Frustrated Because To-Do List Tasks Take Too Long? Here's What To Do.
How many times have you said, I'm going to finish something in 30 minutes and it ends up taking all day long?
You end up completely frustrated with yourself, you blame it on yourself…
What if you had the magic secret to estimating how long all your tasks will take you so you don't have to feel behind and flustered ever again?
In this blog post, I'm going to give you the magic secret that you're looking for when it comes to estimating how long things will take for tasks in your business!
Become Aware
First, it's super important to just become aware of, is this problem is happening to you? Do things take way longer than you want them to? It's important to become aware of how you spend your time and what you end up spending your time on for estimating how long things will take you.
When you're not paying attention to how long writing that blog post, scheduling out content for your Instagram or Facebook, interacting with potential clients, then you will continue to be unrealistic about what you put on your to-do list, therefore your output in your business. Which is really the real reason you feel behind, scattered and overwhelmed.
Without becoming aware of how you spend your time, you're going to continue to think that you can send an email newsletter every single week, post every single day on Instagram and Facebook, still have time to polish your offer, attract clients AND do all the other things that actually make your business a business.
How to do that? I would say simple activity, get a time tracker app, get a piece of paper, get an Excel spreadsheet going, whatever fuels your fire. Just pay attention to how long things take you in your business for a week or two.
1.5-2X Rule
The next thing I want to ask you is, are you taking the time to estimate how long things will take you?
For example, a blog post, are you putting that into consideration when you are making a to-do list? OR are you flying by the seat of your pants thinking that you can finish eight things on your to-do list today when in reality, each of them takes HOURS to get done?
If you're saying Becca, I don't know how to estimate how long things will take me... That's why we go back to just becoming aware and keeping track of how long these tasks take you on a normal basis and then you'll have a better idea of it.
But, I'm going to share with you some things that you can do to estimate now without taking the time to track and analyze your time over the span of a week or two.
I want to flip that question on its head, so instead of asking how long will that blog post take me, ask yourself is how long do I want to spend on that blog post?
How long do you want to spend on that task?
When you flip that question on its head, you can't say I don't know anymore!
You have to get specific, do you want to spend eight hours on one blog post? Do you want to spend hours, days, weeks, months, maybe years on a task?
No, probably not. You want to get things done efficiently and effectively so you can continue to grow your business.
Things are going to take eight weeks, months, maybe even years, if you are continuing to pile on more and more and more under your to-do list without estimating how long you want to spend on them.
This is where I share with you my magic trick. After I became more aware of how long things were taking me and I did the whole time tracking activity… I realized that things took me about one and a half or two times as long as I wanted to spend on them or how long I thought they should take.
Thanks to my engineering brain!
So when I'm planning my week, I write my to-do list just like you probably do, and then next to each task, I write how long I want to spend on each thing and then I multiply it by one and a half or two.
For example, since I create YouTube videos, I would love to script a month's worth of videos in an hour but, I think that is a lofty goal. It still takes me a little bit longer than an hour to script four videos, so I'll multiply it by two. Then, I schedule in my calendar two hours to script my YouTube videos for the next month.
This little trick will help you estimate how long things will actually take you so you don't have to feel shame about not getting everything done and being super unrealistic about your to-do list.
Again, this is super individualized so I want to encourage you to go back to the exercise of tracking your time. Maybe writing a blog post or scripting YouTube videos will take you three times as much. Or three and a half when you're just starting out and there's nothing wrong with that.
Try not to get caught up in the hustle culture mindset or mode. When you're just starting your own business, you're learning a ton of new things on the daily! Your brain is on overdrive and so when things take a little bit longer, it's okay.
You just want to estimate realistically so you don't stress yourself out and think that you should be doing more when in reality we're learning, we're getting amazing work done on the time frame that we can. Time management just got a whole lot easier!
Want the exact steps showing you how to curate a calendar that works and feels amazing for YOU?
Check out Soulful Scheduling - a self-paced course for busy adults with limited time.
The perfectionist-procrastination cycle
This leads me into the next topic, which is the perfectionist-procrastination cycle. They are super connected. You might have both, one, or the other but it's really important to talk about this when it comes to estimating how long things will actually take you.
I'm bringing this up because it's a huge cycle that I see with my clients and, while these two topics can be talked about in completely individual videos of themselves, about going into why they're there and how to fix them.
But if you're spending hours writing something because you're a perfectionist and you're pouring all of your heart, energy, and soul into this thing, then you probably are experiencing some sort of perfectionism. You probably want to add that into your magic trick right? Things will probably take 3.5 to 4 times longer. Unless you do the work to figure out why perfectionist tendencies are coming out.
The same thing with procrastination, if you tend to put things off and off and off and you don't end up starting until like an hour or two later, then maybe add that in the time that it takes, so you know what you are spending your 24 hours on.
Granted, those are band-aid solutions. I am NOT talking about how to get to the root of them, lovingly solve them and work through them. These are just simple tips that you can use to estimate and be more realistic about your to-do list. I will be doing a video on both of these things because I used to have both of them! However, if you do want to do a little bit of self-coaching around perfectionist or across procrastination tendencies, feel free to just get out a piece of paper right now, stop reading and just write down. Ask yourself, why do you think that you are being a perfectionist when it comes to this task that you are taking hours and hours on? and why are you procrastinating starting things? Just ask yourself why. That's like the greatest question, how to get down to the root and get closer and closer to healing.
If you feel guilty about pushing your tasks back and back, then you need to check out this other post, “3 things that you miss when you write your to-do list” because that blog is really going to get to the root of why you keep pushing your tasks back and why you feel so overwhelmed and overworked all of the time!
If you love this blog post and you got a super awesome tip from it, feel free to comment that tip below. I would love to get to know how this post helped and how are you going to start implementing this!
What to do when you get frustrated
When faced with the frustration of not finishing tasks on time or struggling to accurately estimate how long tasks will take, it's essential to recognize the interplay between your energy levels and your capacity for focus. Especially for individuals with ADHD, a boring task can induce a state of hypofocus, where dopamine levels plummet, making even simple tasks feel insurmountable.
Rather than berating yourself for not meeting deadlines, consider giving yourself grace. Acknowledge that your brain's innate wiring affects how you engage with tasks, and it’s more than okay to find certain activities draining. Allow yourself to take frequent breaks or switch to a more stimulating (or fun!) task when you notice your focus waning, as this can help recharge your mental energy.
When you get frustrated, I also recommend using it as an opportunity to strengthen your confidence, even if that feels impossible in the moment. Building confidence in your ability to manage your time effectively involves reframing your self-talk. Instead of succumbing to negative thoughts like "I can't do this" or "I'll never finish," challenge those narratives by focusing on small, easily achievable steps.
Remind yourself that progress often comes in increments and that it's perfectly acceptable to start with just a few minutes of focused work. For instance, telling yourself, “I am willing to engage with this task for just ten minutes” can shift your mindset from feeling overwhelmed to one of possibility, potential, and hope. This positive self-talk not only helps lift your confidence but also helps to create a more optimistic environment for task completion.
Finally, it’s vital to cultivate an understanding of your own unique rhythms and limitations. Keep a journal to track your energy levels and how they correlate with different tasks. This would help you gain insight into when you're most productive and feeling the best. And then don't forget to celebrate your successes, no matter how small, to reinforce the positive feedback loop that fuels motivation and focus. By treating yourself with kindness and compassion, you can navigate the challenges of effective time management. Remember that it's not about perfection but about progress.
Want the exact steps showing you how to curate a calendar that works and feels amazing for YOU?
Check out Soulful Scheduling - a self-paced course designed to help you take back control of how you spend your valuable time every day.
10 Best ADHD Tools For Time Management, Productivity, & Organization
Most people talk about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as a limitation or problem to fix.
And I get it. Organizing things, planning your day, focusing, and simply time in general can feel overwhelming, frustrating, or impossible.
But I just want to say that you are not a problem. You are not bad or wrong. You don’t need fixing because nothing is wrong with you.
The real problem? Traditional time management tools and strategies weren’t built for your brain. It wasn’t built for the majority of us.
Instead of spending years looking for tools that’ll actually help you, I’ve spent hours scouring the internet for the top 10 ADHD time management tools currently out there.
While I haven’t been officially diagnosed with ADHD, I have had to do quite a bit of work on my relationship with time and productivity. I personally use many of these tools to help me accomplish what I want while maintaining my well-being.
If you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD or you have an inkling you may be neurodivergent, these tools and apps are for you. With them, you can strengthen your time management skills and take solid steps toward meaningful, lasting change.
1. Google Calendar
The central, foundational, pivotal ADHD management tool: a planner.
People spend hours and hours trying to find the perfect planner. Once they do? It’s used for a week or two and then completely forgotten about. Many of my time management coaching clients struggle with keeping track of post-its, papers, and their tasks. What do they always have with them? Their phones or computers. That’s why I recommend Google Calendar as #1.
Google Calendar is a free and amazing time-management and scheduling app that will help you visualize the passage and allocation of time and break down big projects into smaller tasks. Time blindness no more!
For someone with ADHD, it’s important to know you have to customize it and use it for your unique brain. After that, you’ll be unstoppable.
Pros: Free, intuitive interface, integration with Google Meet, publish calendars to the web, subscribing to other’s calendars, multiple calendars, ADHD-friendly features like color-coding, focus time, and customizable notifications.
Cons: Need to know how to set it up and use it in a way that works for you, doesn’t integrate with other video conferencing platforms, multiple calendars and mobile can get visually overwhelming.
Price: Free with your Gmail account.
Overall for someone who is always multitasking like me, Google Calendar is a lifesaver and it helps me to manage my routine and time more effectively.
I love how my computer, iPad, and phone have my Google Calendar on there. The syncing is very seamless and it helps me keep track of all meetings and events. You can even sync your Google Calendar with your Apple Calendar!
2. Focus@Will
Music is extremely important to me and my workflow. Instead of heading over to Spotify and taking the time to pick the perfect station, Focus@will does it for me.
