In this day and age, there is no doubt that most Americans have heard the adage that time is money at least once in their lifetime. While the mathematical proof of this equation is arguable, it seems that it is understood, especially among the student, businessman, scientist, and caretaker populations, that an extra wasted day would surely mean wasted productivity, wherein lies purpose and salary.
It is not surprising, therefore, to see that most people wear a watch—or at the very least, can claim to own one. It has become commonplace, finding its place beside the keys, cell phone, wallet, and eyeglasses, and it is among those things that one needs to have whenever one leaves the house. It becomes disconcerting when the watch is forgotten at home or lost; it is even more upsetting when the battery of the watch dies midday. The sense of time is lost, and, as a result, the sense of place is lost. In today’s growing culture of more and more and faster and faster, scheduling and knowing exactly when to be where is crucial.
Of course, having a clock is important, but the ability to watch time pass portably is probably more effective and practical. While a clock is a signifier of time (and sometimes, beauty), a pocket watch or a wristwatch is a signifier of wealth and a sort of time that is instantly accessible. At the end of the day, it is this fact that matters.
Whenever a person looks at his or her watch, it is almost certain that he or she is thinking about something other than the task at hand or about someplace he or she will have to be later. Sometimes, in particular circumstances, such as during a board meeting or in a class lecture, looking at the watch is a clear sign of boredom, or, at the very least, impatience—the impatience for the meeting or class to end and go on to do supposedly more important things. Spotting a stranger looking at his watch as he walks down the street suggests that he is important, productive, and is heading off to take care of some important business. Observing a seemingly bored woman who is constantly checking the time on her watch suggests that she is waiting (impatiently, even) for something more important and more productive than what she is doing presently, which is actually nothing. Today, the mere act of looking at one’s watch would signify that he or she is busy and aims to be productive. People are no longer occupied with the now; rather, they are pre-occupied with the future and the later. There is a growing sense of impatience among Americans today, notably among the younger generation.
Everybody today, it seems, is always rushing to get from place to place. People always seem to be running to his or her next meeting, always rushing to make one important phone call, always hurrying to make the necessary business deal. Being late for class, for work, or for an appointment, for example, is just unacceptable. In a society when taking it easy and catching one’s breath is now unnatural, people are always running. They often find that they look down on their watches and realize that they are still running out of time. We, in America, have gotten to a point in time when 24 hours in a day is simply not enough. The ironic thing, however, is that while people sleep less to do more work, they ultimately lose rest and lose productivity as a result of it.
