Beyond Time Management
Why squeezing your calendar isn't the answer.
You know that feeling, right? The one where you're staring at your colour-coded Google Calendar, every block filled to the brim with meetings, tasks, and those precious few "focus time" slots you managed to carve out. You've read all the productivity books and installed all the apps, and yet... there's still never enough time.
Welcome to the club.
Here's a fun exercise: When was the last time you thought, "Gee, I just have way too much free time on my hands!" Yeah, I'll wait. Spoiler alert: It's probably been a while. Maybe since that hazy summer between high school and college?
Time is a flaky bad friend who only stays around briefly.
There's a hard limit. Twenty-four hours. That's it. That's the game.
The Great Time Illusion
Remember the early days of the pandemic? When we all thought, "Oh, no commute! Think of all the extra time I'll have!" How'd that work out for you? Because research shows that for most of us, it didn't quite pan out the way we imagined.
A study from the COVID-19 era revealed that despite saving time on commutes, many remote workers actually increased their work hours. That's right – we took that gift of "extra time" and promptly handed it right back to our work. It's like we can't help but fill every available moment with more... stuff.
This is the culture around the time:
Productivity = virtue
Time invested = value
"Time is money" (says the person buying your time)
You can't get time back (but you can earn your money back)
Not "using time wisely" = moral failure
The 24-Hour Reality Check
Here's my confession: I'm secretly grateful for that 24-hour limit. Without it, I'd probably be that person passed out face-down on their keyboard at 3 AM, having lost all concept of day and night in pursuit of inbox zero.
The problem isn't time. Time is just... time. It's how we slice it, dice it, and obsess over it that's driving us all to the brink of burnout.
I've been there. Hell, I'm still there some days. I've read the books, taken the courses, and even created my own time management class on Skillshare (oh, the irony). And you know what? Most of it doesn't work, at least not in the way we desperately want it to.
Why Time Management Training is a Bust
Harvard Business Review hit the nail on the head in their piece “Time management training doesn't work”. Author Maura Thomas points out:
“while work has changed, the training we get about how to manage our time looks pretty much the same as it always has. Traditional time management teaches us to “start every morning making a list of things to do that day.” But once you check your email, that list is already woefully outdated.”1
We're out here trying to prioritize when everything is labeled "urgent." We're attempting to find that mythical "quiet place" for deep work in open-plan offices that feel more like a stock exchange floor. And let's not even get started on the "quick question" emails, and the endless parade of meetings that could have been emails (which would have then turned into meetings anyway).
The problem’s not just that we’re getting distracted from work; it’s that we’re getting distracted from important work by other work.2
It's work all the way down.
So, let me save you some time and money: Forget the time management training. Seriously. Keep that cash in your wallet (you'll need it for your "Escape" fund anyway).
Why Most Time Management Courses Fail
One-size-fits-all delusion: These courses hand out generic tips, ignoring the fact that your life and challenges are uniquely yours (and probably uniquely messy).
Short-term band-aids: They focus on quick fixes without addressing the systemic issues or the deeply ingrained habits that got you here in the first place.
Tool obsession: Look, I love a good app, but tools alone won't save you. Mindset, behaviour change, and self-awareness? That's the real gold.
Unrealistic expectations: These courses promise the world. When reality hits, it hits hard, leaving you more demoralized than when you started.
So, What's the Alternative?
I promised a solution, didn't I? Well, here it is: We need to completely rethink our relationship with time. It is not just about managing it better, but fundamentally shifting how we view and interact with it.
Here's what that might look like:
a) Self-reflection: Instead of looking outward for answers, start by looking inward. What are your true priorities? Where do you actually spend your time? (Your screen time report might hurt a little.)
b) Align your goals: Set achievable goals that match your values. This is a brand-new concept, I know.
c) Build sustainable habits: Focus on creating routines that support your goals and well-being. And yes, "Netflix and chill" can be part of a balanced routine. I don't make the rules.
d) Time blocking with boundaries: Carve out dedicated time for different tasks, and then (this is crucial) actually stick to those boundaries.
e) Embrace flexibility: Life happens, plans change, and adapting without completely derailing is a superpower.
A New Approach
Now, I know you're not just here for general time management advice. You're imagining a life where your biggest time management challenge is deciding whether to write in the morning or afternoon (it's morning, trust me).
So, here's what I'm proposing: Over the upcoming months, I will include more posts on the infamous topic of “time”.
But we're going to do more than just rehash some time management tips. We're going to dig into the mindset shifts required to make this leap. We'll talk about building the habits that support a writing life, not just a productivity-obsessed one.
This is about rethinking time itself, especially as it relates to creative work and building an audience. It's about finding a way to balance the immediate demands of your day job with the long-term vision of your writing career.
And here's the best part: We're going to do this together. The comment section is open. Share your time struggles.
It's a big project, and I'm genuinely excited about it.
This is the first of 24 essays I wrote as part of the Sparkle on Substack Essay Club to keep me accountable and consistently posting regularly.
If life often gets in the way of your regular writing and you are a fellow Substacker (which many of you are), I'd recommend you join
and Essay Club.
Yana, you're sharing an interesting perspective, I must say though, "time management courses don't work" is similar to saying "money management courses don't work" or "project management courses don't work" etc, etc.
Having been on about a dozen of time management trainings, and most importantly, testing various time management solutions in my own careers and serving my clients, there are some that don't work for certain people and some that are amazing.
I totally agree with you on a "one size fits all" phony approach and that one is often pushed by semi-competent people who're trying to get a quick buck.
No seasoned successful leader will ever push one template on a client.
What works, can be figured out by trying and testing, and learning from those who've got a solid track record.
Hey Jana,
I agree that we need more reflection and adaptability in our approaches. We need more people sharing thoughts about modern ways of accomplishing things. I've read Burkman's "Four Thousand Weeks" and recently Newports "Slow Productivity" – It seems there is a new generation of time management and personal productivity on the rise.
I'm excited what you'll share over the next few weeks.
Best
Dennis