Focus@will is a music service based on human neuroscience designed to help you concentrate and reduce distractions. Studies show a 200-400% increase in focus time. On their website, they say that the average productivity in a one-hour focus@will session is 75%.
After logging in to their website, all you do is set a timer, choose the type of music and pace you want, and work until the timer goes off. Once your session is done, they’ll ask you how productive you were. Over time, you’ll be able to see your stats.
They also have this super cute quiz to help you find your ‘perfect flow tunes’.
Pros: Not having to think about what music to put on, tested by scientists, tracks productivity progress, channel specifically for humans with ADHD
Cons: Not that many channels, costs money, time can fly by because you’re super focused
Pricing: $7.49/mo or $52.49/year with a 1-week trial.
I need to listen to Focus@Will right now to work on Computer stuff that I don’t particularly enjoy! And then I’ll have it for Monday morning. I even cook with it. It feels as if it helps reduce my stress levels all day. I really love it and don’t want to live without it. I have tried the 60 beat per minute channels for Concentration and Study on YouTube, but I find this is much better for concentrating, focus and calmness. I am telling everyone about it…. my son has ADHD so I will try to get him on it at least when he’s doing paperwork. Thank you so much for this great programme… we all need it.
This product was exactly what I had been looking to find for years! I had attempted curating my own playlists, downloading my own music and looking up the best study music… but this hands-down is the best piece of software I own! focus@will is an integral part of my small business staff!
3. Memtime
ADHD often affects a person's sense of time, causing someone to struggle to estimate how much time has passed or how long a task should take. Becoming more aware of the passage of time is extremely helpful. That’s why time tracking is often recommended. However, this presents a whole new problem.
Remembering to track your time. And remembering what you did during that time.
That’s why I love Memtime. As an ADHD-friendly time tracker, Memtime records the exact time spent in every program, file, browser tab, or email for you. Then it’ll summarize and display your working day, saving you 75% of your time spent on time tracking.
Pros: Automatic, able to track any program or page you use, offline tool (tracked activities don’t leave users’ devices).
Cons: Fairly expensive, fear of data breaches, and not available as an app on phones or tablets yet.
Price: Free trial for 14 days, after that $14/mo.
“It takes the sting out of time tracking.”
Time tracking was like a part-time job. Now it only takes seconds.
4. Forest
Forest is a fun app that helps you stay focused. Whenever you want (or need) to focus, you plant a tree. Your tree will grow while you focus on your work. If you leave the app to check social media or other distracting apps, the tree withers and dies.
Over time, you turn your accumulated focused moments into a gorgeous forest, unlock new species, and even plant real trees through Trees for the Future. One of their newest features is planting trees with friends, if anyone uses their phone, everyone’s tree will die. Talk about external motivation!
They too have a short quiz to help you find your personal flower. (Maybe you can tell I’m a sucker for cute quizzes!)
Pros: Gamified focus support, supporting a mission-driven organization, personalized ‘Allow Lists’, sharing your forest with friends.
Cons: Need to remember to open the app and use it, only available on iOS and Android, designed for single-task focus.
Price: $3.99 with additional in-app purchases.
"It's great because it works like a phone game, but it's a phone game that gives you time rather than taking it away."
I am someone who struggles tremendously with studying due to my ADHD. This app gives me a time limit that has a tangible consequence for breaking, because the flower or shrub I’m growing will die if I break the rules of the app, and will remain on my forest record forever. I don’t want that to happen, so I follow the rules and do what I set out to do originally. It’s so hard to do things of my own volition, but this app helps. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing at all, so I think it’s worth the download.
5. Cold Turkey
I don’t believe in using my limited capacity to stay off sites and apps that are designed to steal my time and attention. I’d rather use a site like Cold Turkey to block them and use my energy on the things I want to be doing.
That’s why Cold Turkey is my new BFF! It blocks anything from specific websites and applications to the entire internet with a few exceptions. You can even use it to schedule breaks from your entire computer.
They also have two other products, Writer and Micromanager. Writer turns your computer into a typewriter so the only thing you can do is write. Micromanager only lets you use specified work apps and blocks everything else.
Pros: All of your settings and statistics are stored locally on your computer so everything you block is kept private, Donates to the World Wildlife Fund each 10-minute break you take, uses motivational quotes for positive reinforcement.
Cons: Some users may find the interface and settings of Cold Turkey a bit complex or overwhelming initially, primarily operates on desktop platforms (Windows and macOS), if you’re computer savvy you might be able to find a way to override the system.
Price: Free version or Lifetime Pro at $39.
I no longer feel the itching need to check Reddit or Facebook. I feel as if I've been unshackled from my computer.
This is the only thing that finally made me start writing and stop procrastinating and getting distracted all the time on reddit and twitter. I don't use the common website blocker, but the writer one that won't let you get out of the program unless you write certain amount of words, or for some minutes.
6. Chirps
Chirps is an app that will chirp to remind you of whatever you want–what time it is, medicine, meetings, and more. You can schedule 'chirps' to run every x minutes/hours at any time of day.
Pros: Widgets, minimalist interface, fully customizable.
Cons: On Apple products only.
Price: Chirps is a completely FREE app without ads!
Picking up the phone while working from home is risky, there’s SO many distractions. I’m an artist & avid nature lover. It’s absolutely essential for me to track my time and still maintain the flow of my work & immersion. Especially when my hands are covered in paint! This app is perfect for that. It’s also helpful while I hike & workout! This app helps me eliminate that & keep track time so I know when to break for dinner, pick up my kid, or need a break. I never realized how much my grandmother’s wall clock helped regulate my adhd growing up & this is the digital replacement. Thanks for making a simple, polished, user friendly app. Less is truly more—a lost concept with so many developers!
I needed an app to help me drink more water. Everything I looked at wanted to track my water or wouldn’t let me create intervals the way I wanted. This app does exactly what I needed. I set my reminder at the interval of my choosing and I get a little non intrusive buzz to drink water.
Want a calendar that both works and feels amazing?
I got you.
Check out Soulful Scheduling - a self-paced course designed to make getting things done easy peasy.
7. Toby
How many tabs do you have open right now? More than 5-6? Meet Toby. The browser extension over 500,000 people are using to help them organize their tabs.
Toby is a beautifully designed application that can help you search for, quickly identify, and switch between tabs. By grouping your tabs, you’ll decrease cognitive overload (super important!) and be able to focus more on specific topics or tasks.
Pros: Organize and manage your browser tabs effectively, syncs across devices and teams, visual representation of your tabs, making it easy to identify and switch between them quickly, search feature.
Cons: Designed as a browser extension for Google Chrome and Firefox, potential learning curve when initially setting up, requires an internet connection.
Price: Free plan (up to 10 spaces), Productivity Plan @ $4.50 per user/mo, Team Plan @ $6 per user/mo.
Toby has transformed the way I keep myself and my projects organized. I would recommend it to anyone who has endless bookmarks.
Toby is THE BEST at managing numerous tabs, folders, and sessions for your everyday business life. I have multiple businesses and this tool has enabled me to not go insane with all of the tabs and windows that I have open each day. This enables me to have just one window open instead of 5-7 with 5-10 tabs open in each window. Banana's right?! 🤪
8. Goblin.Tools
Guesswork is a huge part of what slows folks with ADHD down. Goblin.Tools is a collection of small, simple, single-task AI-based tools, designed to help neurodivergent people with tasks they find overwhelming or difficult.
Their tools are delightful. Some are: A Magic Todo list that automatically breaks down tasks into steps, the Estimator that can guess a timeframe for an activity, the Compiler to takes entire braindumps and turns them into actionable tasks, and the Chef, which turns a description of what ingredients and tools you have in your kitchen into a real recipe
Pros: It’s fun, can help take the guesswork out of a lot of things, has a super simple interface.
Cons: Since it’s an AI tool it’s limited in its understanding of some tasks, some of their tools don’t take into account the amount of energy you have at the time, for people who already have a decent productivity stack.
Price: Free and available to all, without ads or paywalls. $0.99 to buy as a mobile app
Neurodivergent folks rave about this app!
Goblin Tools is an AMAZING app for NDs, in particular autistic people and/or ADHDers. I happen to be both (as well as bipolar) and so the struggles with executive dysfunction and social interests are manifold. The app's many tools are all so great, some of which are quite unique. I swear, this is a to-do list app unlike any you've seen. I've tried them all. None of them are designed to tackle executive dysfunction like this.
This is quite literally the best app I’ve ever downloaded on my phone ever and thank you so very much to the developer and all your work, you have really changed my entire daily routine for the better
9. Llama Life
Founded by a human with diagnosed ADHD, Llama Life is an adorable (yet powerful!) tool that supports you in working through your lists.
This app uses a concept called time-boxing, which is setting a fixed amount of time (using a countdown timer) for each task. This creates the mental space to focus on one task at a time. Llama Life has amazing features like soundscapes, templates, and chimes.
Pros: Very nice, clean, simple interface, handy features like presets, shortcuts, and more, and integrates with popular task management tools.
Cons: Only available on web browsers.
Price: $6/month or $39/year with a free 7-day trial.
I’ve managed to finish all my work early today for the first time in days.
I just found out about Llama Life from an ADHD account on Instagram (@ADHDVision) and honestly, it’s a game changer.
10. TimeCap
Why is remembering to work out or floss so hard? TimeCap, also known as ADHD Organizer, Planner: Focus in the app store, is here to help!
This app is a free and easy-to-use habit tracker. TimeCap helps over 10,000 daily users, stay on track with their daily and weekly activities. With many different features, it’s designed with ADHD in mind. You can use it to focus, keep track of workouts, manage diverse passions, maintain essential self-care routines, minimize ‘bad’ habits, and more.
Pro: On Apple and Google, motivating reminders, visually pleasing interface, lots of customization options, easy to use.
Cons: App only.
Price: Free with in-app purchases.
