How do successful people like Ken Blanchard, Jeff Heath, and Chris Carneal manage their time effectively? What strategies do they use to transform their schedules from packed to productive? Why do they view 'white space' in their calendars as revolutionary and not a waste? What lessons can we learn from their approaches in order to enhance our own productivity and quality of life?

Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done

One July Friday, Laura Vanderkam, the author, woke in a hotel room in Bar Harbor, Maine. She and her husband, Michael, had planned a work trip, but when it was canceled, they turned it into an adults-only hiking trip in Acadia National Park. Laura arrived late Thursday night and planned to meet Michael the next day. Alone that morning, Laura went for a run by the ocean, feeling a rare, exhilarating sense of time freedom—no obligations, no ticking clock.

This feeling reminded Laura of her teenage job at Fazoli's, where she felt liberated after each shift. Despite having a cushier job now, Laura often grapples with the demands of life, especially with four young kids. However, she cherishes those rare moments when time feels abundant, like during a serene morning in Maine or a peaceful day in San Diego.

Many people feel pressed for time, especially those working and raising children. Gallup polls show that employed people and parents often feel time-stressed, but not everyone in these groups is overwhelmed. Some people manage to feel relaxed and in control, despite their busy schedules. Laura recalls an executive who told her she had "all the time in the world," meaning she chose her commitments wisely and structured her life to focus on what mattered.

Intrigued by this mindset, Laura conducted a study in 2017 with over 900 employed parents to understand how they spent their time and how they felt about it. The results were fascinating. Those who felt they had enough time were mindful of their schedules, reflected on their lives, and built enriching experiences into their days. They minimized unnecessary time burdens, like constant phone checks, and invested time in meaningful activities and relationships.

Laura aims to help people achieve time freedom by adopting similar habits. Even if your life feels out of control, these strategies can help you feel less busy and more fulfilled. Time is both precious and plentiful. By making mindful choices, one can live a life that's full and calm.

Ultimately, time freedom is about balance—choosing commitments that enrich our lives while finding moments of blissful relaxation. It's about being in control and making the most of our precious hours. Life is short, but with the right mindset, we can stretch and savor our time, creating a rich tapestry of experiences.

Can You Achieve Time Freedom Despite a Busy Life?

Robert Kauffman, a seasoned school principal, faced the common dilemma of being overwhelmed by daily crises, leaving little time for important tasks like instructional leadership. In 2016, he joined the National SAM Innovation Project, which focuses on optimizing principals' time to enhance school-wide impact.

Kauffman meticulously tracked his time with the help of a "school administration manager" (SAM) and discovered he was spending only 39.2% of his time on high-value instructional leadership. With this insight, he restructured his schedule, creating initiatives like "Teaching Tuesdays" and dedicating specific times for teacher feedback and personal matters. His efforts paid off; by the end of the school year, he increased his instructional leadership time to 51%, resulting in improved student performance.

Similarly, J. Thomas Roth, another principal who tracked his time, found that better management allowed him to leave work earlier and be more present with his family, enhancing his overall effectiveness.

Inspired by these stories, Laura decided to track her own time. Over two years, she discovered surprising truths: she worked fewer hours than she thought and spent more time on housework and errands. This led her to make strategic changes, like outsourcing tasks and better utilizing commuting time by listening to podcasts. She also began planning her weeks with a focus on career, relationships, and self-care, which opened up more free time and improved her life balance.

Other individuals, like college student Drew Paul and lawyer Claudia André, also found time tracking transformative. Drew reduced his TV time and managed his fraternity commitments better, while Claudia, despite caring for triplets, discovered she had more personal time than expected by optimizing her schedule.

The key takeaway is that mindfulness in time management, much like tending a garden, leads to freedom and fulfillment. By knowing where our time goes and making conscious choices, we can shape our lives to reflect what truly matters to us. This approach has empowered not only Laura but also educators and busy professionals to find balance and achieve their goals.

