Time Affluence
The subjective feeling of having abundant time, enabling presence and intentional choices.
Also known as: Time wealth, Temporal abundance, Unhurried time
Category: Concepts
Tags: time, well-being, lifestyle, mindsets, abundance
Explanation
Time affluence is the subjective experience of having sufficient or abundant time - feeling unhurried, able to be present, and having space for meaningful activities. Unlike objective free time (hours available), time affluence is psychological - it's about perception and relationship with time. Research by Ashley Whillans shows time affluence correlates strongly with wellbeing, often more than material affluence. Time-affluent people report: greater happiness, lower stress, better health behaviors, and stronger relationships. Creating time affluence doesn't require more hours but: protecting existing time from fragmentation, reducing rushed transitions, being present rather than mentally elsewhere, and valuing time as highly as money. Counter-intuitively, giving time away (volunteering) can increase time affluence by shifting perspective. For knowledge workers, cultivating time affluence means: treating time as the scarce resource it is, making choices that prioritize time over money when possible, and designing rhythms that feel unhurried.
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