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.
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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!
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!
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!
How a weekly schedule template saved me 37 hours every quarter
Back in 2019, I was building my yoga coaching business, teaching yoga, hosting retreats and workshops, all while being an engineer in my 9-5 job.
I rarely sat still.
Resting felt pointless, and I never felt like I got enough done. I was constantly overwhelmed, exhausted, and stressed out.
I never had enough time.
I know whenever I see someone say that everything changed from this one thing, I cringe. But I’m serious… using a weekly schedule template did that for me.
My calendar helped me heal toxic productivity, my tendency to over-commit, and my shiny object syndrome. Doing so allowed me to rest more, enjoy more, and focus more.
Four years later, I’m running a successful online coaching business and I currently work remotely 3-4 days a week while traveling around the world. (I’m in Cyprus as I write this)
I wouldn’t be where I am today without creating a weekly schedule template that felt good to ME.
In this blog, you’ll learn what a weekly schedule template is and how it saved me 37 hours, and $2500, a quarter. That’s 148 hours, or $10k a year!
What is a weekly schedule template?
A weekly schedule template is your average week pre-built into your digital calendar. It provides a “blank”, realistic, yet flexible structure and a clear framework for planning and organizing your week ahead.
I think of my weekly schedule template as a foundation for all the things I regularly need to do to maintain my life and well-being.
The biggest difference between a "‘weekly schedule’ and a ‘weekly schedule template’ is that you don’t intend to follow your weekly template perfectly, which is huge for a lot of people who struggle with perfectionism or all-or-nothing thinking.
You'd take your template and edit it at the beginning of each week to edit it to fit your real-life tasks, events, and responsibilities.
Once you have a weekly schedule template built, you will…
Feel more in control of your time, weeks, and schedule, and reduce any time-related stress.
Realistically see how much time, energy, and space you have available making it much easier to plan and say yes or no to things.
More easily keep track of everything because you have it all in one place preventing mental overwhelm.
See and celebrate what you’ve done and feel more fulfilled at the end of each day and week.
Increase your awareness of how long tasks really take and more realistically estimate how long things take.
How a weekly schedule template saved me 37 hours a quarter
I used to spend a lot of time planning, then re-planning, because my plans were rigid and unrealistic. I kept saying yes and overcommitting myself. I’d feel stressed out and behind on either everyday life stuff, or on my priorities and goals.
With a weekly schedule template, I saved 37 hours, and $2500, a quarter. That’s 148 hours, or $10k a year!
However, if you like math here it is:
Every quarter I used to spend about 5.5 hours each quarter planning it out. Then at the beginning of the week, I’d sit down and spend about 2.5 hours planning out my week. But since things changed so much, I’d spend another 45 mins each day writing out my to-do list. That’s 44.5 hours each quarter JUST planning.
At my hourly rate, that’s $3,115 spent planning.
With a weekly schedule template, I spend around 1.5 hours on quarterly planning, thinking through what I want to do. Then, I will spend ~30 mins a week editing and updating my weekly template to fit that week. That’s it. And I only spend 7.5 hours planning a quarter now.
At my hourly rate, that’s $525 spent planning.
Looking for your own weekly schedule template?
There’s a lot that goes into building a weekly schedule template that’ll feel good to you, be sustainable, and give you the results you want. You have to take into account your everyday life and responsibilities. Think self-care, kids (if you’re a parent), cleaning the house, commuting (if you do), work hours, date nights, etc.
Your vision, dreams, goals, intentions, or whatever word you use (I use intention!). For example, scaling your business, working 30 hours a week, or writing a book.
Then you need to match all of those with your unique rhythms, at best you can. And doing all of this without your tendency to overcommit or optimistic planner parts to take over!
Digital Calendars For Humans will help you do this in 30 minutes, or less.
Calendar Management: Why your intuition is more important than you think
What happens when we spend hours creating a plan and schedule that would work in an ideal world but doesn’t hold up with life’s unexpected twists and turns?
Many of my clients end up getting overwhelmed, sitting in indecision, and sometimes even giving up on planning altogether. This leads to lots of frustration, disappointment, and time wasted.
If this is you, I see you.
Many factors can throw off our carefully planned schedules, and it’s difficult to navigate these obstacles with confidence.