Mastering the Clock: How Mindful Time Management Transforms Lives

Time flies, doesn’t it? Alan Burdick once noted that when people say this, they really mean, "I don’t remember where the time went." Our brains are like time machines, effortlessly traveling to the past with the smallest prompts. A fallen receipt from a book, for instance, took Laura back to a 2002 train ride in Thailand, a vivid memory she hadn't consciously revisited in years.

Memory is indeed mysterious. Clinical psychologist Liz Currin explains that while most people remember events from around age three, trauma can bury memories deep. Yet, a simple trigger—a song, a scent—can bring them rushing back. For Currin, imagining a treasure chest filled with jewels helps her savor memories of her daughters' childhoods, preserving the essence of those fleeting moments.

Our brains, however, often treat memory like a filing cabinet, storing and forgetting routine experiences. The sameness of daily commutes or repetitive tasks shrinks vast stretches of time in our minds. Philosopher William James observed that monotony makes time "shrivel up." Yet, contrasting our routines with novel experiences can expand our perception of time.

Children live in a world of firsts, every moment new and intense. This novelty slows time for them, as evidenced by Laura's son Sam's memorable leap from a tree into the snow. Adults, too, can stretch time through new, emotionally charged experiences. Vacations, for instance, fill our memory banks with vivid units, making days feel longer.

Dorie Clark, a personal branding expert, realized she wasn’t making the most of living in New York City. She set a goal to have a unique New York adventure each week, from Broadway shows to obscure food courts. Her deliberate quest turned New York into a rich tapestry of memories, proving that mindful engagement with our environment makes days memorable.

Even on ordinary days, small adventures can create memorable moments. A surprise movie night, a walk in a new neighborhood, or a spontaneous hike can make a routine day stand out. These small acts of novelty can lead to a fuller sense of time.

Our "selves"—the anticipating, experiencing, and remembering selves—often clash. The experiencing self favors immediate comfort, while the anticipating and remembering selves value meaningful, memorable activities. Balancing these selves requires effort and discipline. Philosopher Robert Grudin notes that people often pamper the present, indulging in effortless pleasures that leave no lasting memories.

To combat this, Laura adopted a mantra: Plan it in. Do it anyway. This mindset helped her navigate a hectic December day filled with activities, from breakfast with Santa to a choir concert. Despite the logistical challenges, the memories of that day now shine brightly.

Memory isn’t just about recording events; it’s about actively curating and revisiting them. Photos, journals, and shared stories help cement memories. Even revisiting places from our past can unlock vivid recollections, as Laura experienced returning to her high school for a reunion.

Ultimately, creating memories requires conscious effort. Every day offers a chance to make it memorable, to prevent time from slipping away unnoticed. By doing something new or meaningful daily, people fully live their hours and, in looking back, understand who they truly are.

Can We Truly Stretch Time and Make Our Days More Memorable?

Managing time can often feel like navigating an abyss of endless tasks, and filling an empty hour might seem as daunting as a nightmare road stretching into infinity. But there’s magic in how we choose to fill our schedules, as illustrated by stories from successful managers and entrepreneurs.

Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson’s "The New One Minute Manager" offers a glimpse into the schedule of a master manager who seems to have all the time in the world. This manager’s secret? He keeps his calendar mostly free, only blocking off Wednesday mornings. This lightness of schedule is a stark contrast to the packed calendars of typical office workers, who spend six to eight hours a day in meetings.

Jeff Heath, who manages a global portfolio at Matrix Applied Technologies, embodies this principle. Despite his demanding role, Heath’s calendar often has open slots. His secret lies in his view of time as valuable and his meticulous planning. For instance, he treats long flights as opportunities for deep work, enabling him to maintain a flexible schedule when he’s not traveling.

Heath’s approach underscores the importance of valuing time. Many people, even with the best intentions, waste precious hours on distractions like internet browsing or responding to emails. Heath, on the other hand, uses his uninterrupted time wisely, tackling significant tasks and leaving room for spontaneous, meaningful interactions with his team.

The idea of keeping a calendar with "white space"—unfilled time—is revolutionary. Most people fill their schedules to feel busy and productive, but this often leads to unnecessary meetings and tasks that consume more time than they warrant. Meetings, by their nature, can be inefficient, often taking up more mental space than the actual time they are allotted.

