Recently, I came across a piece of travel advice that said: “Killing time is a crime.”
It suggested that we should make use of every idle moment—even on a high-speed ferry—by reading a good book, learning a new language, or writing letters to long-lost friends.
I have nothing against reading, studying, or reconnecting with people. What I don’t agree with is the idea that every empty moment must be squeezed for productivity.
I used to believe this wholeheartedly, but lately my thoughts have shifted in the opposite direction.
The purpose of life is to live — not to maximize efficiency.
The urge to fill every minute
High-efficiency people tend to use every minute the moment they open their eyes.
I know—because not long ago, I was exactly like that.
Have spare time on a plane or a boat? If you’re not working, you should at least be learning something new.
Waiting for a meeting to start? Rearrange your to-do list, send a few quick emails, jot down project notes.
Driving? Why not make a few calls or ask Siri to fill your calendar? Maybe listen to a self-help audiobook.
Watching TV with family? You could answer emails or stretch while sitting there.
Having lunch with a friend? You could turn it into a productive business chat.
This is the mindset society tells us to adopt.
Every minute counts. Time is slipping away. The clock ticks. The sand falls.
That used to make sense to me—until I asked myself:
Is this really what life is supposed to be?
If life is only tasks, then where is the joy?
Never wasting a minute sounds wise and practical. But when you zoom out, something feels fundamentally off.
Is life truly just an endless chain of responsibilities?
A lifelong workday?
A computer program designed for output and optimization?
A cog in a machine?
What about:
– the joy of lying on the grass with sunlight warming your eyelids?
– the quiet beauty of drifting to sleep on a train?
– reading a novel simply because it delights you—not because it improves you?
– spending time with someone just because you enjoy their presence, not because it serves a purpose or goal?
– the freedom to exist without the pressure of productivity?
If all of that is labeled as “killing time,” then perhaps we’ve forgotten how to live.
A different choice: enjoy, don’t optimize
“Killing time” is not a crime—calling it one completely misses the point.
The real issue isn’t whether we’re killing time, but whether we are enjoying it.
Instead of asking,
“How do I avoid wasting this moment?”
Try asking,
“How can I enjoy this moment?”
With that shift:
– You can work if working feels meaningful.
– You can rest if rest feels right.
– You can sit quietly and enjoy the breeze touching your neck.
– You can lose yourself in a warm conversation.
– You can curl up with someone you love under a soft blanket.
This is life.
A life of joy, of wonder, of choosing presence over pressure.