When it comes to creating adaptable and flexible plans (that don’t feel like a prison), your intuition is so important.
Your digital calendar is one of the best places to plan with and practice trusting your intuition.
In this post, I’ll guide you through how to identify your intuition, why it’s so hard to listen to, the benefits of using your intuition in your calendar management, and give you helpful tangible examples.
What is your intuition?
To me, my experience of intuition is simply a gut response to a decision, big or small, without necessarily having logical reasoning for it. Intuition can show up as a physical sensation, imagery, synchronicities, patterns, and more.
Curious about all the ways your intuition might be showing up? Check out Bustle’s 14 signs your intuition is speaking to you.
Also, personally, human design has also really helped me tap into my intuition. As a manifesting generator, I have a sacral (or gut) yes or no response to external stimuli and decisions.
However, at the end of the day, your experience of your intuition is what matters most.
What is YOUR experience of your intuition? How does it show up for you? Comment below and let me know!
Why is it so difficult to listen to your intuition?
For many reasons. The 3 biggest that I see are:
It’s almost impossible to tap into your intuition when you’re tired, overwhelmed, anxious, stressed out, in your head, or busy. If you’re often in these states… that’s your answer.
We confuse fear, critical, or “should” voice as intuition. (My intuition shows up as neutral, calm, and clear.)
Intuition isn’t often honored as an important business or time management skill/strategy in our culture. Even though 85% of CEOs in this one study confirmed that intuition was central to their decision-making process
We all have intuition, whether we realize it or not.
The more we understand it, the more we can apply it to better our lives.
The massive benefits of listening to your intuition
Honestly, the benefits of listening to yourself reach far and wide. But when it comes down to it, you get days that add up to a life more beautiful than you could ever imagine.
Listening to your intuition allows you to live a life true to you.
What’s better than that?
My clients, and I, often feel like we need proof to trust more. If you’re like us… I can confidently say you already have proof!
Ask yourself, “What’s happened in the past when I’ve listened to my gut?”
Ease, flow, peace, accomplishment, success, abundance. For me?
Changing my offerings in my business, then selling them out.
Choosing to become a digital nomad and experiencing more peace and freedom than ever before.
Being super tired, putting my work down, opening Netflix for a brain break, and watching an episode that gave me tons of ideas allowing me to return and accomplish what I was doing way faster and easier.
What’s happened in the past when you HAVEN’T?
Frustration, guilt, resentment, suffering, pain, delays, and spending loads of time and energy overthinking and NOT making a decision.
Some more personal examples:
Forcing myself to do a workshop with someone, spending a month marketing, and having to cancel it because of the low attention and excitement it received.
Attempting to be a morning person and work out first thing, always being miserable when I do it and when I don’t guilt-trip myself.
Not deciding what to do with my day so just go along with whatever comes up in my inbox, and ending the day feeling like I did nothing.
How do I use my intuition in my digital calendar?
Now you know what intuition is, how it shows up for you, and how important it is to listen to it.
Unfortunately, time management or calendar management advice rarely recommends you listen to your intuition.
The typical advice is to time block your whole day or week to the minute and perfectly stick to it. Then, if you can’t then something is wrong with you.
Good thing I’m not your average time management coach!
I know it’s nearly impossible to perfectly stick to your schedule every day, all day, AND be happy. I wouldn’t even want to anymore.
So, let’s start with what calendar management even is.
What even is calendar management?
Calendar management is the process of prioritizing your time and managing your life through the use of a calendar(1).
I use my digital calendar to organize and manage everything in my business and life. It’s basically my personal assistant, and it’s free!
Linking calendar management and your intuition
You can use your intuition when you’re creating a daily or weekly to-do list and/or schedule.
You can also flex your intuition throughout the day and week by moving time blocks around when you feel like doing the thing.
Tangible examples of intuitive calendar management
Asking yourself how your schedule feels to you.
Leaving gaps to move around tasks when you feel like doing them.
Dragging and moving time blocks/containers around without guilt.
Using language that feels good to you when naming events.
Putting tasks when you’re most energized, creative, and excited.
Scheduling time to work on goals and dreams that are deeply important to you in your calendar so they finally happen!