To combat this, Heath and others like him consciously push back against schedule clutter. They decline unnecessary meetings, solve problems with quick conversations, and empower their teams to make decisions independently. This not only frees up their time but also invites new opportunities, as they appear more available and in control.

The key takeaway is to be intentional with time. Successful individuals often work fewer hours because they choose not to fill all available space. They plan their days strategically, prioritizing tasks that matter and allowing themselves breaks to recharge. This approach not only boosts productivity but also enhances their quality of life.

Inspired by the decluttering movement, particularly Marie Kondo’s philosophy of keeping only what "sparks joy," this mindset can be applied to our schedules. By evaluating and eliminating activities that don’t serve a meaningful purpose, we can create space for more fulfilling and impactful endeavors.

Damon Brown’s experience as a new parent illustrates this beautifully. Forced to work within a limited timeframe, he prioritized ruthlessly, focusing only on the most important tasks. This approach led to significant achievements, proving that how we perceive and manage our time is crucial.

Ultimately, freeing up time requires discipline, especially in our tech-saturated world. Constantly checking phones and emails can fragment our time and attention, making us feel busier than we are. Studies show that reducing the frequency of these checks can significantly reduce stress and improve our sense of time abundance.

So, the next time you find yourself with an empty hour, resist the urge to fill it mindlessly. Embrace the open space, allow yourself to think and reflect, and watch how this simple shift can transform your perception of time, making it feel as plentiful as summer light.

Mastering Time: The Art of Keeping 'White Space' in Your Schedule

Dell'Antonia, author and New York Times contributor, once found herself perpetually late and rushing. With four children deeply involved in competitive ice hockey, winter weeks were a chaotic blur of practices and games across New England. 

The struggle to be on time was real until Dell’Antonia decided to change her approach. She became more realistic about her time, like factoring in those inevitable last-minute bathroom breaks and forgotten equipment. She started packing the car well in advance and leaving early, enjoying the calm that came with punctuality.

In 2017, Dell’Antonia chose "linger" as her word of the year, embodying her newfound philosophy of taking her time and savoring moments. Lingering, she realized, was not about dawdling but about giving important things the time they deserved. This shift in mindset led her to stay longer at family dinners and explore new places during hockey trips. She discovered a chocolate shop in Manchester that became a family favorite, turning rushed weekends into opportunities for exploration and enjoyment.

Dell’Antonia’s journey resonates with many who find it hard to dwell in the present. This tendency reflects William James’s observation about the fleeting nature of the present. Despite its elusiveness, learning to savor the now is crucial for a richer experience of life.

Psychologists Fred B. Bryant and Joseph Veroff explored this in their research on savoring. They found that the most profound experiences of savoring involve a blend of past, present, and future awareness. Bryant’s own experience summiting Snowmass Mountain illustrates this beautifully. He took deliberate steps to capture the moment, from embracing friends to selecting a souvenir stone, making the fleeting experience feel vast and enduring.

To cultivate savoring, Bryant and Veroff suggest strategies like sharing memories, becoming more alert, and consciously acknowledging positive feelings. They also highlight common "Kill-Joy Thinking" habits that undermine enjoyment, such as focusing on where you should be instead of where you are.

Dell’Antonia’s and Bryant’s stories remind us that savoring is an acquired skill, requiring practice and mindfulness. For instance, Bryant envisions himself longing for his current privileges in a future nursing home, awakening him to the joys of teaching.

Lingering is not about slowing down all the time but about recognizing and savoring the enjoyable moments. Even amidst life’s chaos, like Dell’Antonia rocking her son to sleep, we can find peace and stretch time, appreciating the present before it slips into memory. Embracing this mindset allows us to enjoy the good moments, making our experience of time feel more abundant and fulfilling.

How Did 'Lingering' Transform Dell Antonia's Perception of Time?

Chris Carneal, the founder and CEO of Boosterthon, a school fundraising company, has a unique approach to investing in his happiness. His morning routine starts at 4:55 A.M. with a CrossFit workout, followed by a quiet hour at a Waffle House in suburban Atlanta. There, he spends time reflecting, praying, and focusing on his business ideas before heading home to be with his kids. 

