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Not the time to think?

is the time to think? "> No time to think?

No time to think? By Alan Connor
BBC News Magazine

When Barack Obama met David Cameron, the couple had time to talk about time of analysis – and lack thereof. This is not just potential leaders of countries they have little chance to reflect on the whole situation. How can we understand the thinking of the time during the workday?

"These types just chalk your diary up, "lamented Cameron. We call it the dentist waiting room."

"The most important thing should do, "Obama" is to have large chunks of time during the day when all we're doing is thinking. "

Apparently aware of the great prosperity accompanying their outdoor stroll fluffy, David Cameron and Barack Obama exchanged fears getting bogged down in details.

If a politician has recording was made, could not have chosen his words better, Obama comes across as the chess-loving contemplative President Bartlet in The West Wing and Cameron the balance between work and life more delicate the stereotypical workaholic associated with Gordon Brown.

The political class, being "on" 24 / 7, may feel especially need time to fall in daily life. But many of us complain of having too long, whether at work or at home. As a public service, Magazine wonders how to bring yourself some thinking time – from those who have had time to think.

CHOOSING YOUR TIME
No more food "The desk"

The most common advice boils down to something that may seem obvious: work until payment for work. The rest of the day it's up to you to whatever you like – and you can devote to think.

Obviously, perhaps, but not obvious that we are doing: the various surveys conducted on behalf of gastronomy between 50 and 80% for us not a real break for lunch, much less with the hour of silent contemplation.

There may have heard the indescribable "Coma Desk at "But if you're in an office, you've probably seen the sad spectacle of a workstation each dining table for seven minutes and chomped panino hastily.

'We must ensure that people in offices go out to lunch, "said David Hunter, Chief Executive of Learning UK Permanent. "If you leave your desk to wander the streets, come back refreshed and more able to work."

Chomp Chomp

Tom Hodgkinson, director of roll magazine, speaking of a medieval garden, he recommends leaving your workplace and finding nearby places that you will spend a little quiet.

"The people will have one hour for lunch, no more. But you can eat in one quarter of an hour then walk somewhere. Churches are perfect for this. "

Suggests also retrieve your travel time as an opportunity to take stock, instead of worrying about the work that is either approaching or departing. "It's good to get off the bus earlier and walk – in London, can be given one hour of pure pleasure. "

Choose your location
It has to be on top a mountain

For the truly devout, waiting space for reflection time. Visuddhimati, a professor at North London Buddhist Centre, said that many do not Buddhists to study how to be aware and set aside "a little space at home to meditation: This could be a corner of the room or a dedicated meditation room. "

But what if you're poor like space and time poor people?

Tony Buzan, the inventor graphical tools of thought "mental maps, said:" I asked people where they are physically when they have great ideas, paradigms epiphany or a flood of memories that have tried to remember.

Take your time in the pool

"Regardless of continent, age, sex, race and education the answers are the same. "

The list that follows is reassuring for those seeking a little rest, without the need for an ashram. The oases of thought "hey Buzan common shower, bath and toilet, shaving, walking in nature in the bed (to sleep before the middle of the night or first thing), watching the water, listening to music classic long distance travel, such as running or driving.

Fortunately, these are situations that you might find you in your daily life – and the thought can come as long as you're not multitasking as you do. Moreover, as Hodgkinson, adding to the list of gardening that does not cost anything. "

SU HAND Accessories
Aristotle or Moyles?

In Proust's In Search of Lost Time, the narrator is invited to discover the secrets of memory after a quiet time contemplating a biscuit.

To Proust, a madeleine – you may prefer Choccy

Serendipity is nice when it happens, but I will not risk his precious time for reflection with the hope of random inspiration.

Tony Buzan recommends that once the time and place are right, that "immediately listen music you would associate with relaxation, "preferring piano and baroque music. Your experience may be different from the music, including CDs of The Smiths, Radiohead Gorillaz and Lily Allen which Mr Cameron gave Obama during their chat.

Dr Nigel Warburton of the Open University agrees, again citing the movement time, as a golden opportunity. "Headphones help people remarkable. You can close the distractions on public transport in a way that was impossible a generation ago.

"Podcasting allows more efficient use of their travel – that would have been dead time becomes valuable time reflection."

In practice what he preaches, Dr Warburton started a series of philosophy podcasts last year and I seen beating Chris Moyles in the iTunes list – contemplative and other models are of course, available.

To those who prefer the production and input, David Hunter recommends writing down what's on your mind.

"You can get hold of a problem in writing this issue, and looking back over past issues to see how it has dealt with them. In this way, you change training, you go. "

Not necessarily the best way to think

And, of course, the proposal that drives your mind does not have to be unconscious.

"This is not a fact that thought is a loner and a social activity," explains Dr. Warburton.