They have great ratings. 4.9 out of 5 on 1.1K Ratings
ADHD approved! I have tried so many habit tracking apps and this is by far the best one. I love the way it looks (simple, sleek, minimalist, but customizable). It doesn’t overwhelm me looking at it. It also doesn’t send me unnecessary notifications”
Download this app immediately. Clean, intuitive interface. Tracks habit building and breaking. Daily task timer. It’s even become my to-do list and reminder app. Can’t speak highly enough of this app and the developer. I had nearly given up.”
How to Actually Get Started Using One of These Tools
Don’t know where to start? Here’s what I recommend: If you need help planning and organizing your day, head over to your Google Calendar. Need help building healthy habits, download TimeCap. If you're trying to nip distractions in the bud, check out Focus@will, Forest, or Cold Turkey. Feeling overwhelmed? Experiment with Llama Life, Toby, or Goblin.Tools. And if you have no idea where your time goes during the day, purchase Memtime or download Chirps.
You can also use more than one tool. I use four of these tools myself. When I’m working with 1:1 time management coaching clients, I recommend starting small and slow. Pick the one thing that you need right now and build from there. It can be really easy to go overboard and have trouble committing and remembering to come back to these tools.
Approaching it this way has greatly helped them feel better about themselves, get organized, and make more space for activities they enjoy.
Remember, we aren’t born knowing how to organize and manage our time. It’s a learned skill for all of us.
You deserve to live your most productive life (WITHOUT feeling burned out!).
Soulful Scheduling is all about showing you exactly how to structure, organize, and run your digital calendar (think Google Calendar). Grab it today!
Paper Planner vs Digital Planner vs Google Calendar: What's Best?
Your time is the most precious resource in the world, and how you spend it matters a whole lot — Whether you have a business, a boss, a kid, a partner, or not.
Every day is filled with different responsibilities and tasks whether you expect them or not. It’s also so important to make space to create, rest, and experience joy.
Hence the need for a good tool to help you organize your time and tasks!
The world agrees – the planning market size is estimated to be worth US $1.3 billion in 2023 and the productivity technology industry is estimated at US $58.88 billion in 2023. Both industries expect high growth over the next 10 years or so.
Finding the right tool to help you effectively accomplish everything you need so you can live the life you want is important.
Unfortunately finding which one works best for you – your unique life, mind, body, and soul is the challenge.
This article will give you everything you need to know about paper planning, digital planners, and digital calendars like Google Calendar so you can make the best decision for your own life.
What is a paper planner? A digital planner? A digital calendar like Google Calendar?
Paper planner
A traditional paper planner is a tangible place for you to put pen to paper and physically write down your plans, long-term goals, and to-do lists. There are a million different paper planners out there. They come in all different sizes, shapes, styles, and types of content.
Digital planner
A digital planner is a digital version of a paper planner. They’re usually interactive PDFs that can be written on using a tablet or device. Again, tons of different digital planners out there.
Digital calendar
A digital calendar is a sort of subset of digital planners. However, the difference is you’re directly planning and keeping track of your to-do’s in your digital calendar. There are a few main digital calendar tools out there, including the massively popular Google Calendar.
All three types of planners have different benefits and can come in daily planning, weekly planning, monthly planning, or annual planning - or a mix of these in one perfect planner!
The pros and cons of a paper planner
Pros of a paper planner
Tech and screen-free. You don’t need any tech know-how or additional time on your screen. Simply open up the planner, pick up your pen, and write.
Range of customization. Some planners, like bullet journaling, are essentially blank pages for you to completely make yours. Other paper planners don’t allow for much customization, so you’ll want to make so the content works for your life.
Creativity. If you love to be creative and artistic, using a customizable paper planner may be a creative outlet and a great way to use beautiful pens, tape, stickers, and more.
Better memory. Writing things by hand (versus typing) improves memory and learning.
Strong dopamine hit. When you physically cross off a completed task on paper, it feels really good! It may just be stronger than crossing things off in your digital planner because it’s tactile.
Keepsake. A tangible way to celebrate your progress, look back at how you spent your time and reflect on the kind of person you were at the time.
Cons of a paper planner
Inconvenience. A planner is an additional item to remember to bring and carry around with you, which you have to do if you want it to be effective. It means you also need to carry a pen and other stationary tools if you use them. It can also be bulky if you like to separate work and life into two planners, plus journals and other books.
Lack of reminders. You’ll be responsible for regularly checking your paper planner throughout each day to make sure you are doing what you planned to do. Reminders are really important for people with “time blindness”, often folks who are super busy or are neurodivergent.
Not collaborative. Paper planners can’t be integrated into company workflows and other apps or shared with others you need to communicate your plans to.
Range of customization. As much as it is a pro, it’s also a con. If you buy a planner designed by someone else, the content or vibe might not work for you.
Time-consuming. It takes a lot of time to make a paper planner look nice to you, find the information you need, and migrate information across months or years.
Un-editable. It’s difficult to correct mistakes that will inevitably happen. Especially if you’re using pen or markers.
Expensive. You need to buy a new planner each year (or quarter depending on the planner). And quality planners and stationery cost a decent bit of money.
Not eco-friendly. Paper is made from trees, and pens and markers are plastic. And you have to buy a new one each year (or quarter).
Damage-able. If you lose your planner or it gets damaged, there is no backup. Some pens and highlights can ghost or bleed ruining pages.
The pros and cons of a digital planner
Pros of a digital planner
Range of customization. You can create, design, and even sell your own digital planning tool so it meets all of your unique needs.
Save money & the earth. Digital planners are either free or come at a one-time cost, and there is no need to replace a digital planner.
Highly editable. It’s super easy to fix mistakes, edit details, and reschedule things as life comes up.
Efficiency. Once you have a page set up that works you can just copy and paste it within minutes to reuse each week/month. It’s also easy to find information using hyperlinks and search features, as well as migrating information.
Backed up. A digital planner is often backed up and saved on the interwebs.
Aesthetic for the less creative. If you don’t like handwriting (or your handwriting), you can pick really pretty fonts. You can also add aesthetic details like colors, themes, and digital stickers.
Shareable. You can easily share your plans with other people.
Mobile. You can access your planner whenever you have your phone or another device on you. If you like to use separate planners for work and personal it is so easy to have both on your device.
Cons of a digital planner
Tech requirements. Need an electronic device. Often for digital planners, you’ll want to use a tablet with a digital writing tool.
Can be expensive if you don’t already have a device (most used is a tablet and stylus). Also, most people selling digital planners have a no-return or refund policy.
Learning curve. If you aren’t familiar with the tech, app, or program behind your digital planner, there will be some time spent learning it. Also, writing with a stylus can take some practice.
Distractible. Can be easy to get distracted when on a device with social media, emails, and other apps.
Battery. If your device isn’t charged, you can’t access your planner.
Wifi. Depending on the technology, you might need wifi to access, edit, or use your planner.
Screen time. It’s adding to your daily screen time which can affect your physical and mental health.
Technical issues. If you are not a fan of tech, digital planners can feel like a challenge. For example, you’ll want to make sure the devices you use (if you have more than one), you’ll want to synchronize them or things might fall through the cracks. You’ll also need to update apps/tech and back up your files.
Privacy. Personal details, plans, goals, and schedules may be vulnerable to data breaches.
The pros and cons of a digital calendar
Pros of a digital calendar
Time awareness. Writing out a plan or to-do list is good, but we often add too much to our plate because we aren’t estimating how long things will take us. A digital calendar will help you plan and create to-do lists more realistically because you’re attaching a time container to it.
Time-blocking. One super popular time management technique, time blocking, is the easiest to do with a digital calendar. That’s because you can quickly carve out chunks of time for certain tasks, making it easy to see them visually, easy to change if need be, and easy to stick to.
Accountability. You can use your digital calendar to hold you accountable and strengthen your follow-through muscles.
Some customization. You can customize your digital calendar in terms of colors, event names, and views. There are also many features and settings that make your digital calendar feel more custom.
Collaborative. Not only is it shareable across your devices and with others, but you can also collaborate with family members, team members, or clients on your schedule or appointments.
Increased focus. You can use your digital calendar to block off time (either for yourself or for your team) to focus on priority tasks without interruption.
Save money & the earth. Digital calendars can be free if you’re using the calendar that comes with your email address (there are some that cost money out there… an article on this coming soon). There’s also no need to replace a digital calendar, you just keep using it! While devices are using earth’s resources, you most likely already have a phone and computer.
Highly editable. It’s super easy to edit details, reschedule things as life comes up, and fix mistakes without leaving a mess behind.
Efficiency. Once you have a schedule that works or an event that regularly happens, you simply repeat it. You can also add useful attachments and links to elevate scheduled events.
Backed up. A digital calendar is backed up and saved on the interwebs without thinking about it.
Mobile. You can access your digital calendar whenever you have your phone or another device on you. If you like to use separate planners for work and life it is so easy to have both on your device.
Reminders. Setting up alerts and reminders for important events will help you stay on track and worry less if you’re late or you over-scheduled yourself.
Already using it. You’re most likely already using your digital calendar for some events whether your clients or appointments with others. If you’re already using Apple Calendar or Google Calendar and want to sync them, that’s easy!
Views. You can see your time from a day, week, month, and year allowing you to see a lot much further ahead into the future. Additionally, you can add everything into your calendar for your work and your life in one place but toggle on and off the calendars.
Planning to use a digital calendar like Google Calendar, but don’t know where to start?
Take it from an expert - you don’t want to go in blind!
Check out Soulful Scheduling - a self-paced course designed to help you curate a calendar that both feels and works amazingly.
Cons of a digital calendar
Tech requirements. You’ll need an electronic device and an email address to access a free digital calendar. You can use a computer or phone.
Can be expensive if you don’t already have a device (the most used device is a computer).
Distractible. Can be easy to get distracted when on a device with social media, emails, and other apps.
Battery. If your device isn’t charged, you can’t access your planner.
Wifi. Depending on the technology, you might need wifi to access, edit, or use your planner.
