Uses of Time

» The first Time Summer School in Barcelona marks a turning point in Time Policy Conception
» This event has brought together experts from both local and international spheres to share innovative practices aimed at optimizing resources and improving the quality of urban life, focusing on occupational health, sustainability and gender equality.

Hence, Barcelona has witnessed the first Time Summer School, an initiative that is part of the Time4All project, designed to empower policymakers and public servants by providing the necessary tools to actively influence the political configuration of time within their organizations.

Exceeding expectations, with more than 70 participants, the school was not only a meeting to share practices and tools on time management in urban environments, but also a turning point in public policy conception aimed at well-being and efficiency in 21st-century cities.

Over two intense days, experts and local and international leaders gathered at the Picasso Museum to explore how time policies can transform our cities by optimizing resources and improving the quality of life for citizens.

The Time Summer School addressed the importance of rethinking and reorganizing our uses of time from multiple perspectives in an increasingly interconnected world. The event highlighted the urgent need to adopt weather policies that not only respond to local demands but also contribute to global sustainable development goals. From promoting a healthier work time culture to creating more accessible and sustainable cities, time policies are emerging as an essential component for well-being and efficiency in modern cities.

The Time Summer School was structured into various sections, each highlighting key aspects of time management in urban environments.

Inma Molareda, former councilor of the Barcelona City Council (1995-2015) and current director of the Mayor’s Office of the Santa Coloma de Gramenet City Council, opened the School with an inaugural conference, recounting Barcelona’s pioneering experience with the creation of the Department of New Uses of Time in 2003. This initiative not only established a framework for more inclusive policies, but also laid the foundations to guarantee that citizens had access to quality time.

Following this, a roundtable discussion on quality employment and the right to time was held, where strategies to improve working conditions foster healthier, equitable, and quality work environments were discussed. This session reviewed the history of the NUST Network and one of its companies, Iterem, shared innovative initiatives they have implemented to improve time use within their organization.

Next, the Time Use Initiative introduced their self-assessment tool for time policies, available for free on its website. Representatives from the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona presented an example of how this tool was used with effective practices to improve time management in complex metropolitan contexts. The evaluation highlighted how most local organizations already have time policies in place without realizing it, as well as the need to create a strategic plan that brings them together, increasing their visibility and impact.

The final section of the first day consisted of a workshop led by the Territory Innovation Entrepreneurship Chair – Sorbonne Business School. Participants were divided into groups to address specific challenges related to time use through a role-playing game with different profiles. In the activity, innovative ideas and practical solutions were generated that could be implemented to improve the quality of life and promote a more equitable time use across different population sectors.

The second day began with a keynote speech by Caren Grown, Fellow of the Center for Sustainable Development at the Brookings Institution, an internationally recognized expert on gender issues in development. Grown shared various sources of information on time use that exist worldwide, and emphasized the need for such surveys to understand how time use is distributed by gender, age, region, etc. Likewise, she stressed the necessity of time policies focusing on the gender perspective to contribute to equitable global sustainable development.

Next, representatives from cities like Milan, Mexico City, and Buenos Aires shared their global experiences in implementing time policies. International representatives discussed how these policies can address social inequalities and improve the quality of urban life, serving as examples of best practices at a global level.

Focused on urban planning and mobility, the following roundtable explored how mobility impacts effective time management, highlighting the opportunity that time measurement offers to make inequalities evident, reduce time poverty, and optimize urban resources, ensuring a more equitable distribution of time among all citizens.

To conclude the expert interventions, advanced concepts such as circadian cycles and chrono-cities were delved into during a talk that emphasized the importance of considering biological rhythms and lighting in urban planning and schedules in educational and institutional settings, among others.

The closing words of María Rengel, Director of Feminism and LGTBI Services at the Barcelona City Council, summarize the main idea of the meeting: “a new organization of time is essential for the development of a new type of well-being.” Time policies are not only necessary but urgent as we face the challenges of the 21st century. From Barcelona to cities around the world, effective time management not only improves productivity and efficiency but also promotes gender equality, environmental sustainability, and urban quality of life.

The main takeaway is the challenge we have as a society to commit to implementing and adapting these policies to build more humane, inclusive, and resilient cities, moving towards a healthier, more equitable, efficient, and sustainable city.