#cheat time

A.B.C-Z’s 8th single “Cheat Time” jacket covers 

+ short MV

How to cheat time and get more out of 24 hours

Today we will be reviewing Slipstream Time Hacking: How to Cheat Time, Live More, And Enhance Happiness by Benjamin Hardy.

This book beckons to be read because it has a drawing element — time — which is something I always want to read more, know more and act more on. I always get drawn by time management books and talks because once you master time management, a lot of other things fall in place.…

This year, more than any other, I’ve felt the overwhelming burden of “time” crushing down on me. This truly is a year of transition for me. To facilitate that change, preparation is needed. Along with preparation, comes work and effort, which in turn, requires time. 

You see, earlier this year I determined I was going to pursue many new life journeys. By the end of the year, I would move to downtown Toronto. I would start a new band, that would encompass all the best components from previous efforts, and push that full-heartedly. I also decided to join my friend on a life-changing adventure across Europe. In order to check this dream of mine off the proverbial bucket list, I needed to gain the funds required to do so. This meant taking on a second part-time job, on top of my full-time work. I was (and still am, for one more week) working 55+ hours, seven days a week. Randomly, in the middle of all this, I was asked to join another band, filling in the role of bass guitar, something I had never done before. This meant taking the time to learn and perfect a new instrument (though I use the term “perfect” loosely here). We recorded an EP and toured across Ontario & Quebec in support of it. Somewhere between all of that, I still found the time to see friends and family, go to concerts, explore new areas of Toronto, watch the latest movies & television shows, keep on top of my Youtube subscriptions, make it out to a wedding, and not get too rusty in my League of Legend skills (still silver league, what what!?). 

But what does that mean, I “found time”? Was it just floating out there in the atmosphere, waiting for me to come by and catch it with a net? Often, we’ll find ourselves saying “there’s no time”. But when you think about it, isn’t that all we really have? Is time? From the moment we are born, our internal clocks start ticking away. A persons future is undetermined. What will they become? Who will they meet? Where will they travel? Whose lives will be impacted by their presence? Only time can tell. But it won’t. At least not early. Like a proper movie reviewer, no spoilers are given. All we can do is simply wait and see; because at some point, our time will run out. That is the one true constant we can all count on. Hell, there are whole websites dedicated to reminding you of this fact. It may be grim, but that’s life. You only get so much time on this here rock we call Earth, so make due with it what you will. 

While things have been hectic these past few months, I can truly say I’ve been making the most of my time. There have been a few who may have not agreed, or have been irritated by my frenzied schedule.  “Why can’t we hang out? Why aren’t we jamming? Why don’t you make time to record?”  Make time... that’s another term that we use frequently, but when you think about it, doesn’t really make sense. How does one make time? What is the recipe? Shall I grab my apron and oven mitts, and whip me up an ‘ol bowl of creamed time? No, I simply do not have time for you. Not now at least. You see, there is one thing you can do with time, and that is waste it. There is too much I would like to accomplish in my lifetime for me to do that. I hope that those I choose to surround myself with can be happy for me that I’m pursuing new life dreams and experiences. They won’t be selfish or greedy. Those that really care about you know that at some point, their time will come. 

So, I’ll keep doing my part to ensure that I don’t “kill” time. Here’s hoping that some up-and-coming physicist discovers that time is actually a physical location, and locates the highway that allows us to travel through it. I mean, it is 2015, where is Doc Brown with our deloreans and hover boards?! Time is running out, BttF fans, make that shit happen! Who knows, maybe I’ll get lucky, and cheat time, finding that someone special who can make it stand still. 

Only time will tell.