As another year rolls in, I find myself reflecting on how I’ve spent my time over the past twelve months. Like many of you, I often feel the weight of competing priorities. My life is full of work deadlines, family commitments, and pickleball. Despite our best intentions, time has a way of slipping through our fingers, leaving us wondering, “Where did it all go?”
Time, as we all know, is our most precious resource. Unlike money, we can’t earn more of it. And unlike physical health, we can’t restore it once it’s spent. But here’s the good news: we can choose how to use the time we have.
This year, I’m approaching time management differently, and I want to share some lessons I’ve learned from authors like James Clear and the Atomic Habits, Dr. Ashley Whillans and Time Smart, and Dr. Cassie Holmes and The Happier Hour.
I’ve also picked up tricks reading from the likes of Craig Jarrow, David Allen, Tim Ferriss, and Charles Duhigg. These insights have reshaped how I view time, and I hope they do the same for you.
The Mindset Shift: Time is an Asset, Not a Constraint
Dr. Ashley Whillans, a Harvard Business School professor and author of Time Smart, emphasizes that time is not just something to “manage”—it’s something to invest. She writes,
“Time is the currency of life, and how we spend it matters more than how much we have.”
This mindset shift is crucial. Instead of thinking, “I don’t have enough time,” start asking yourself, “How can I make the best use of the time I do have?” It’s a small change in perspective, but it’s powerful. Research shows that people who treat time as a valuable resource experience higher levels of happiness, satisfaction, and even financial success.
Below is our podcast episode with Dr. Whillans:
Lesson 1: Build Systems, Not Just Goals
James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, puts it bluntly: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
Most of us set ambitious goals at the start of the year: exercise more, spend more quality time with family, or finally start that passion project. But goals without systems are like wishes—they rarely come true.
Instead, focus on building habits and routines that make good time management automatic. For example:
Start with a Morning Ritual
Whether it’s 10 minutes of journaling, a cup of coffee in silence, or reviewing your priorities for the day, a consistent morning routine sets the tone.
End Your Day with Reflection
Spend 5 minutes each night reviewing your day. Did you spend your time in alignment with your values?
Systems are the bridge between your intentions and your actions. Click here to read my book review of Atomic Habits.
Lesson 2: Prioritize the Important Over the Urgent
Dr. Cassie Holmes, author of Happier Hour, urges us to focus on meaningful activities. She writes, “Not all hours are created equal. How you spend your hours determines your happiness.”
One common trap is letting urgent tasks dominate our days. Emails, last-minute requests, and minor errands have a way of eating into our time more than the tasks that move the needle on our long-term goals, tasks that often don’t scream for our attention in the moment but matter more over time.
To address this, I’ve started using the Eisenhower Matrix:
Lesson 3: Apply the Two-Minute Rule
David Allen, author of Getting Things Done, introduces the Two-Minute Rule:
“If it takes less than two minutes, do it now.”
This rule is deceptively simple but incredibly effective. Small tasks—replying to an email, scheduling an appointment, tidying your desk—often pile up and become overwhelming. But if you knock them out as they arise, they never accumulate into a mental burden.
Next time you’re faced with a tiny task, don’t procrastinate. Just get it done.
Lesson 4: Time Blocking is a Superpower
Craig Jarrow, also known as the Time Management Ninja, advocates fiercely for time blocking. He says, “What gets scheduled gets done.”
The idea is simple: instead of leaving your day to chance, assign specific tasks to specific blocks of time on your calendar. This prevents endless to-do lists from hijacking your focus.
A few key tips:
Block time for deep work (1-2 hours of uninterrupted focus).
Schedule breaks to recharge.
Protect your “non-negotiable” time—like family dinners or workouts.
When you treat your calendar like your most valuable real estate, you’ll notice a huge improvement in your productivity.
Related: Click here to find your favorite time management hack.
Lesson 5: Audit Your Time
Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, suggests conducting a time audit to see where your hours are actually going.
Most of us think we know how we spend our time—but we’re often wrong. Spend one week tracking your activities in 15-minute increments. Yes, it’s tedious, but the results are eye-opening. You might discover:
Hours lost scrolling social media.
Meetings that could have been emails.
Tasks you could easily delegate.
Once you have the data, you can make informed choices about where to adjust.
Lesson 6: Batch Similar Tasks Together
Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek, recommends batching similar tasks to reduce “context switching”—the mental energy wasted when jumping between unrelated activities.
For example:
Handle all emails in two dedicated blocks per day.
Schedule all your meetings back-to-back on specific days.
Batch errands into one trip instead of multiple outings.
This simple strategy can free up more focused time for meaningful work.
A Final Thought: Make Time for What Matters Most
At the end of the day, time management isn’t about squeezing productivity out of every minute—it’s about making space for what truly matters. Whether it’s having dinner with your spouse without distractions, pursuing a passion project, or simply resting, these moments are what life is made of.
As the new year begins, I encourage you to approach your time with intention. Build systems, prioritize what matters, and protect your time like the precious resource it is.
Here’s to a year of clarity, focus, and fulfillment.
Follow Modern Husbands
Start, Strengthen, or Rebuild Your Marriage. Our Marriage Toolkit empowers couples with evidence based ideas from 40+ of the nation’s leading experts in managing money and the home as a team.
Winning ideas from experts to manage money and the home as a team. 2023 Plutus Award Finalist: Best Couples or Family Content
🔔 Click here to listen and subscribe to the Modern Husbands Podcast on Apple.
🔔 Click here to listen and subscribe to the Modern Husbands Podcast on Spotify.
Winning ideas to manage money and the home as a team delivered to your inbox every two weeks. You'll even receive a few free gifts!