Screen time. It’s adding to your daily screen time which can affect your physical and mental health.
Technical issues. If you are not a fan of tech, digital calendars might feel like a challenge. For example, you’ll want to make sure the devices you use (if you have more than one), you’ll want to synchronize them or things might fall through the cracks.
Privacy. Personal details, plans, goals, and schedules may be vulnerable to data breaches.
Which one will work best for me?
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to deciding if a paper planner, digital planner, or digital calendar is best. Instead, it’s all about which option will work best for YOU – your unique life, mind, body, and soul.
My recommendation is to pick the 3 most important things for you, read over the pros and cons, then pick ONE place that you believe will help you keep your good habits going, easily stay organized, and accomplish your tasks and goals.
For example, the most important things for me are reminders, edit-ability, and being realistic with my plans. Going back through the pros and cons, the digital calendar checks off all of these.
You can, however, find a way to collaborate with both paper and digital planning as long as you’ve chosen one central place to store things. If you use both, it will be entirely too time-consuming and won’t make you feel more organized.
Personally, I regularly journal so I’ll use paper to mind map projects and write lists when I’m particularly overwhelmed. Aside from that, I use my digital calendar for everything and recommend it to everyone no matter who they are or what they.
I no longer operate from a to-do list, which 5 years ago me would’ve laughed at. 🤣
Use your Digital Calendar like the complex, beautiful human you are. Start living the life you want.
Get Soulful Scheduling today!
What a Holistic Life & Time Coach Is (& What They Do)
When I talk to potential clients and friends about coaching, the general consensus is: What actually is it?
On top of that, there are tons of coaches out there in the world, all with different opinions, definitions, and perspectives on coaching. Of course, I have my own, too.
If you’ve ever considered hiring a coach, this article will help you figure out if a coach might be the right next step for you.
Or if you’ve ever wondered questions like: How do I accomplish the things I want without feeling so stressed and rushed? How can I experience more spaciousness and time outside of work, have time for myself, and enjoy my life?
Those are two of the big questions that a holistic life and time coach will help you answer.
Keep reading below to find out more, or tune in to episodes #025 and #026 on Not Too Productive to hear it for yourself.
What does a holistic life and time coach do?
I graduated from Level 1 Holistic Coach Training in September 2021 and Level 2 Holistic Coach Training in November 2023. The coach training institute I attended is accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the largest regulatory body for the coaching field.
It is so important to me to define coaching and help people understand whether it is right for them.
As humans, it’s so easy to get stuck on autopilot, living in our lives, thinking the same thoughts, and doing the same things.
Simply put, a holistic life and time coach is someone who will help you spend your time and life how you want. They support you in getting to where you want to go… faster, easier, and without feeling so alone or frustrated.
As a coach, how do I do that exactly? In so many ways.
It’s important to understand that coaching is not therapy or consulting. A coach doesn’t give advice. I dive deeper into why that is later in this article, but the main reason is that the best answers are found within you, not externally.
A coach will ask powerful questions, offer reflections, and provide supportive tools and modalities. A life coach will help you recognize old patterns and change them, of course, if you want to. Personally, I bring somatics, parts work, mindfulness, and compassionate understanding into my coaching calls.
A holistic life and time coach also offers a non-hierarchal, judgment-free space for you to express, process, and try new perspectives. Where else in life do we have access to that kind of space?
Finally, a coach provides accountability and encouragement, making it so easier for you to be motivated and take action on what you want.
Adding a holistic perspective to coaching
When you’re not well, it’s challenging to set goals, make plans, try new things, make decisions with clarity, or accomplish what you want.
I also know that when you do reach your goals and you’re exhausted or burned out, it’s difficult to keep it up.
Accomplishing things regardless of the cost to you and your well-being isn’t worth it.
A holistic coach helps you achieve your goals AND be healthy physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
When you are well, taking action and making changes is easier.
A holistic life coach helps you consider your whole being so you have a much greater chance of sustainably succeeding.
Holistic coaching meets time management
The #1 biggest, most common thing that holds us all back from living the way we want and accomplishing what we want is time.
You need time to write a book, sleep well, grow a business, be with friends, play with your kids, create art, move your body, and do anything.
Yet the world of time management and productivity is full of people telling others what to do and hacks for getting work and tasks done as quickly as possible. It’s exhausting and feels horrible!
Time is what happens at work, but also in the mornings before it, on the weekends, and the small moments in between. It’s our whole lives and the most precious resource ever.
Life isn’t supposed to feel like a never-ending to-do list. It’s meant to be enjoyed. That’s why time is so much bigger than management, productivity, optimization, and efficiency.
Holistic time coaching combines coaching, a holistic lens, and time management so you can go inwards, heal what’s really preventing you from doing the things you want to do, and find unique-to-you solutions.
Holistic time coaching helps you consider everything from external factors such as finances, accessibility, responsibilities, relationships, work, and environment, to internal factors such as how your unique mind and body operate best, how you feel, what brings you joy, and more.
My job is to help you clarify what you actually want, prioritize what matters most, set achievable goals, make realistic plans, heal procrastination, build sustainable habits, and more. Most importantly, shifting how you think and feel about time so that you never again feel as if time is a limitation.
After working with me, my clients regularly say they feel a much healthier and expansive relationship towards time, which has improved their day-to-day lives.
Holistic life & time coaching vs therapy
While both are extremely useful, holistic life and time coaching stand out from therapy or counseling.
Think of it like this: therapy often focuses on past traumas and the psyche, while holistic coaching looks ahead to the future. When you work with a holistic life and time coach, you're in for a forward-thinking, practical experience.
Instead of diving deep into old wounds, coaching provides hands-on guidance for discovering strategies for living your values, experiencing less stress, and finding balance.
Coaching versus consulting
When someone tells you what to do, how does that feel in your body? For most of us, bad. Me too! A loud part of me (my inner teen) gets loud and wants to rebel. Then, I don’t ever actually follow through with it.
Often, when clients come to me seeking advice, and I give it, they decide it doesn’t sit well with them. It’s because no one knows better than you.
This is why coaching works so well. It helps you go inward and find your own answers, shining a light on how you feel, think, and what you want.
As a coach, I believe that every human being is resourceful and knows exactly what they need to do next. My job is to help you clear out the inner and/or outer noise preventing you from discovering your answers.
Time is bigger than management
Whether it’s getting more done, getting the right things done, resting more, or spending more time with your loved ones… I help you make the most of your one magical, beautiful life (aka time) and feel good while doing it.
When you’re ready to team up to feel confident, in control, and at peace with your time…Schedule a no-cost consult call to see how I can help here!
What are the most common myths about time blocking?
The average person uses 13 tools, apps, tips, or tricks to help them manage their time.
What if you just needed one, main tool to help you spend your time the way you want?
There is. Time blocking.
Except, only 17% of people time block.
That’s because we’ve been taught lots of things about time blocking that feel terrible to our minds, bodies, and spirits.
When I start working with new clients, they often feel like they’ve tried everything and nothing works. This leaves them feeling overwhelmed and stressed out regularly.
If you’re feeling frustrated because you can’t figure out how to time block, you might be making these 5 common mistakes.
I want you to know, they’re not your fault. And there are many things you can do differently.
If you’re ready to check off to-do’s with less stress, feel less overwhelmed, take better care of yourself, and enjoy your time more thoroughly, keep reading.
What is time blocking, and how can it help me?
Time blocking, also known as calendar blocking, is a planning strategy where you proactively dedicate certain tasks to a certain time frame. It’s also an execution and accountability strategy. Calendar blocking can help you feel in control of your time, have space for distraction-free deep work, and experience greater levels of follow-through, flow, focus, self-accountability, and time awareness.
What are the 5 common time-blocking mistakes?
We aren’t taught time blocking in a compassionate, intuitive, and holistic way. We’re taught to add appointments and events that concern other people, add work tasks around events, and then cross our fingers for some crumbs of free time for ourselves. If that’s you, know it’s not your fault!
By fixing these time-blocking mistakes (taught to us!), you can start making the most of your time, more sustainably and effectively accomplish your goals, all while maintaining your well-being.
Overcommitting
Scheduling too many tasks in one day is a common time-blocking mistake that I see. I often hear from clients that they’ve been taught to time block their entire day, from the moment they want to wake up to when they want to go to sleep. It’s also really challenging for many to know their capacity in a tangible way and say no when they’ve hit their max.
Overcommitment leads to stress from constantly feeling behind and being unable to keep up with their jam-packed schedule. When we live in an overcommitted state, we tend to neglect self-care, rush through the day, and have trouble prioritizing because everything feels urgent and important.
Tend to be in the overcommitted boat? Here’s a quick time-blocking hack: Create a max for the number of meetings or tasks you can add to your day. You can also do this with goals, projects, or priorities.
Neglecting rest and joy
Second most common mistake? Not scheduling any, or enough breaks throughout the day and week. If you’re feeling physically exhausted, regularly stressed or anxious, or have low focus and motivation neglecting rest and joy might be your time blocking snafu.
Neglecting time off of work or experiencing true joy also impacts our relationship with ourselves and others. It leads to burnout and a lack of fulfillment. But who taught us growing up and throughout our lives to prioritize rest and joy? Not many people. It’s only now becoming more and more common to talk about, thank the universe!
Scheduling rest and joy might feel a little counterproductive, but if you find your calendar packed… this is one of the most important things to schedule! Start small by adding an amount of rest that feels safe and accesible in your calendar. It can be just a lunch break at first, a day, or a weekend. As your capacity for rest grows, you can use your human design, menstrual cycle, life responsibilities, and energy levels to get a stronger idea of just how much rest you need.
Time Block like a human.
Get things done easier, and quicker.
Failing to prioritize (authentically!)
Not prioritizing tasks in your calendar is a biggie for our health and success. When we prioritize everyone and everything else, besides our most important and meaningful activities… we’re headed for trouble. When people think about prioritization, we’re taught to prioritize based on its importance and urgency. I don’t think those reference points are all that helpful. I don’t want to live in an urgent state all the time, I don’t think you do either!
