During the French Revolution, emerging leaders decided to launch a new timekeeping system. Based on the metric system, time was measured using units of 10: 10 hours in a day, 100 minutes in an hour, and 100 seconds in a minute. The goal was to bring intention to their systems, rather than mindlessly sticking to the status quo. It didn’t catch on.

Despite how attached we are to our 525,600 minutes, there are countless alternatives. People have used everything from the behaviors of plants to the vibration of atoms to the division of day and night to measures time. Some alternatives are designed to ease our time anxiety, bring us closer to nature, or fix some of the flaws in the calendar we already have. The system we choose sets the pacing for our lives, reflects our priorities, and impacts our mental health.

Our current system is rooted in Ancient Babylonian thinking, but the way our brains work can make it difficult to let go. Studies show that we often overvalue what we’re used to, and prefer things to stay the same (even if they’re worse) just to avoid the discomfort of change. So if we did find a better way, what would it take for us to use it?