Ask HN: Do you feel that time is limited and you are running out of it?

[Summerbud]

Something keep bothering me recently, it causes me nervous, anxious and even induce imposter syndrome. And when I digged down, I discovered that it's some "You are running out of time" kind of anxiety.

And I can't really solve the puzzle, yet.

Wondering is there anyone whom has a period of time constantly felt like this way? And how did you get out of it?

[xtrapol8]

Intuition can be a powerful ally. You may feel you’re simply not being as effective a person as you should be. Some are disconnected from any sense of purpose or urgency whatsoever, some just don’t care. Others may well be latently idling while some inner potential goes untapped. Check recheck and triple check your everything! Little in life compares to fulfilling a sense of purposefulness.

[atilla_bilgic]

Dear Summerbud,

I wanted to thank you for sharing your most concerning feelings with us. Indeed, the perception of time in this dimension is finite and we are fully aware of this reality as living humans.

We can start by accepting this reality and use our time efficiently for the topics that matter most.

If we look at life a bit holistically there are a very small number of things we can control. Therefore we should focus on things that we can control and influence. Instead of available time left for us, we can focus on how we use and spend our time.

There is a quote that I do not remember the origin but it says "Nobody on their last breath regretted not working more."

Yes, we should accept that we have a limited time and we perceive many things that we should do. But it is our perception only. Therefore we should not create a burden for ourselves that does not matter actually.

I hope these words may help to overcome your anxiety.

I wish you great and productive moments that you will be proud of them at your last breath.

[youoy]

We are all running out of time, no one can help us with that. But what I can tell you is that is does not matter. This is not something that you need to understand rationally, but something you need to feel for yourself.

If it creates anxiety it is usually because you feel that you need more time that what you have to be able to do something.

If your anxiety comes from a place of needing to accomplish something, you need to understand that it does not matter if it is you who does something or if it is something else. That the beauty of it is in the process, and that ultimately the best things come from the love of the process, not the love of the outcome.

If the anxiety comes from a place of running out of time to be with a loved one, then unfortunately there is not much that we can say.

I wish you all the best in this beautiful life!

[swifthesitation]

It sounds like you might benefit from some introspection and mindfulness. Some possible questions to ask yourself (introspection):

1. What are you needing to accomplish before [your time runs out]?

2. What can I do right now, today, that gets me one step closer to accomplish that goal?

In regards to mindfulness, it appears you are living in the future, which hasn't happened yet. Focus on the present moment, because this is all you will ever experience. Which has reminded me of a quote I like:

“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift, and that is why it’s called the present.”

- Unknown

[reify]

1. stare death in the face, Accept the inevitable. to know death is to know life

2. stop using chronos time and change to kairos time.

Chronos = chronological time Kairos = appropriate time

It is perhaps significant that, of the two, the western world has adopted chronological time as a linear measurement of time rather than the concept of appropriate time.

Thus, chronological time becomes functional: we spend time, lose time, waste time, serve time, being on time and even kill time.

I have always been a Kairos man myself, being with time.

It is so much more liberating

[gregjor]

The older I get (early sixties) the more aware I feel of how little time I have left. But I value my time more and try to use it for things I care about. I also feel less worried about “wasting time” because I let go of the desire to optimize, use my time “more efficiently,” get more done.

[fuzzfactor]

I already ran out of time, and it's not that bad :)

More than once too.

Would recommend, always going for it again ;)

So much of the time you get a lot more accomplished without destructive deadlines.