Using your core values or what’s most important to you is how I teach my clients to authentically prioritize. If you seem to be missing deadlines, spending the majority of your time doing busy-work, or feeling behind or burned out, this time hack is for you:
Look at your current goals and tasks on your calendar. Ask yourself, “Do these tasks I’m regularly working on for sure help me achieve my goals?” This question takes radical honesty. If you don’t have tasks in your calendar, think about how you regularly spend your time. If yes, way to go. If no, there are some things you may need to change.
Rigid mindset
Every mistake I share, I’m like this is the biggest one. But for real, a rigid mindset is actually the biggest time-blocking mistake people make. Connected to being overcommitted, when people time block their whole day from start to finish, they think they have to perfectly follow it. And if they can’t/don’t, then it’s their fault. No, no, no, no. Don’t internalize this trash!
While we’re taught all-or-nothing thinking when it comes to planning, but the point of time blocking isn’t to perfectly follow it. When we think that, our creativity is stifled, we miss opportunities to be spontaneous and free, and decreases our adaptability and joy. If you want to time block successfully, having a flexible mindset is key.
My best tip? Since this is a mindset, it’s important to use a mindset solution. First, you create your schedule and you are in control of it throughout the day, not the other way around. You CAN get things done when you move them around, in fact, you’re more likely to get things done when you’re flexible and compassionate with yourself. To strike a balance between structure and flexibility, the best way is to use your intuition in time blocking.
Underestimating time needed
Last but not least, underestimating the real time needed to complete a task is a time-blocking no-no. If you find yourself stressing out around deadline time, rushing through tasks, and neglecting yourself underestimating is may just be your kryptonite.
Many people underestimate due to time over-optimism, being unfamiliar with the work involved in a task, underestimating the complexity, getting distracted, or feeling pressured and stressed out while working on a task. Fear not, time blocking can help!
A hack to help you not constantly feel behind? Overestimate the time you give a task. My rule of thumb is to overestimate my tasks by at least 1.5 or 2x times. Then if it takes less time, I go in and shorten that event and use that extra time to either rest or start on the next thing (most of the time, I rest now!)
Time tips and hacks only go so far
While the tips I shared with you will definitely help, identifying the root cause of these mistakes and healing them will be much more impactful than any hack can ever be. Often, there are many deeper underlying reasons you might be having trouble saying no, not prioritizing yourself and your goals, experiencing a rigid mindset, or underestimating the time something takes.
The way I approach time blocking in a uniquely strategic way and address the underlying root causes has made a huge difference in my life and my client’s lives. One of them, Sam, said that she was able to now fit in ALL of the important stuff in her life and accomplished more in her business over the course of two months than she had in the previous year and a half while nursing a newborn!
Effectively addressing the deeper things is key to finding long-lasting balance, manageability, and peace at work and in your life. This healing paired with a schedule aligned with your unique rhythms, goals, and capacity can make a big difference for you, your business, your relationships, and your health.
An easy-to-follow weekly schedule? Yes please!
Enroll in Digital Calendars For Humans to achieve your goals without sacrificing your health or joy.
15 Best-Rated Time Management Books (& How to Choose!)
Welcome, time seekers and productivity enthusiasts! If you’ve been feeling short on time lately and you’re sick of the clock-chasing-you-anxiety, I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve curated 15 of the best published time management books out there.
As someone who has personally burned out as a student and professional, time became a concept really important to me.
Now 10 years later, as a Holistic Time Coach, I see and work with time a little differently than most other time management coaches out there. You’ll already likely notice this in the list below as I include novels, workbooks, and books that emphasize holistic well-being.
No matter if you read a single book from this list or not, I just want you to know it’s possible to melt that anxiety away, start getting things done much easier, and experience real peace in your life. I see it happen every day.
If you’re ready to feel better, take good care of yourself, and have more time for the things you love, keep reading!
How to Choose What to Read First
There are a lot of books on this list, some are more traditional and some are more unconventional (like me!). It’s impossible to read all of them, especially when you’re already short on time. How will you choose which one to read first?
Here’s what I’d recommend: Skim through this list and see which books call out to you.
Whether it’s a stirring in your gut, an excitement, a small whisper, or a loud calling, start with one of those. Trust yourself. And if you pick up that book but it something isn’t resonating, that’s okay. Put it down and choose a different one. No biggie.
I’d also like to mention here, please do not expect a book to solve all your unique time management struggles overnight.
Many books, especially time management books, are written for white, neurotypical, middle to upper-class people. On top of that, time management isn’t easy for anyone. We’re all out here trying to do our best with the minutes we have in a day. Please, be gentle with yourself and your expectations. Take everything with a grain of salt.
Want to know why time management books haven’t helped you manage your time better in the past? Read my thoughts about it here.
1. Atomic Habits by James Clear
Amazon Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (118,417 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (727,402 ratings)
James Clear sprinkles unique and magical insights on tiny habits throughout his book, Atomic Habits. He shows and proves to our sometimes stubborn brains how seemingly insignificant actions can create powerful, positive changes in our lives. Personally, I haven’t read this one but I can vouch for it from my clients and students, plus look at that high rating! If you want to go on a journey through the science of habits and personal stories from Clear, this is the book for you.
You might guess I love me a nature analogy. One of my favorite quotes from the book: “All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow. The task of breaking a bad habit is like uprooting a powerful oak within us. And the task of building a good habit is like cultivating a delicate flower one day at a time.”
2. The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream by Paulo Coelho
Amazon Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (143,756 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars (2,906,911 ratings)
You probably won’t see many or any, novels on your typical best time management book list. I, however, love fiction and often take in more learnings through captivating stories than non-fic. The Alchemist is a poetic fable (that made me cry!) that follows the journey of Santiago, a shepherd who embarks on a quest to fulfill his personal legend. Through a series of encounters and challenges, the novel imparts profound wisdom about pursuing one's dreams, listening to the heart, and understanding the interconnectedness of the universe. Something totally aligned with how I think about time. Coelho's narrative is both inspirational and philosophical, urging readers to discover their own paths and embrace the transformative power of self-discovery.
There are so many good quotes from this book so I have to share my two favorites.“The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them” and “Don't give in to your fears. If you do, you won't be able to talk to your heart.”
3. Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
Amazon Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (30,468 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars (144,865 ratings)
Need some support around creating concentrated, undistracted work time? Deep Work is for you. Newport claims that the ability to engage in deep, focused work is a rare and valuable skill that can lead to exceptional success. The book provides actionable strategies for cultivating deep work habits, eliminating distractions, and structuring your work environment.
“What we choose to focus on and what we choose to ignore—plays in defining the quality of our life.” I know this is true in my life!
4. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
Amazon Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (18,203 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars (105,224 ratings)
Essentialism is a manifesto for a simpler, more purposeful life. McKeown advocates for the relentless pursuit of what truly matters, urging readers to focus on their highest priorities and eliminate non-essential distractions. He encourages us to make a shift from the "more is better" mentality to a mindful approach of doing less but better. Something I am all about. I mean, just read this quote:
“Only once you give yourself permission to stop trying to do it all, to stop saying yes to everyone, can you make your highest contribution towards the things that really matter.”
5. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
Amazon Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (8,459 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars (65,989 ratings)
Four Thousand Weeks is a thought-provoking book that challenges conventional approaches to time management (LOVE). Burkeman argues that our obsession with productivity and efficiency often leads to stress and dissatisfaction. Instead, he encourages readers to embrace the limitations of their 4,000-week lifespans and focus on meaningful and fulfilling experiences.
Honestly, this quote says it all:
“Productivity is a trap. Becoming more efficient just makes you more rushed, and trying to clear the decks simply makes them fill up again faster. Nobody in the history of humanity has ever achieved “work-life balance,” whatever that might be, and you certainly won’t get there by copying the “six things successful people do before 7:00 a.m.” The day will never arrive when you finally have everything under control—when the flood of emails has been contained; when your to-do lists have stopped getting longer; when you’re meeting all your obligations at work and in your home life; when nobody’s angry with you for missing a deadline or dropping the ball; and when the fully optimized person you’ve become can turn, at long last, to the things life is really supposed to be about. Let’s start by admitting defeat: none of this is ever going to happen. But you know what? That’s excellent news.”
6. Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski
Amazon Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (7,889 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars (47,944 ratings)
Burnout is rampant in our fast-paced society and authors Emily and Amelia Nagoski delve into it in their book. Here you’ll learn the concept of the "stress cycle" and how it impacts your physical and mental health. Using scientific research and personal stories, you’ll be able to better understand and manage your stress, ultimately leading to a more balanced and healthier life. Read this great quote from the book:
“It’s true that rest makes us more productive, ultimately, and if that’s an argument that helps you persuade your boss to give you more flexibility, awesome. But we think rest matters not because it makes you more productive, but because it makes you happier and healthier, less grumpy, and more creative. We think rest matters because you matter. You are not here to be “productive.” You are here to be you, to engage with your Something Larger, to move through the world with confidence and joy. And to do that, you require rest.”
Things a time management book can’t do?
Give you guidance that’s made for you.
I’m here to help motivate and support you so you can integrate mindset shifts and skills
necessary for real change. Book a no-cost exploration call to chat about working together.
7. Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey
Amazon Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (668 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars (6,048 ratings)
Making time for ourselves, specifically taking time to rest, is one of the most challenging things to do. Tricia Hersey, founder of The Nap Ministry, is here to save us from exhaustion and the guilt we feel when we take time off. I can’t say it better than the book summary, “Rest Is Resistance is a call to action, a battle cry, a field guide, and a manifesto for all of us who are sleep deprived, searching for justice, and longing to be liberated from the oppressive grip of Grind Culture.” Personally, it’s my bible and a book that I recommend to all of my clients when we talk about rest. Just read this beautiful quote:
“You were not just born to center your entire existence on work and labor. You were born to heal, to grow, to be of service to yourself and community, to practice, to experiment, to create, to have space, to dream, and to connect.”
