Summary

Feel like time is slipping through your fingers? In this episode of "Trial & Error & Error," we dive into the paradox of being busy but not productive. Discover how to identify your "time villains" — those sneaky habits stealing your hours — and meet your "time heroes" that actually save you time. We explore the science behind effective time management, share practical micro-experiments you can try today, and introduce a fresh perspective: treating time like a messy best friend you need to learn to work with, not control. Join us for the 7-Day Time Experiment and learn to align your schedule with your values, energy cycles, and real priorities. Stop chasing time and start dancing with it.

Takeaways

• Awareness is the first step: Conduct a time audit to track what you actually do for one day — you'll discover where your hours really go and identify your time villains.
• Align your schedule with your values: Time management works best when your calendar reflects your actual goals and priorities, not just other people's demands.
• Set boundaries to protect your time: If you don't guard your time, someone else will fill it for you. Be selective about what gets access to your schedule.
• Work with your natural rhythms: Align tasks with your energy cycles — do creative work when you're energized, and routine tasks when your energy is lower.
• Try the 7-Day Time Experiment: Track your time, identify one villain, test one change for a week, and reflect on whether it made you feel freer or more constrained.
• Time management is self-care: Research shows that regularly evaluating your priorities reduces anxiety and improves life satisfaction.
• Productivity isn't about doing more: It's about doing the right things efficiently. Focus on quality over quantity.
• Personify time as a character: Instead of trying to "manage" time, become fluent in its language — learn to dance with it rather than chase it.

Resources:

• Aeon, B. & Aguinis, H. (2020). Does time management work? A meta-analysis. PLoS One, via PMC7799745
• Aeon, B. et al. (2024). Time Management Interventions and Well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, via PMC10927119
• T Mountain (C1042). 10 Strategies for Better Time Management - https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/publications/C1042/time-management-10-strategies-for-better-time-management/
• Marquette University (2021). Effective Time Management for Students and Professionals - https://today.marquette.edu/2024/09/on-topic-eight-tips-on-improving-time-management/
• Efron, N. (2023). Ten tips for efficient academic time management. Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 106(7), 691–693. https://doi.org/10.1080/08164622.2022.2139592
• YouTubers: Ali Abdaal, Thomas Frank
• Podcasts: It’s About Time (Anna Dearmon Kornick), The Time Management Podcast (Abigail Barnes).