Ask yourself, “What it would look like to use my intuition more in my calendar?”
When you use your intuition in your calendar, you can…
Trust and listen to yourself more, leading to more peace and fulfillment.
Make decisions that will give you the freedom you want.
Have more energy, be more productive (in the good way), and be happy with yourself and how you spent your time.
Your intuition is the most important, yet underrated, time and life management skill out there.
Now you know how crucial it is…
Intuitive scheduling and time blocking? Yes, please!
Enroll in Digital Calendars For Humans now.
Time management coaches are more important now than ever before: Here’s why
Life is beautiful and fragile.
Being human is amazing and challenging.
Staying true to ourselves is essential for living each of our one lifetimes with the most fulfillment, happiness, and health.
It's easier than ever before in our world to become consumed by all of our to-do lists, distracted by what other people are doing, and lose touch with ourselves.
A holistic time management coach is someone you can hire to make your life so much easier by supporting you with making time for, staying focused on, and being present with the things that matter most to you.
If you’ve been wondering what you can do to make more of your time and life, continue reading to find out why a time management coach is more important than ever before.
Time management coaches: An antidote to the state of the world
We’ve been living in an increasingly demanding and uncertain world that moves and evolves faster every single day.
American psychiatrist Edward Hallowell goes so far as to say, ‘Never in human history have our brains had to work with so much information as they do today… We have a generation of people who are so busy processing the information received from all directions that they are losing the ability to think and feel.’
Our societies are fighting against a global pandemic, the attention economy, burnout, overworking, addiction, individual and collective trauma, and so much more.
54% Gen Xers are burned out, whereas 68% of working moms are burned out (source).
As a result of the pandemic, it appears to me that we are collectively rethinking many things… one of which is the way we work and live.
I believe that’s why 47.4 million people have voluntarily left their jobs for better work (CNBC).
We are after more flexible working conditions, better wages, and a better quality of life overall.
More than ever, we have tuned into the fact that we have this one human life to make the most of.
And I don’t know about you, but I want an extraordinary one full of connection, purpose, impact, and meaning.
A time management coach is here to partner up with you to make the most out of your life.
Not your average time management coach
When the majority of people think about time management, being a productive superhuman at work and sometimes, at home, comes to mind.
I get tired just thinking about the way I used to think about time management.
However, here at The Holistic Time Coach, we’re about shifting our perception around time management.
Time is the fabric of life, and our humanness.
Time is the medium for meeting our needs.
Consciously choosing to spend our time is the most important thing we can ever do.
Time management, the kind that’s not just about being more productive at work, is about being a good steward of our life force.
Collaborating with time allows us to do all the things that are deeply meaningful to us and be the person we want to be.
The extraordinary life we crave goes from a distant wish to a real possibility.
Saying goodbye to getting consumed by all the to-do’s, distracted by what other people are doing, and losing touch with ourselves becomes possible too.
A holistic time management coach is someone you can hire to make your life so much easier by supporting you with making time for, staying focused on, and being present with the things that matter most to you.
How does a time management coach actually do that?
As a holistic time management coach, my role has 3 main elements. In order for someone to create and experience an extraordinary life on their terms, I assist someone in:
Playing in the possibilities to identify how and where they truly want to spend their time.
Discovering the unique skills and tools they need in order to spend their time how they want.
Integrating those skills until they become second nature with gentle support and accountability.
Want more details on what I actually do as a holistic time management coach? Click here.
Have you thought about what’s possible for you if you were able to stay focused on what matters most? If you were able to spend the majority of your time doing the things you want to do?
Let me know in the comments below!
Curious about what was possible for the folks I’ve worked with?
Click here to read from the amazing humans, entrepreneurs, and professionals I’ve worked with have said about working with me.
Partner Works Too Much? Why & What To Do About It
My partner means so much to me. We just celebrated four years (watch this short montage reel I created!) of marriage and it still feels like we’re in the honeymoon phase most days.
I credit much of the strength of our relationship to the healing and growth work I’ve done around time, worth, and success.
Why?
Simply put, time is your life. Time is your presence. And it’s how you show love.
Before I started healing my own misunderstandings around time... I spend most of it working. Not just on my “work-work”. I was always going and doing things.