8. The Ultimate Time Management Toolkit: 25 Productivity Tools for Adults with ADHD and Chronically Busy People by Risa Williams
Amazon Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (40 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (20 ratings)
Written by a clinical therapist, this book offers practical methods and easy-to-use techniques to help you feel more motivated, achieve what you want, and feel less stressed about time (even if you have ADHD or feel too busy). Many of the strategies are based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and narrative therapy. As someone who is a mental health advocate and proud regular therapy attendee, I can vouch that therapy is one of the biggest reasons I was able to start spending my time how I wanted to.
9. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
Amazon Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (9,315 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars (154,985 ratings)
"Getting Things Done" is a well-known guide to creating a productivity system that organizes tasks, projects, and commitments. The biggest thing I appreciate most about this book is encouraging a clear and clutter-free mind. The system he emphasizes goes like this: capture and clarify all responsibilities, then organize and prioritize them systematically. If you’re looking for a system, this may be the book that does it for you.
Also, this quote totally cracks me up: “I am rather like a mosquito in a nudist camp; I know what I want to do, but I don’t know where to begin.” I know I’ve felt like that mosquito before, and I know many of my clients have too.
10. When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink
Amazon Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (3,863 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 3.8 out of 5 stars (29,663 ratings)
“When” is all about the science behind timing in our daily lives and decision-making processes. Pink delves into the complex and naturally fluctuating human biological clock and circadian rhythms in relation to our effectiveness. The book provides practical advice on how to align our activities with our natural daily rhythms to make the most of our time and life. His exploration of these somewhat science-y topics is thoughtful and engaging.
You can probably guess that my engineering, Virgo brain loved this book and how specific he got. He shares things like, “The typical worker reaches the most unproductive moment of the day at 2:55 p.m.”
11. Laziness Does Not Exist by Dr. Devon Price
Amazon Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (691 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars (7,458 ratings)
One of the most common things I hear from clients when we start working together? “I’m lazy! I waste so much time! I’m a procrastinator!” Those who share these thoughts with me, I always send this book their way. Dr. Devon Price, a fellow recovering overachiever, challenges the common notion of laziness and offers a fresh perspective on it. They argue that what is often labeled as laziness is, in fact, a result of complex factors, including mental health, social pressure, and environmental conditions. The book emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and understanding one's own needs and limitations, advocating for a more supportive approach to personal and societal expectations. Here’s a fab quote:
“The Laziness Lie is a deep-seated, culturally held belief system that leads many of us to believe the following: Deep down I’m lazy and worthless. I must work incredibly hard, all the time, to overcome my inner laziness. My worth is earned through my productivity. Work is the center of life. Anyone who isn’t accomplished and driven is immoral.”
12. The Time Paradox: The New Psychology of Time That Will Change Your Life by Philip Zimbardo
Amazon Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (309 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 3.8 out of 5 stars (2,680 ratings)
How we think and feel about time drastically impacts our behavior and how we spend it, therefore shaping our entire lives. Phillip Zimbardo speaks right to this. Backed by recent research, he shares that people can have 3 "time perspectives"; they can be past-oriented, present-oriented, or future-oriented. Using this framework, he explores how different time perspectives impact decision-making, relationships, and overall well-being.
One of my favorite quotes from this book is, "Our ability to reconstruct the past, to interpret the present, and to construct the future gives us the power to be happy.”
13. How to Stop Time: A Novel by Matt Haig
Amazon Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars (29,341 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 3.8 out of 5 stars (157,805 ratings)
Another novel disguised as a time management book! "How to Stop Time" by Matt Haig is a captivating novel that revolves around a guy named Tom Hazard, who ages at an extremely slow pace, living through centuries of history. As Tom navigates the challenges of immortality, the novel explores themes of identity, belonging, and the transient nature of time. Haig's narrative is both poignant and thought-provoking, inviting readers to reflect on the beauty and complexity of life through the lens of an extraordinary protagonist.
A quote from Matt’s book: “That's the thing with time, isn't it? It's not all the same. Some days - some years - some decades - are empty. There is nothing to them. It's just flat water. And then you come across a year, or even a day, or an afternoon. And it is everything. It is the whole thing.”
14. How to Not Always Be Working: A Toolkit for Creativity and Radical Self-Care by Marlee Grace
Amazon Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars (208 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 3.4 out of 5 stars (1,509 ratings)
“How To Not Always Be Working” is a compassionate guide for those who want to work less, and create and take care of themselves better. They share unique tools and insights to break free from the constant hustle, encouraging us to embrace more rest and reflection. The book emphasizes the importance of self-care (Of which I’m a huge believer in) as a vital component of the creative process. Marlee Grace's toolkit serves as a gentle reminder that sustainable productivity is deeply intertwined with intentional and nurturing practices for both the mind and body.
As an online business owner, I extra-loved this quote: “Remembering to go outside and not document every moment has been, for me, the key to not burning out and not always working.”
15. Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond Productivity Culture by Jenny Odell
Amazon Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars (156 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 3.6 out of 5 stars (2,337 ratings)
Jenny Odell, the author of the New York Times bestseller How to Do Nothing, just released Saving Time. In it, she explores the detrimental impact of the concept ‘Time is money’ and other harmful beliefs about time. In this book, we are offered other ways than current-day norms to experience time in order to live a more humane existence.
“If time management is not simply an issue of numerical hours but of some people having more control over their time than others, then the most realistic and expansive version of time management has to be collective: It has to entail a different distribution of power and security. In the realm of policy, that would mean things that seem obviously related to time - for example, subsidized childcare, paid leave, better overtime laws, and 'fair workweek laws', which seek to make part-time employees' schedules more predictable and to compensate them when they are not. Less obviously related to time - but absolutely relevant to it - are campaigns for a higher minimum wage, a federal jobs guarantee, or universal basic income.”
Best Time Management Book For New Parents
Time to Parent: Organizing Your Life to Bring Out the Best in Your Child and You by Julie Morgenstern
Amazon Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (100 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars (480 ratings)
Although I’m not a parent, I’ve worked with many parents with newborns all the way to adult children. The common theme? Parenting is HARD. That’s what I love about this book, Julie is honest about how hard parenting can be. This book gives you the tools you need to take the constant stress about the busyness of life and your child’s needs away.
A quote from the book, “Organizing the job gives parents the chance to create the time, confidence, and clarity required to give our kids the all-important fit of undivided attention.”
Best Time Management Book For Students
Time Management Workbook for Students by Dr. Emily Schwartz
Amazon Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars (2 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars (1 rating)
I picked this book over any other time books for students out there (which there aren’t that many!) because it’s a workbook, not a book. Students particularly need tangible exercises and tools that they can implement immediately. Also, it’s written by a woman with K-12, University, and corporate teaching experience and draws from doctoral research in motivation and success attributions. She says this workbook is, “Everything I wish my students knew.” If you’re a high school or college student looking to have more time, this workbook may be for you!
Best Time Management Book For Business Owners & Entrepreneurs
No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs: The Ultimate No Holds Barred Kick Butt Take No Prisoners Guide to Time Productivity and Sanity by Dan S. Kennedy
Amazon Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (269 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars (912 rating)
We, entrepreneurs, have a unique experience when it comes to time. We wear a ton of different hats and we’re almost completely in control of our schedules, and that freaks a lot of people out! Especially when coming from a corporate background. Dan S. Kennedy time management isn’t my typical style, I believe that we’re all already too hard on ourselves and the answer isn’t more rigidity. However, sometimes we do need a kick in the butt. That’s what this book delivers.
As an entrepreneur who grew up with a dad and grandpa
who owned businesses, I know the impact of working all the time.
I’d love to help you find a way to make time for everything that matters to you–in a way that works for
your unique life, brain, and business. Book a no-cost exploration call to chat with me about working together.
Best Time Management Book For Busy 9 to 5ers
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven R. Covey
Amazon Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (12,253 ratings)
Goodreads Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars (715,306 rating)
One of the first time management books I ever read? The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. My engineering day job had a professional development workshop, and this was the book we reviewed. While I wouldn’t be jumping to recommend this to my clients (read the books above!), if you’re a professional, this book will give you a common language with your co-workers which is so important. Plus it’s been read and reviewed a ton, so we know it hits home for many. The thing that I do extremely appreciate and agree with is aligning our time and life around our core values. That’s what Covey shares how to do here.
If you’ve ever heard, “Start with the end in mind,” this book is where it’s from.
You made it to the end! Which book are you choosing to read? Which books have you already read? Comment below! I’d love to hear from you.
Case Study: How to achieve work-life balance that is real & sustainable
I hear time and time again that work-life balance isn’t real or possible to achieve.
And I totally get that. As a multi-passionate/dimensional human…having time for everything that’s important to us isn’t easy in the society we live in.
While I won’t get into society’s failings here, I will say that there are many things we can do as individuals to make the juggling act easier for ourselves.
In this blog post, one of my clients Talon will delve into what helped them achieve work-life balance. Hint: It’s not another hack.
Rather than temporary solutions, we explored the ratio of work, rest and play that makes them the happiest, what types of play and rest are the best, the type of work and social environments that enable them to thrive and give more, and so much more.
Together, we uncovered how to best spend their time to be well and accomplish everything they need and want as a full-time and part-time jobber, creative, partner, and cat parent.
We made work-life balance real, and sustainable.
Tell us who you are and what you do.
Talon Tuong. Property manager & accountant, fantasy writer, mixed media artist, tarot reader, and cat parent
What was your life like before time coaching with me?
I reached out to Becca at the end of October. I had hit another burnout moment because I had overfilled my calendar yet again, and one more stressor was the hay that broke this camel's back.
I was overwhelmed with too many great opportunities and friends, and feeling guilty about declining any of them. Because I should be grateful for all I have, right?
