Uses of Time

>> Last Saturday, November 9, the activity “The mystery of lost time” turned the Espacio de Juego 0-99 and the Clariana de las Glòries into a true time condenser to reflect, play and learn about how we manage our daily lives.

The setting: spaces that invite us to live and rethink time
The Space to Play 0-99, an intergenerational meeting point, and the Clariana de las Glòries, with its open and multipurpose green space in the heart of the city, are clear examples of how Barcelona integrates spaces to live and rethink time. These spaces offer opportunities for citizens of all ages to enjoy, experience and reflect on coexistence and time use in a flexible and dynamic way.

A participatory experience for everyone
Around thirty families participated in the various proposals of “The mystery of lost time”, freely entering and leaving an activity that was structured as a kind of gymkhana with varied dynamics, adapted for all ages and interests. The day began with a simple reflection: what do we spend our daily time on? Families and children wrote down their routines on post-its, which they then attached to cardboard boxes of various sizes: the largest represented activities that took up a lot of time, while the smallest symbolized those that required less dedication.

This first proposal culminated in a symbolic race, where the chilidren ran carrying the boxes. The idea was to visualize how the “weight” of the time dedicated to different activities can influence our daily path: the more activities or the more time dedicated, the more weight it costs to carry. Thus, families were invited to reflect on how we can better manage our time, prioritizing those activities that really make us happy.

Another highlight was the handkerchief game, where facilitators proposed topics such as “watching TV” or “doing sports”, and children and adults ran to grab the handkerchief depending on what they thought they spent too much time on. Through the game, families explored which habits took up more of their time than they would like.

Playing to understand the balance between the digital and analogue worlds
An activity with elastic cords allowed them to reflect on the balance between digital and analogue activities. Families decided to enter or leave a symbolic rectangle that represented a screen, depending on their preference or obligation to carry out certain activities, such as reading, playing or connecting with others.

In addition, a net made of clothes and string served to build the visual and collective metaphor of how we feel connected or disconnected through our activities and relationships.

Final reflection and inspiring gifts
The activity concluded with a reflection separated by groups: adults shared ideas and reflections, while children drew their favourite activities under the premise “With time I like…”. Children who participated until the end received a Barcelona Dragon Route Passport, an original way to discover the city as a family, without rushing, through 12 maps and 14 unique dragons.

Inspiration for public policies
All the material collected during the activity will become a valuable tool to inspire public policies that promote a healthier time use. In addition, this content will soon be displayed in different digital spaces and facilities in the city, with the aim of continuing to raise awareness about the importance of time as a vital resource.