"People do not agree with you it lets you go without doing anything instead of going through a stream of consciousness unanswered. I believe that most clearly when I'm in doubt. "

Do you think less than you
Your laptop has an "OFF"

You may let a Japanese doctor 'Train your Brain " a computer game, and then filled your brain with knowledge of the world courtesy of Wikipedia Wikipedia – but proper thinking may require that submitted aside.

"There is a tendency in large organizations to keep us busy," says Hodgkinson, "and if we're not busy, to distract an endless stream of media such as email, Facebook television. "

… And to go out and do something less boring instead?

Sometimes the calls, even his favorite mind can get on the road.

"I can say that all great creators, without exception, has been discontinued, Buzan said. "At least two per day. Leonardo Da Vinci was a bed in his study and when customers accused him of wasting time, said:" If not, you do not gets the job. "

If your boss might raise an eyebrow or more at the hearing that installing a futon in your cabin, you can still take a Leonardo bit of spirit to devote time to prevent the entry notes, texts and Post-It notes – and the same for the exploitation, "said Hodgkinson.

"There disconnect from what stops you thinking – just stop the flow of bits, not an actual seal. Can unplug the TV or a newspaper for a few days. "

Having a desire to think
You can get it if you really want

"The first step," says Hodgkinson, "is to have an understanding of the importance of thought. Thinking is what makes us humans human. "

These oases of thought "are not, of course, so rare for everyone. If your work and life are in perfect balance, you think you all have to work smarter, not harder, or if you can not understand why world seems to think it is so busy all the time, you could be one of the lucky ones.

Dr Warburton talks Open University students who use all means needed to find the time to reflect, to rise two hours before the children or forcing not to assent to the end of the day.

"Someone who is desperate to do something will find the time, "he said." Anybody can take an hour less sleep. It's difficult to stay alert. "

Someone have forgotten your oasis of calm

However, says Hunter, the less tenacious can still reap the benefits. "All the world needs to take time to reflect," said, "not just potential leaders of nations."

Tony Buzan expresses the same idea in the form of an ultimatum.

"If not jump the brain, they will need, said, "as loss of concentration, or what we call a nervous breakdown."

Think.

Send us your comments using the following form.

I have the opportunity to work at a distance of 12 minutes' walk from my two farm workers fruit found himself, whether in summer, at least try one or the other on my lunch break even if it means you only spend half an hour there.
Elrohana, Leeds

"Work until you are paid to work" is great, except that my boss does not think so. Was charged with not having enough commitment to work when I left on time!
N. Roy, Yorkshire

Richard Koch gets like when he says that we must learn to disassociate effort from reward. A major problem in many organizations is a culture that rewards the activity constant throughout the tanning process rather than focusing on the identification of knowledge progress in the efforts could be directed much more selective.
Stephen Chinn, United Kingdom

I read this story in my office eating a snack.
Ted Charles, London

I work as a software developer, and often costs me all day to solve a problem complex coding and the final drop at the end of the day and return home, only to realize the obvious solution was walking home when I'm "off."
Andrews, Bexley, Kent

In my days of working for large companies, while busy, some of my best thoughts and solutions came in the gym. Now, I went on their own and have good ideas in the garden as well.
Colin McCormick Plymouth

One of my ability to take a bit of relaxation is to achieve a number of small sketch book with me. I can use odd moments to rate what attracts me in my surroundings, which gives me a break from the cares of the day and connects me to the real world. You do not need to be a Leonardo – is just for you. Even if not inspired, looking back through bring back memories of his book.
Richard Towers, Sheffield

My favorite is the lunch siesta my car – half time courtesy of repetition Radio 4, you and yours, never fails to send the drift! Hooray for naps!
Ros Swetman, Norwich

How much traffic This site is lost if we all stopped having lunch at our offices, I ask?
Paula, Stowmarket, Suffolk

I filed patents several ideas that came into the locker room.
Andrew, UK

My greatest moments of clarity come whilst fishing in rivers and lakes, with both my son.
Ian Beverley

I revenge plus the cost of inserting my own appointments newspaper. Some of these gives me time to reflect.
Paul Gascoine, Watford

Proper food for the thought. Now I will open my office and give iron a walk in the local Wildlife Trust nature – a great breathing space – before returning, refreshed right!
Jono Leadley, Cambridge,

I was formally warned to make plans to 20:30 on Friday night because of my obvious lack of commitment after spending a week of 60 hours in the office.
Charlie London

At least now I know that I am not crazy asking for time to think. I put a piece of white paper before starting to do something for the future out the window five minutes and the persistence of a foot, even in the crowded streets of Athens. As you said, thought is what will keep us out ..
Tatyana Psaraki, Athens, Greece

Amen is the recovery time of their lives. If you do not make a stand, bosses and other time parasites steal every time you breathe.
Jason Morris, Bristol

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