I wanted to maintain good friendships. I wanted time to grow as an artist, take care of my house and cats, go on dates, and rejuvenate in solitude.
I work full-time plus part-time. I had no idea how to do it all or how to say No. I was starting to resent friends and invitations especially living in Los Angeles where things are happening all the time.
I felt like I was reacting to everything, and things stopped feeling fun. I started trying to say No, and I felt grief over being too tired to pursue certain opportunities, and while some friends were supportive, others felt threatened that I would spend less time with them.
I knew I couldn't handle it alone, so I started looking for time management coaches because I was feeling mad and conflicted about my calendar. I felt stuffy and agitated all the time.
What did you love about working together?
I discovered my guiding values, and I was surprised to find that they applied to literally everything in my life.
I opened up to Becca about every new challenge that came up in my life, I'd do the prompts she gave me, and as she'd listen to me process my experiences, she mirrored how all my hopes and fears led back to the same core values. Even when I thought it was a new situation, new problem, new people, new area of life. It all came back to Authenticity, Ease and Sharing My Joy.
I want to stay true to my values, always. And I want things to stay easeful. I want to rest. I want to work from a place of excitement and strength. I don't want to struggle and strain. I want to share what's true to me and find those who resonate with it, and nothing less.
Becca's ability to synthesize and cut to the heart of all my rambling thoughts is her superpower! When I would get into overthinking, she helped me come home to things I already said! And through experiencing the powerful way she listened to me and mirrored me, I learned to enjoy listening to myself and others more deeply than ever.
What has happened in your life or business since we worked together?
The stars aligned because I went through it all with Becca! I had holidays, got sick, needed to help my parents, fought with friends, job creep happened. Everything that could uproot all my perfect calendar plans happened. I was especially fixated on my relationships, whether to be on social media, and my creative calling.
By the time we were done, I had strengthened my boundaries and emotional regulation toolkit for when stress hit any random day or week. I no longer feel derailed when chaos happens. I just deepen into self-care first.
I was able to shift my intention for creativity so that I express myself as an extension of whatever self-care I need that week, instead of trying to push myself to come up with things to create on top of what I'm already doing.
I improved my relationships by creating more time for myself to rest and center so that I could fully show up as my best self for people.
At first, I feared that in order to make more time for creativity, I needed more solitary time than people time and that it would be a huge shift for the people in my life. I'm a people pleaser! Horrifying! But it turns out I needed more rest. I didn't have to choose between social and solo opportunities. By choosing rest, I was able to show up more fully for both.
I finished more paintings, wrote more, joined a book club, and I did all of it from a place of easygoing joy instead of panicked juggling.
Artist block and social resentment went away because I made more space to do nothing and feel zero pressure.
By giving myself more time to do nothing, to not have any obligations, it gave me the room to approach my active moments more gratefully and energetically. I did have to do a lot less than I was doing before. I do have to see people less often. I absolutely had to find a metric of success beyond an online presence. Now, I get more things done that matter to me with greater joy because I feel rested enough to gravitate towards what gives me meaning.
I'm spending time with people who are uplifting and uplifted when we're together, instead of seeing people because they "need" me to show up x number of times to be considered a true friend.
Right now, I'm experiencing job creep, and I still feel centered because I prioritize sustainable balanced work, rest and play. I am not about nonstop productivity or nonstop emotional labor. If it's not sustainable, it's not for me, and I will forge a new path creatively like I always do.
What do you think made those things (listed above) possible?
What helped me shift most was seeing myself as a whole person. I'm not just my passion or my role at work or to my loved ones. I'm also my health, my basic needs, my home, my sense of safety, my need to experiment and make mistakes and explore, my work ethic, a cat person. All of me needs care.
If I need to cut back on one area of my life, it's not because I'm failing. It's because I'm taking care of multiple parts of me.
I figured out the ratio of work, rest and play that make me happiest.
I figured out what types of play and rest do the most for me.
I figured out the type of work and social environments that enable me to thrive and give more.
I learned to trust the practice that when I'm relaxed and rested, I have so much more effortless energy than when I'm trying too hard. It felt really counterintuitive, as I'm so used to anxiously doing the most.
To know that I can be loved and enough by doing less is my healing journey.
The people who believe in overworking and overgiving are not going to come with me into my easefully abundant future.
What would you say to someone thinking about working with Becca?
Becca completely raised the bar for me of what to expect from a coach.
There are many life coaches out there who aren't going to fit you because they are selling you their results and their methods. If you want their life, then it's perfect. But what if you don't know what you want or if your desires keep changing from where you started? What if you don't know what methods will work for your unique brain and lifestyle? What if you want to do many things, in a world that keeps telling you to pick one habit and do it for 2 minutes daily? How does that add up to being a sustainably multipassionate person!
I love that Becca isn't trying to help me manage my time to be a creative spiritual entrepreneur. She helped me take care of my whole self so I can handle my many passions and stressors in a way that's more realistic to my life and personality.
And her approach isn't some mysteriously paywalled method. She takes the time to deeply hear your heart's aim and your rhythms, and to make your calendar match your truth and your everchanging reality. I think in this hectic world, it is a radical act to take the time to truly know ourselves. She'll give you that time.
Experience and enjoy balance in your own life.
Book a complimentary 30-min exploration call here.
33 Benefits You'll Experience When You Hire A Holistic Time Coach
It's easy to lose sight of the value of our time amidst the hustle and bustle of the day-to-day.
We often find ourselves caught up in worries about the past or consumed by anxieties about the future, all while being pulled into tasks that don't truly align with our true priorities and goals.
But here's the thing: every single moment, day, week, and year we experience weave together to form the tapestry of our one and only life.
That's why it's crucial to do the inner and outer work to be in right relationship with time and spend it consciously.
That's where Holistic Time Coaching and Holistic Time Management come in.
As a Holistic Time Coach, my mission is to partner up with individuals who yearn for more from their time and their existence. Those who crave more presence, abundance, freedom, and aliveness.
In this blog, I'll share the incredible benefits that holistic time coaching can bring to your life—truly life-changing results that will elevate your business, relationships, health, finances, and more.
What is holistic life & time coaching?
Holistic life and time coaching is all about shaping your future and maximizing your present. Think of it as a dynamic partnership with a coach who guides you to unlock your full potential. The process is incredibly hands-on and tailored to your unique needs. It begins with identifying your values, dreams, and aspirations, helping you craft a roadmap for your life.
Together with your holistic life and time coach, you'll work on enhancing time management skills, reducing stress, and creating a balanced, fulfilling life. This approach is ideal for busy adults seeking to regain control over their schedules and achieve a harmonious lifestyle aligned with their loved ones. However, it might not be the best fit for individuals who are currently dealing with severe mental health issues that require immediate therapy or counseling. If you’re struggling with significant mental health issues, please seek out professional help immediately.
33 benefits of having a holistic time coach in your life
How we spend our time impacts everything; our work, relationships, environment, finances, and physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It makes sense that holistic time coaching benefits… everything too.
Here are the biggest benefits that are accessible to you with a holistic time management coach:
Accomplish more, better
Time management and productivity get a bad rep in my world nowadays. But productivity itself isn’t the enemy. The real enemy? Capitalism, scarcity, greed, selfishness, and income inequality. They turn productivity toxic.
But at the end of the day, we all have things we need to get done at work, at home, and for ourselves. That’s why we look to time management to support us in doing so.
However, traditional time management burns people out because it emphasizes a one-size-fits-all approach to productivity. This can lead to an overly rigid schedule and unrealistic expectations.
Holistic Time Management takes into account your unique differences and needs which helps you accomplish what you want, in less time and without all the stress, anxiety, hurry, and urgency. This allows you to get more quality work done.
Enriched creativity
Time that is well-managed allows for space to noodle, think creatively, and make art. You’ll have more capacity for hobbies, whether that’s playing an instrument, drawing, writing, or something else that you love doing.
Advanced time estimation
You’ll be able to accurately estimate how long tasks will take, leading to more realistic planning and scheduling.
Alleviate stress & anxiety
Holistic time management reduces day-to-day and chronic stress, anxiety, confusion, hopelessness, and helplessness. It also alleviates symptoms associated with those things such as headaches, exhaustion, burnout, and more.
More motivation
A coach will provide guidance and support to help you stay connected to your motivation throughout the day, week, and month.
Expands your capacity for joy
Holistic time coaching increases your joy and spontaneity. It helps you feel more alive, even as you’re checking things off your to-do list or when you’re at work throughout the week. You don’t have to wait until the weekend to be excited or have fun.
Effective visioning & goal setting
Ever set a goal and later realized it’s going to take a lot more time, energy, and focus to achieve? Yep! We’re so used to setting big lofty goals. But there’s a big difference between a vision and a goal.
A time coach will help you create a safe container for you to vision and dream without needing to know all the answers. Then they’ll support you in taking that vision and turning it into realistic and achievable goals.
This will help you stay motivated and on track, it’ll help you acknowledge and celebrate your progress, and achieve them much easier and quicker.
Healing self-sabotaging behavior
A holistic coach can help you deepen your understanding of and heal issues that impact how long you spend on tasks. Think common time issues such as procrastination, perfectionism, and overthinking
Self-accountability
Following through with the plans one makes is one of the most common struggles I hear from clients and students.
A holistic time coach is here to gently hold you accountable for the things you say you want to do and help you find ways to strengthen your own self-accountability muscle.
Boundary setting
You’ll be able to set clearer boundaries and say "no" to things you really don’t want to do.
Conscious prioritization & decision-making
You’ll learn how to prioritize tasks in a way that works for your brain and life, not just based on urgency. #EverythingIsUrgent
Also, you’ll gain clarity and find techniques to help you make easier and more effective decisions in all areas of your life, reducing overwhelm, analysis paralysis, and indecisiveness.
Guilt-free self-care & time off
Taking time off is not a piece of cake. Our minds are trained to constantly think about all the things we have to do. Many people feel guilty, lazy, and behind when they rest. And the reality is: we have responsibilities, bills, and people to take care of.
