Cura Personalis: Kairos time

By Andrew Nowel, Editor-In-Chief

Have you ever turned off your phone for a weekend just to step back from the craziness of the world? When you take a step out of the real world and curl into a ball of reality that only you are in, you enter Kairos time.

Kairos time is being on you time. You control what you do without knowing what time it actually is. You don’t have to go on the Kairos retreat put on by Jesuit schools to be on Kairos time. Anytime you disconnect yourself from the outside world, you go on Kairos time. It helps to limit your stress, and puts your mind to rest.

I find myself struggling to find Kairos time in everyday life. With the billion clubs I seem to be in — or run — I don’t have time to stop, but I need to find the time. Taking time for yourself is something psychologists always say help your mental health, and help you to focus on tasks that you need to do — whether that be for work or otherwise.

When I take a walk, I put my phone in my pocket and turn my headphones up to zone out from the distractions of everyday life. Being away from screens can help our brains refocus on things and rest our minds. As a sports fan, I never turn off my phone, however, I have when I’ve just wanted to be in the moment. Those times, when I’m experiencing the fullness of living life, is when I’m the most on Kairos time.

We just hit the halfway point of the semester, and midterms have come and gone — and still are going on for some — but the stress of a college semester remains. Using Kairos time in your everyday life can help limit stress. Maybe it’s simple by just going for a walk in between classes and enjoying the little Buffalo “summer weather” we still have left, or it’s taking time to read a book without looking at your phone. Any way that you can help yourself destress and focus your attention back on what you need to do is helping your brain be calmer when it comes to studying for a midterm.

Kairos time also brings in a faith component for those looking for self reflection. Even if you aren’t religious, self reflection helps better ourselves, so we can make the most of every day. For the Jesuits, reflection and prayer are a key part of being able to serve others. Reflecting inwardly about the best way to serve others is part of the Jesuit mission and ties into Canisius’ Cura Peronalis message to students, faculty and staff. 

Kairos time helps us do this. When we step back from our phones or other distractions, we can self–reflect to see what we need to do to make sure we are taking care of ourselves and those around us. So instead of doomscrolling in between classes, take time to reflect and find your own way to be on Kairos time. It may help your mind reset after a long week of midterms.