We enjoyed a week-long stay at a resort in the Cayo Coco region of Cuba, where the accommodations were fantastic and catered to all our needs. The goal was to unwind after spending the winter teaching at our local community college campus in rural Nova Scotia. There wasn’t a clock in sight, which was just as we expected.

After a day or so we began to realize the absence of clocks started to shift our routines. At home we have breakfast early, lunch around noon, and dinner at 7 pm. But during our stay, we began to enjoy breakfast in the late morning, lunch in the mid-afternoon, and dinner between 8 and 9 pm.

While the resort offered Wi-Fi that was accessible from nearly every spot on the premises, we preferred to leave our phones in the room. Instead, we let our mood and appetite lead us through each day.

There is no doubt clocks plays a significant role in structuring our daily routines by providing a sense of time and establishing a schedule for various activities. Clocks help us manage our time by allowing us to plan and allocate time for different tasks and responsibilities throughout the day. A clock helps us create daily routines, such as set times for waking up, eating meals, and going to bed. This can contribute to a sense of stability and consistency in our lives.

While clocks help us organize and manage our lives, stepping away from them occasionally can offer a sense of freedom and relaxation from the pressures of a scheduled and regulated routine.

Resorts and spas aren’t the only places where clocks are uncommon. Religious spaces such as churches, temples, monasteries, and meditation centers often refrain from displaying clocks to promote spiritual practice and mindfulness without distractions. Similarly, art galleries and installations may omit clocks to keep the emphasis on art and creativity rather than the passing of time. In darkened settings like theaters and cinemas, clocks are absent to maintain focus on the performance or film. In minimalist homes, clocks may be left out to cultivate a serene and uncluttered atmosphere.

While clocks are a staple in many environments, all of the places mentioned above aim to foster a sense of presence and focus that can be disrupted by the constant awareness of time.

Now that we’re back home, our familiar habits quickly returned. The break was undeniably beneficial for us. It allowed us to step away from the usual hustle and bustle, providing a much-needed reset. Being free from the constraints of the clock gave us a chance to reconnect with our own rhythms and truly unwind.