22. My Time is Managing Me

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).