Time exists in the most practical sense. I live in a tangible world where deadlines must be met, projects completed and bills paid. The amount of time I spend on a job affects my schedules, finances and sense of progress. Yet while engaged in work, time often slips out of awareness entirely.

I believe that this state of flow — where I become entirely absorbed in an activity — cannot coexist with constant awareness of the clock. If I keep glancing at the time, worrying about how much has passed, I interrupt the very focus required to do the job well. In that sense, good work often requires that time, at least temporarily, cease to exist.

By doing so, I gain insight into my habits and improve my ability to plan future projects more accurately. Over time, this becomes a form of both discipline and self-knowledge.