Use Any Planner, But Use A System

If 2026 already feels busy and it's barely started, you're not imagining it. Joe Saul-Sehy and OG sit down with renowned time management expert Laura Vanderkam to tackle one of the biggest stressors Stackers face. Feeling like there's never enough time to do the things that matter, including managing money well.

Laura helps break the myth that better time management means squeezing more productivity into already packed days. Instead, the conversation centers on intentional time use: how to protect space for what matters most, reduce decision fatigue, and build simple systems that make life (and money) feel lighter. If you've ever said "I don't have time to deal with this right now" about your finances, this discussion will feel uncomfortably familiar in a good way.

From there, the show zooms out just enough to connect time decisions to money decisions. Joe and OG explore why financial stress often comes from neglect rather than bad choices, and how a few well-timed actions (like organizing documents, planning ahead for aging parents, or setting aside focused "money time") can prevent massive headaches later. No doom and gloom economics here, just a reminder that uncertainty is always around and preparation beats prediction every time.

The episode also takes a thoughtful turn toward caregiving and elder planning, a topic many Stackers are quietly juggling while managing careers, kids, and their own goals. Laura and the team talk about how planning before a crisis saves not just money but emotional energy, one of the most overlooked resources of all.

This is a conversation about doing less reacting, more choosing, and building a 2026 where your calendar and your bank account work together.

What You'll Hear:

• Why "being busy" isn't the same as using time well

• Laura Vanderkam's practical strategies for reclaiming focus and presence

• How small pockets of time ("time confetti") quietly drain energy

• Simple ways to create space for money decisions without overwhelm

• Why procrastinating financial tasks often costs more than bad investing

• How to think ahead about caregiving without panic or perfection

• What documents and conversations make future decisions easier

• How to prepare for uncertainty without obsessing over headlines

If you want to start 2026 feeling more in control (not just of your money but of your life), this episode offers a grounded, encouraging roadmap. No hustle culture. No financial fear tactics. Just smart conversations about using your time wisely so your money decisions get easier, not harder.

Listen for the moment when "I don't have time" turns into "I'm choosing what matters."

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/master-your-time-management-with-laura-vanderkam-1787

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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