Monochronic vs. polychronic: why not both?

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How often do you hear phrases like these in your daily life?

• “Why were you late?”

• “Time is money.”

• “I don’t have time for this.”

• “This is a waste of my time.”

• “I can’t talk right now, I’m running behind, and I’m on a tight deadline.”

Now, how often do you hear phrases like these?

• “There’s always time.”

• “What’s the hurry?”

• “Why are you leaving so soon?”

• “How is your family doing?” (Really, I want to know.)

• “There’s no need to rush.”

They’re two different vibes, aren’t they?

If I’m honest, the first list spikes my anxiety levels and wraps me in a blanket of intense urgency. The second list makes me feel guilty for presumably not moving as quickly as the people who utter the phrases in the first list.

The first list reflects monochronic time. In monochronic cultures, people view time as linear and segmented. Generally, people view time as a commodity, which means adhering to strict schedules and being punctual is necessary. From a task perspective, monochronic cultures typically focus on one thing at a time (although, when you add the ruthless pursuit of efficiency to the mix, I imagine multitasking tends to appear). Short-term relationships are the norm.

The United States is a monochronic society. (Unsurprising if you’re based in the U.S., right?) Germany, Switzerland, Japan, the Netherlands, and Canada exhibit monochronic traits.

The second list reflects polychronic time. In polychronic cultures, time is flexible and fluid. Typically, people feel more comfortable with interruptions and last-minute changes to plans. They value their relationships with others deeply (so much so that they build lifetime relationships), and may even prioritize people over tasks (even the most important tasks). And polychronic societies are known for engaging in multitasking.

Latin American countries, as well as parts of Africa and Asia, exhibit polychronic traits.

There’s nothing right or wrong about either system. They’re simply different.

But perhaps the pendulum doesn’t need to swing one way or the other. What if the secret to being more intentional is a hybrid approach?

Maybe, just maybe, the magic is in:

• Making room for people and priorities — We are flexible with our time when sharing it with the people we love most and punctual when it actually matters (thinking a trip to the emergency room when someone is unwell, not your fifth meeting of the day designed to make stakeholders richer, for example)

• Perceiving time as a guideline — We allow ourselves to incorporate graceful flexibility (obviously within reason), for unexpected overflow between events, rest, and changes to plans 

• Presence-centered planning — Rather than filling our calendars until they're bursting at the seams with commitments that don’t energize us but are “productive” or “efficient,” we approach planning from a broader lens of who deserves our full presence and how we can show up as our best selves

• Developing emotional intelligence and adaptability — We focus less on ourselves, our calendars, and our commitments. We deliberately build strong relationships, empathize with one another, and adapt (with ease) when someone in our circle needs us

• Blending monochronic deep work with polychronic experimentation zones — Deep work (shoutout to Cal Newport) helps us get the important stuff done, and we save space for play, collaboration, and conversation outside of deep work hours

I’m unsure what we’d call it: KaiChron (read more about Kairos vs. Chronos)? Time-ish (as in, we value time, but we don’t take it so seriously 24/7, okay)?

Have another idea or two? Share them (or reply to this email)! I’ll share the suggestions in next week’s issue.

Life and time are rarely binary. Both unfold in seasons, pulses, and patterns, all of which present different priorities, perspectives, and opportunities for each of us. When we consider time as a medium for living a meaningful life, we can slow down with purpose, connect more deeply, and get things done without losing ourselves in the doing.

Time Well Spent: Weekly Roundup

Here’s a quick one for you this week that coincidentally lines up nicely with the idea of a hybrid time system. One of my loved ones had some medical appointments this week (queue the anxiety). Fortunately, I control my schedule since I’m self-employed, so I rode with them to the appointments and sat in the waiting rooms. Being present with someone when they have to do a stressful or uncomfortable activity can make all the difference.

The Takeaways

• How can you show up (physically and mentally) for your loved ones when they are going through something hard? How might it make them feel? How will it make you feel?

Check out the complete list of prompts from past issues.

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I’m Alyssa Towns, and this is Time Intentional, a newsletter exploring what it means to spend our limited (and precious) time intentionally. Extend your love and support by sharing this newsletter with someone you know or buying me a coffee! ☕

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