However, Holistic Time Management believes that when we are well, everything else is easier. That’s why I help my clients find a way to prioritize self-care and rest, no matter their responsibilities and circumstances.
As a Holistic Time Coach, I work with my clients to identify and let go of any of the inner guilt or narratives that prevent them from taking really good care of themselves. I also help folks find pockets of time off, make the best use of that time, and proactively plan ahead for more rest.
Better organization
Our direct environment impacts our energy and productivity so much. A holistic time coach will help you figure out if you need to declutter your physical and digital spaces. And if so, support you in creating a sustainable plan resulting in better organization.
Improved clarity & focus
A Holistic Time Coach can help you get clear on what you want and need to get done and how to find and use pockets of focus time better. They’ll also support you in finding self-criticism-free, sustainable ways to avoid distractions like social media.
Greater sense of connection
As opposed to traditional time management, a holistic approach to time management actually works because it emphasizes connection. The connection between yourself and the world around you, your work, your relationships, your health.
You’ll feel more present and mindful throughout each day. You’ll be able to tap into a deeper, more profound level of fulfillment, richness, and meaning.
Increased effectiveness
Do you know how things seem to take longer than we think they ‘should’? Ever feel frustrated about how long things take to happen?
A time coach is here to help you find out why and create strategies and tools to streamline things. This frees up resources for other areas of your life that are important and valuable to you.
Of course, efficiency is important, but it’s not the end all be all either. We tend to lose some of our humanity in pursuit of efficiency. A holistic time coach is here to help you accomplish things without sacrificing your presence and joy.
Unique time-saving techniques
There are millions of different solutions that can save you hours and hours of your life. We just have to find what solutions work for you and your life.
A time coach can offer you various time-saving techniques and tools that have worked for others and help you come up with your own.
Improved communication skills
A time management coach helps you create more space for meaningful interactions and active listening. You’ll also be able to establish clearer expectations with yourself and the people in your life.
Increased self-awareness
One of the things that I realized when I was overworking myself was I wasn’t in tune with myself. I was so focused on getting sh*t done.
I didn’t know what I needed, how I felt, or what I really wanted from my life.
Holistic Time Management works so well because it emphasizes self-knowledge, mindfulness, compassion, trust, and intuition. It helps you gain a better understanding of your needs, rhythms, and strengths and helps you incorporate them into your schedule, routines, and life.
Effective delegation
A holistic time coach will help you delegate tasks and responsibilities in a way that works for your budget, energy, and circumstances. This will free up your focus for more important work and things that bring you joy.
Healing old stories & negative core beliefs
When I ask folks how they feel about time management, many people will say something along of lines of “I suck at it.” This is one example of an old story or negative core belief.
We aren’t actually taught how to manage our time in any sort of unique, healthy, and functional way. How would we know how to? It’s a skill that grows as you practice it. (Ps: You don’t suck).
More realistic planning
If planning has ever felt overwhelming, frustrating, or confusing… you’re not alone. With a time coach, you can clarify and simplify your unique planning process and learn how to plan for the future in a way that works for you.
Creating plans that are realistic, adaptable, and in alignment with your values will help lessen the stress of feeling behind and accomplish your goals without getting exhausted.
Healthier consistency
Consistency is a bit tricky to talk about here, but I had to include it. People often think consistency means doing the same thing every day. To me, it doesn’t.
We’re human beings, with ranging energy, motivation, drive, and capacity. So when I say healthier consistency, I really mean that you’re committed and consistent with one thing: You doing you. When you acknowledge what you need and give yourself that, that’s the most important habit out there.
Sustainable scheduling
Creating a schedule that’s easy to follow yet doesn’t feel like a prison for your freedom-loving soul?! How is that even possible?
A holistic time coach will help you make it happen. You’ll be able to create and maintain a schedule that promotes balance, well-being, and long-term effectiveness.
Stronger relationships
Managing your time holistically will enable you to nurture and support your personal relationships more. You’ll be able to call your friends, go on dates, or play with your kids (or fur baby) without worrying about your to-do list.
Time for personal growth
Things like therapy, non-monetized hobbies, and learning non-work related things aren’t often seen as high-value or productive activities. But holistic time management believes they are just as important.
A holistic time coach will help you create time for any of your interests just because you want to!
Enjoy your work more
By aligning work with your core values, improving focus and productivity, reducing overwhelm and burnout, and establishing boundaries, you’ll be able to enjoy your work more fully and experience a greater sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
Heal urgency & hustle
Because holistic time management promotes mindful awareness, setting realistic expectations, creating space for reflection and evaluation, and emphasizing quality over quantity, you can gradually shift away from the harmful effects of urgency and hustle, fostering healing, well-being, and presence.
Stronger trust
Accomplishing the things you need and want to will strengthen your self-trust with yourself. It’ll also strengthen trust between you and the people you work with and love. And it’ll strengthen your trust in the universe (if you’re spiritual like I am).
Working with a holistic time coach will help you feel more reliable, capable, and confident.
More Money*
*If you want that.
As you’ve read in this list, managing your time holistically contributes to accomplishing things better, having more clarity and energy, and enjoying your work more. This often leads to higher earning potential and financial success. You’ll also be able to more easily prioritize and focus on tasks that directly contribute to your financial goals.
Work-life flow
Work-life flow acknowledges that work and personal life are interconnected and fluid. Holistic Time Management aims to create a more flexible and seamless experience between the two, often competing, areas of your life.
You’ll be able to find a rhythm and synergy between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being.
Overall well-being
When you’re well, everything else is honestly just easier.
That’s why a holistic time coach's main goal is to help you create time to care for your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. This will allow you to experience a greater sense of health, happiness, and satisfaction across your entire life.
I’ve had many clients say to me, “I’ve never felt healthier or more content in my entire life.”
Create an impact
When I talk about the ripple effect that happens when one person spends their time more effectively, I mean it.
Once you are clear on what you want to do and aren’t expending precious time and energy doing things you don’t want to do, you can make a bigger, more meaningful impact in the world. Whatever that means to you.
You can volunteer, be more present with your children, heal your own generational trauma, donate to organizations you care about, and so much more. And because you’re spending your time with integrity, you show others it’s possible for them too.
The opportunities are truly limitless.
Time is regenerative. When you’re more intentional with it, you get more of it. And by working on just this one thing, you’ll improve everything else.
A holistic life and time coach is one of the most impactful investments you can ever make. Want any or all of these benefits in your life?
Book a free, no-commitment exploration call today!
Why a holistic approach to time management is so powerful
Feel like you're constantly running on a hamster wheel, with time slipping away faster than you can catch up?
Are you struggling to juggle all of your responsibilities, while also trying to make time for the things that matter most to you?
If so, I hear you. And you’re not alone.
In our world which is full of distractions and pressures, being intentional with your time is more important than ever.
But traditional approaches to time management fall short.
A holistic approach to time management offers a powerful solution.
Rather than focusing solely on productivity and efficiency, a holistic approach considers all aspects of your life and creates a more sustainable and balanced approach to managing your time.
In this post, we'll explore what a holistic approach to time management is and why it actually works.
If you're ready to feel like yourself and live your life the way you want to, keep reading!
What is a holistic approach to time management?
A holistic approach to time management goes beyond simply organizing tasks and schedules.
This radical way of managing time explores the interconnectedness of all the areas of life such as work, relationships, environment, finances, and your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
It recognizes that time is a precious and limited resource. It aims to help you make conscious, intentional decisions about how you spend your time to experience a greater sense of purpose, satisfaction, and overall well-being.
At the core of holistic time management is you. Your values, your priorities, and long-term vision.
It believes that when you are well, everything else is easier. Much easier.
Because of this, a holistic approach to time management is inherently anti-capitalist.
When you spend your time in a way that prioritizes enoughness, fulfillment, and wellness, you are challenging the dominant, capitalist narratives around time and productivity.
Holistic time management helps you resist the societal pressure to work longer hours and prioritize work/doing/productivity above all else. It helps you reclaim your life and live the way you want to.
My application of holistic time management also acknowledges that time is not only an individual problem or solution, it’s a collective one. How we’re able to spend our time is directly connected to the systems we live in and the privileges and support we have.
What happens when you don’t use a holistic approach to time management
Time management was founded by a fellow engineer, Frederick Winslow Taylor (the author of The Principles of Scientific Management published in 1911).
The goal of traditional time management? Optimizing productivity and efficiency to complete as many tasks as possible in the shortest amount of time, with the hope that if you get everything done, you can rest and relax.
The problem with this thinking? Work and to-dos never end.
Traditional time management does not take into account individual rhythms and needs and ignores the beautiful, magical, intuitive, and unpredictable-ness of life.
Trying to manage our time in a capitalist and extractive way leaves us feeling shame, failure, isolation, guilt, unrealistic expectations, falling behind, stress, exhaustion, overwhelm, and burnout.
It’s no wonder we’re exhausted, we’re still using many of his (and other neurotypical, middle-class, white male) principles.
Time management with a holistic approach actually works
A holistic approach to time management actually works because it recognizes and honors the fact that you are a unique and whole, human being.
And it emphasizes self-knowledge, mindfulness, compassion, trust, and intuition.
If you have trauma, a chronic illness, are neurodivergent, or are simply a human who doesn’t want to live exhausted on autopilot, holistic time management is here for you.
It’s about more than just checking off tasks on a to-do list.
It's about identifying and crafting an easeful life around your values and priorities. It also acknowledges and addresses the societal factors and deeper beliefs that cause you to feel overwhelmed, stressed out, or short on time.
Holistic time management will give you the skills, mindsets, and tools you need to finally have time for everything that’s important to you, including space to rest, have fun, and enjoy your days.
A holistic approach to time management allows you to engage with a life beyond being a cog in the machine.
You get to accomplish your goals while experiencing a life full of peace and freedom.
You get to be the person you want to be.
To create the art and beauty you want to see in the world.
And to experience more ease and joy than you’ve ever felt.