Laura Vanderkam, in her talk, shared insightful tips on maximizing our 168 hours a week. She said, “In today’s fast-paced world, mastering the skill of time management has become increasingly crucial.” The daily demands of life can leave us feeling overwhelmed, making it challenging to allocate time to the things that truly matter.
Vanderkam challenges the popular belief that we lack time, stating that we all have the same 24 hours in a day, and it’s our responsibility to choose how we use it. She suggests tracking our time for a week can help identify time-wasting activities and those that bring joy and fulfilment.
After identifying our time usage, Vanderkam recommends prioritizing our passions, hobbies, and relationships, even if it means sacrificing less important activities. Planning and being intentional with our time and scheduling priorities can prevent important tasks from being overlooked.
Vanderkam introduces the concept of “time confetti,” referring to the small pockets of unused time throughout the day. She suggests utilizing these moments to practice a skill, read a book, or connect with loved ones, making our time more meaningful.
Vanderkam also addresses the issue of work-life balance, proposing to integrate the two instead of trying to balance them. Focusing on the quality of our time rather than the quantity can help achieve harmony and fulfilment.
Vanderkam’s TED talk offers a unique perspective on time management. Instead of adding more to our already hectic schedules, she encourages prioritizing what matters, being intentional with our time, and gaining control of our free time, leading to a more fulfilling life.
