Instant Genius The psychology of making the most of your time
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Aug 21, 2025 Dr. Ian Taylor, a psychologist from Loughborough University and author of 'Time Hacks,' dives into the psychology of time management. He explores the pitfalls of relying solely on willpower for productivity and advocates completing key tasks early in the day. Ian emphasizes breaking larger goals into manageable micro-goals to boost motivation. The discussion also highlights the emotional implications of our relationship with time, offering strategies to create focus in a world full of distractions while aligning our values with our time management.
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Culture Creates The Busyness Problem
- Western industrialized cultures have become unusually obsessed with clock-time which drives feelings of busyness.
- This cultural fixation, not just workload, skews our relationship with time and wellbeing.
Feelings Of Busyness Aren't Objective
- Objective busyness and subjective feeling of being busy are poorly correlated.
- Psychological wellbeing and systems (habits, routines) determine whether busyness feels frantic or manageable.
Build Flexible Routines
- Use routines to reduce decision fatigue and preserve mental resources for important work.
- Keep routines flexible and plan 'if-this-then-that' alternatives to handle disruptions.