By the time he arrives at the office around 9:30 or 10:00 A.M., Carneal has already completed 2.5 hours of productive work. This routine allows him to be fully present at work, engaging with his team and feeling less rushed throughout the day.

Carneal's story illustrates a key principle: investing time in activities that bring joy and satisfaction can make us feel less busy and more fulfilled. Research supports this idea, showing that people who spend time on mood-boosting activities like exercise, reflection, and social interactions tend to feel they have more time for what they want to do. This contrasts with those who spend more time on passive activities like watching TV or scrolling online, which don’t offer long-term happiness.

Money, too, can be a tool for happiness if used strategically. For example, spending money to reduce commuting time or outsourcing stressful chores can free up time for more enjoyable activities. Investing in experiences rather than material goods tends to create lasting memories that contribute to long-term happiness. 

Moreover, the concept of "paying yourself first" with time is crucial. Allocating high-energy hours to important tasks first thing in the morning can lead to significant progress and a sense of accomplishment. Katherine Reynolds Lewis, a journalist, moved her speculative writing to Monday mornings and soon found success with a major magazine article and a book deal. 

Mental strategies also play a vital role in happiness. Harmony Smith, a lawyer burdened with debt and a demanding job, views her situation as a "five-year prison sentence" but focuses on small joys and the knowledge that this period is temporary. Similarly, neuroscientist Layla Banihashemi coped with a year of cancer treatment by focusing on making it through each moment and savoring small pleasures.

Athlete Amelia Boone, known for winning grueling obstacle races, uses compartmentalization and finds joy even in suffering by engaging with fellow competitors and appreciating moments like the sunrise after a long, cold night.

These stories highlight that happiness often requires effort and strategic investment of time, money, and mental energy. By making conscious choices, we can design our lives to maximize joy and minimize stress, transforming how we perceive and use our time. Happiness, as Ernest Hemingway suggested, may be rare among intelligent people, but it is achievable through intentional living and disciplined joy.

Strategic Happiness: The Power of Intentional Living and Disciplined Joy

In 2016, Canadian artist Laureen Marchand reached out for a “time makeover” on Laura Vanderkam's blog, feeling unproductive and distracted from her creative work. Living in the remote village of Val Marie, Saskatchewan, she juggled various commitments but managed only twelve hours a week on her top priority: making art.

Laura advised her to dedicate her best time to her art, suggesting she start her studio work on Monday mornings. Marchand tried this, but faced a week full of interruptions: medical appointments, a faulty water pump, and extended hours at her grocery store job. Despite these obstacles, she logged 16.5 studio hours—a notable increase from her previous week. However, frustration over unmet expectations hindered her creativity.

Laura encouraged her to be gentler on herself and adopt the mantra: "Make art when you can. Relax when you can’t." This shift in perspective was liberating. Laureen scheduled self-care activities and socialized, easing the pressure she felt to constantly create. Even amid ongoing challenges, she found joy in her studio time and allowed herself to relax when art wasn’t feasible.

This newfound balance led to increased productivity and satisfaction. Laureen completed several paintings, culminating in a successful exhibition. She realized that prioritizing her art wasn’t just about managing time but also about managing expectations and being kind to herself.

This story underscores a crucial lesson Laura learned: letting go of unrealistic expectations and focusing on manageable goals can lead to significant achievements. Whether in art, writing, or daily life, persistent gentleness and realistic expectations can create space for creativity and fulfillment.

Can a Shift in Perspective Boost Your Creativity? The Laureen Marchand Story

A few years ago, Laura Vanderkam had the pleasure of interviewing Elisabeth McKetta and Cathy Doggett for a story on friendship. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, filled with shared memories and mutual understanding. They met in their twenties, bonded over vegetarian cooking, and have maintained their friendship despite living in different cities—Boise, Idaho, and Austin, Texas.

