#52 Finding Time Abundance: Laura Vanderkam’s Advice on Building More Meaningful and Resilient Schedules

Life is full of the unexpected, and few things feel as elusive as time. On today’s episode of Curveball, we dive deep into the challenge of managing our hours with Laura Vanderkam, a leading expert on how we actually use our days and how we can make our lives feel more abundant. Drawing from her latest book, "Big Time: A Simple Path to Time Abundance," Laura shares why the idea of "not enough hours in the day" might be a myth—and how we can reshape our schedules to make room for what matters most.Laura and host Scott Reich explore the practical strategies, surprising data, and real-life stories that reveal how we’re spending our 168 hours each week. Whether you’re overwhelmed by work, juggling family, or just searching for a little more joy in your day-to-day routine, this episode offers tangible advice that can help you reclaim your time—and your happiness.If you’ve ever felt worn out or convinced that time is slipping away, tune in for insights that will help you approach your schedule—and your life—in a whole new way.Listeners Will Learn:Laura Vanderkam talks about the concept of "time abundance."She emphasizes resilience in time management.Many people are unintentional with their non-work time.How "thoughtful accessibility," balances openness to opportunities with personal boundaries.Laura uses a circus metaphor about juggling multiple priorities in life, like parenting her five children.She found in her research that tracking time not only changes behavior but also improves feelings about time.Inserting little adventures—like salsa dancing on a Monday—correlates with a greater sense of time abundance and happiness.Laura’s research on habits or strategies shared by professionally successful people can help listeners feel more in control of their own schedules.Key Moments:(00:00) Creating a mindful schedule(04:00) Creating a resilient schedule(07:09) Weekly planning for a better week(10:14) Tracking and evaluating personal time(15:20) Setting boundaries with accessibility(18:33) Balancing schedules and energy(21:23) Life as a three ring circus(24:02) Managing sleep as a new parent(27:38) Finding joy through scheduled downtime(29:24) Making time for fun moments(32:10) Using free time wisely