“How much daylight do we have left?” Kevin asked.
Our rafting group had just finished lunch and was deciding how to spend the afternoon—hiking, swimming, bocce, and more.
It was a reasonable question.
Except Kevin had forgotten: we were in timeless mode.
A few days earlier, as we sat finishing dinner on our first night on the river, we’d agreed as a group to stop using clock time to orient ourselves.
Our guides still needed to track when to yell “Coffee!” in the morning or push off on the rafts.
But the rest of us? Blissfully unconcerned with the relentless precision of the clock.
“No idea, Kevin,” I said. “But the sun’s overhead and it’s summer, so I’m guessing we’ve got plenty.”
Everyone laughed, and we imprecisely continued with our day.
***
When’s the last time you spent a whole day with no clock guiding you?
Timelessness is a rare experience these days, but once upon a time, it was the default.
Public clocks (not to mention private ones) didn’t become common and widespread until the 1700s or so.
Before that, people somehow survived without ever knowing exactly what time it was.
Personally, I adore timelessness.
I’ve experienced it on wilderness expeditions like our river trip, and also in the spiritual retreats I’ve been participating in and assisting with for the last 18 months.
In those settings, we take away phones, tape over digital clocks (stoves, microwaves), and just move through the day together.
Breaks are approximate.
We bang a drum when it’s time to gather.
Not having or needing a clock is disorienting at first, but a day or two in, people reliably comment on how relaxed and present they feel.
Like a flock of swallows murmuring through the sky, we coordinate with each other and ourselves by feel, not by numbers.
It’s a beautiful, countercultural, perhaps even revolutionary way to be.
***
How to Go Timeless
The best way is to put away all clocks, watches, and phones.
But sometimes, I still want to use my phone for photos—just without seeing the time.
So I created an iPhone Focus mode that hides the time from my lock screen while still letting me use the camera.
I taught it to a few folks on our river trip and realized it might be worth sharing.
If you have an iPhone, here’s a short video that walks you through how to set it up:
(Note: Once you unlock your phone and are using apps, you’ll still be able to see the time in the normal way, but this is still very helpful.)
Wishing you a day, a week—or even just an afternoon—of timeless mode sometime soon.
Let me know how it goes.
Timelessly yours,
Rachel
PS – Just in case you missed it, I’ve transitioned from copywriting into mindset coaching. I now help high-functioning humans navigate stuck spots and align their lives with who they really are. If you\’re in the midst of a transition, feeling pulled toward something more real and meaningful, I’d love to support you.
I offer free 75-minute consultations to explore what’s challenging you right now and help you get clear on how you want to move forward. Even if we don’t end up working together, you’ll leave with powerful insights and new perspective. Ready to take a brave next step? Hit reply and we’ll find a time.