Without checking everything off my to-do list and successfully achieving all my goals, I didn’t feel deserving of love or partnership.
Where did this leave me? Us?
While I cherished my relationship, it was suffering because of my inability to be with him. I rarely sat still long enough to form a real and deep connection with myself, let alone my partner.
Cue all the frustration, resentment, and guilt.
I created this blog for those of us craving more presence with our partners, our kids, our family members, or even ourselves. Keep reading for an inside look at making time for loved ones, because it is possible to have time for everything that’s important to you. And holistic time management can help get you there.
How do you know if you or your partner works too much?
These are the signs that I personally experience, and my clients’ experience, when we’re not making time for our loved ones.
Frustration, resentment, and/or guilt towards self or partner.
Feeling physically, mentally, or emotionally disconnected from your partner.
Never having time to cook and enjoy meals together.
Feeling unbalanced in domestic duties.
Struggling to not talk about work when you aren’t working.
Any successes you do have feel empty.
Think of something else I haven’t included in the list above? Feel free to share your unique experience in the comments below - who knows, others might be in the same spot.
Why is it so difficult to make time for our partners? We love them!
If your partner works too much or you find it difficult to make time for your partner... You are not alone.
As a time coach, an extremely common goal of my clients is to have more time for their loved ones. They want to know, “why is it so hard to make time for the people I love?”
Often it’s not about a lack of love. It’s because we’ve been taught to place more value on work, money (especially if we’re in survival mode), and success.
Many people label time with loved ones as rest, time off, and/or self-care. As we know, those are some of the most challenging things to actually have time for. We have to flip this inherent prioritization in order to reclaim our time.
If you’re a business owner, this feeling can compound even more. Our businesses feel like our babies in a way, taking time away from them feels impossible. Businesses that are passion-led and mission-based are deeply connected to our purpose.
Want to read more about the truth about the difficulty of taking time off? Click here.
What to do if you or your partner works too much?
The answer to this is a complex one. Because you and your relationships are unique, giving tips and advice doesn’t feel all that useful here.
The best thing I can offer are these three coaching questions:
Is making time for your loved one important to you?
If so, why? What will happen in your life if you make more time for them?
What is ONE small thing you can implement today to be more present with them? Some steps could look like:
Pause and take a deep breath (or three).
Setting clear expectations with your partner about how you spend your days.
Discover and focus on doing the things you both love to do together.
Heal any limiting beliefs around what’s preventing you from making time for them and being present.
Create time management systems to make the time actually happen. For example, a shared calendar to more openly communicate your schedules. In my Sustainable Schedule VIP Day, I’ve worked with clients to create shared calendars with their partners, for their kids, and a co-parenting schedule. Learn more here.
Adopt a practice mindset where it’s okay to mess up and fail sometimes.
Recognizing the little moments throughout the day.
Notice a trend in all these steps above? They’re all related to time management.
Why time management is so important for good relationships
Simply put, time is your life. Time is your presence. And it’s how you show love.
It’s also how you make money, pay your bills, and find fulfillment in your life.
Making time for everything that’s important and meaningful to you is no doubt a juggling act. I’ll be the first to say it is a constant work in progress. (Yes, even for me… a time coach).
Time management is the most important thing you can focus on because when you effectively accomplish everything you need to, tasks don’t bleed over into your time with your loved ones.
You can relax and enjoy the company of your people without feeling guilty (HUGE!)
When you prioritize and dedicate time and energy to your relationship, it will flourish.
If you are able to tap into the present moment when you’re with your partner, it’ll be a lot easier to feel connected and loved.
The opposite is also true. When you don’t spend time with the people that mean the most to you, the relationship will suffer in some way. Learn more about the benefits of rethinking how you manage your time.
Holistic Time Management is your best bet for making time for loved ones
Traditional time management focuses on helping you be your most productive self at work, sometimes at home. When you set goals, create a schedule, or write a to-do list… it’s rarely encouraged or taught to include things like rest, time off, and/or self-care.
If we equate our relationships with those things, it makes complete sense to me that they don’t happen as often as we’d like them to.
Holistic time management understands the entire scope of your life and what’s most important to you, like your relationships. Managing your time with a holistic approach will allow you to be a whole human being.
Learn more about why holistic time management works so well here.