 books listed for time management and organization on Amazon.com. Specialized titles like The Body Noble can help you streamline your workout into an efficient 30 minutes or The Genesis Plan spiritually directs you to love your life again. The ultimate catch 22 being the people that could use this type of information the most will not find the time to read a book like CrazyBusy.

		A veteran of the publishing industry, Sandra Guinness Lupini is a freelance writer.