Time management is a complex issue because it is deeply connected to one’s lifestyle. And once you start discussing lifestyles, things quickly become philosophical.
I’m happy to be European, and especially Eastern European. My brother, by contrast, graduated from an American university, married an American woman, and now lives in “the world’s greatest country.” He’s an engineer who travels constantly for work. Naturally, he has a dishwasher.
Most people are familiar with the Slow Food philosophy that originated in Italy, or with the siesta culture in Spain and Greece. Much less is known about the countries beyond Germany or Hungary; the Balkans rarely attract attention. Yet many people in Eastern Europe still follow traditions they genuinely enjoy. It’s not just local pride. It’s a kind of “joie de vivre.” Even in the digital age, people here have learned to adapt to global trends while preserving healthy, grounded habits.
One important rule of time management is limiting screen time. Television is practically obsolete. Use your computer for work, and your smartphone as little as possible. For example, you might watch a short video about a home improvement project and then spend the rest of the day actually doing it.
Of course, you can save time by hiring a professional. You can also order food instead of cooking. But staying busy has become such a priority that local laws have even been amended to allow citizens to use designated plots on public lawns to grow their own flowers or vegetables if they wish.
Reading paper books is encouraged over e‑books. Bookster, for instance, is a corporate library subscription service where employers pay a fee so employees can borrow books delivered directly to the office or to their homes. My family has used it for years.
But people tend to sit too much, so a second important rule is to include as many activities as possible that don’t involve sitting. Walking is the obvious choice, but even at home you can tackle small improvement projects, tidy neglected areas, or wash small items by hand. This saves electricity too, since neither the washing machine nor the dryer is needed.
My family also keeps the tradition of making jams, pickles, and zacusca (a smoky vegetable spread popular throughout the Balkans). In my hometown on the Black Sea coast, many people learn to fish and prepare brined fish as children. My brother is an expert. My wife and I aren’t big fish eaters, but we love zacusca. It’s one of the most delicious things you can eat. And of course, it tastes infinitely better when you make it yourself.