Their relationship, like any long-term friendship, has had its ups and downs. McKetta, who admits to being a bit flaky, once rented out her house to a jazz band when Doggett was visiting, leading to one of their first clashes. Doggett, the more organized of the two, insisted on keeping their plans, setting the tone for a friendship based on mutual respect and accountability.

Doggett's high expectations have pushed McKetta to be more focused, while McKetta helps Doggett relax. Their friendship has become a cornerstone of their lives, offering perspective and comfort in challenging times. They discuss their goals, read books together, and support each other's personal growth.

This story underscores a broader message: meaningful relationships enrich our lives and make us feel like we have more time. Studies show that people who spend more time with friends and family perceive their time as more abundant and fulfilling. Strong social ties also contribute to better health and longevity.

To nurture these relationships, we need to be intentional. Whether it's scheduling regular phone calls, planning one-on-one time with family members, or making time for friends, the key is to prioritize people. Simple rituals, like bedtime stories with children or breakfast meetings with friends, can transform ordinary moments into meaningful ones.

Professional relationships also benefit from this intentionality. Investing time in colleagues can lead to better work and more enjoyable experiences. Whether it's a casual chat over coffee or attending a work gathering, building these connections can make the hours feel more fulfilling.

Networking, often seen as transactional, can be reimagined as building authentic relationships. Making a habit of reaching out to one person each day can strengthen your network without feeling overwhelming. Small, consistent efforts can yield significant results over time.

Friendships, especially, require conscious effort. Big events, like annual get-togethers, can help maintain connections with far-flung friends. Regular, smaller meetups or aligning activities with friends can also keep these relationships alive.

Ultimately, the goal is to choose quality relationships that truly deepen your spirit. Investing in these connections, even when inconvenient, enriches our lives. As McKetta says, Doggett "gardens" her friendships, tending to them with care and discipline. This approach ensures that the relationships that matter most continue to thrive.

In the end, people are a good use of time. They make our hours come alive, offering joy, support, and a sense of belonging. Whether it's sharing a special moment with a child or finding camaraderie in the workplace, investing in relationships is a choice that pays lifelong dividends.

Nurturing Lifelong Bonds: The Enriching Power of Intentional Relationships

Feeling pressed for time is a common phenomenon, particularly among working adults and parents. However, some manage to feel relaxed and in control despite their busy schedules by choosing their commitments wisely and focusing on what matters. 

A study conducted on over 900 employed parents found that those who felt they had enough time were mindful of their schedules, reflected on their lives and built enriching experiences into their days. They also minimized unnecessary time burdens and invested time in meaningful activities and relationships. This approach can help anyone feel less busy and more fulfilled.

Time management is key to feeling in control and achieving a balanced life. By tracking and understanding how time is spent, one can make strategic changes to better utilize it and improve life balance. Making conscious choices and being mindful of time can lead to greater freedom, fulfillment, and success in achieving goals.

Our perception of time is influenced by our memories. A routine, monotonous life can make time seem to shrink, while novel experiences can expand our perception of time. Engaging in new, emotionally charged experiences and creating memorable moments can make time seem more abundant. It's essential to balance our immediate comfort with meaningful, memorable activities.

Successful time management often involves keeping a calendar with "white space" or unfilled time. This approach involves prioritizing tasks that matter and allowing breaks to recharge. The idea is to be intentional with time and not fill all available space just to feel busy and productive. This allows for more fulfilling and impactful endeavors.

Investing time in activities that bring joy and satisfaction can make us feel less busy and more fulfilled. This can include mood-boosting activities like exercise, reflection, and social interactions. Money can also be a tool for happiness if used strategically to reduce stress and free up time for more enjoyable activities.

Being kind to oneself and letting go of unrealistic expectations can lead to increased productivity and satisfaction. Focusing on manageable goals and being gentle with oneself can create space for creativity and fulfillment.

Meaningful relationships enrich our lives and make us feel like we have more time. People who spend more time with friends and family perceive their time as more abundant and fulfilling. Investing in these connections, even when inconvenient, enriches our lives. Whether it's sharing a special moment with a child or finding camaraderie in the workplace, investing in relationships is a choice that pays lifelong dividends.

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