The consist of two glass bulbs that are connected with each other by a small neck in the middle. These bulbs contain sand that can flow from the one bulb to another. By turning the hourglass over, sand enters from second top bulb into first bottom. A flow of sand that takes some fixed time is the de facto standard for a measure of time, which is to be taken as an hourglass or so-called egg timer. The solution is simple but also very effective!
The ancient Greeks first used sand timers in the 3rd century BC. These early hourglasses were filled with oil that would slowly trickle out, much like pouring water from a bottle today for slow cooking wine or vinegar reduction sauces! These were previously used to time speeches in court or high religious functions. Hourglass sand timers later became very popular in Europe during the Middle Ages. Used for timekeeping during church services and in scientific experiments. Sailors also used these to manage time while sailing in ocean.
After those early days, new 10 minute hourglass timers got even more precise. The marine chronometer is a highly accurate clock used in the 18th century by John Harrison. This was a huge advancement as it encouraged sailors to sailed the seas better and make their back home without any accidents. For this reason, that invention starts the decrease in use of hourglass sand timers and brings clocks and watches(instead as accurate measurements for time.)
Hourglass sand timers are very useful to maintain focus and time management. They are straightforward and great way to track your time spent on different fields. Another great tool is the simple hourglass sand timer, which you can plop next to while studying or doing homework and time yourself for 30 minutes. This can keep you on track and not sidetracked.
Hourglass sand timers are also used for mindfulness apart from productivity purposes. DOING, is defined as mindfulness because it means doing what you are doing in current moment. You can use an hourglass sand timer for some deep breathes, mediation If you have not done it before. You can zone out, empty your mind as you follow the grains of sand through time — it really is hypnotising watching these little critters flow through crevices so fine… Or breathe!
However, this apparatus has long history that dates back of arguably the most well known time-keeping device in a lot of art and stories — Hourglass sand timers. Hourglass sand timers are images often found in Western culture representing time, life and moments can change easily as well. They remind us that time never stops and they teach us to always make the best of our time, because life is short.
A few hourglass sand timers feature working designs, so you can really time with them and some are just decorative pretties that would look lovely sitting on a shelf or table. Drawer pulls can be wood, metal or glass and are sometimes artistically designed in specific shapes. They are functional as well, and serve their purpose while decorating elegantly your home.
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