#235 - Laura Vanderkam - Stop Lying to Yourself About Productivity

Aug 14, 2025

01:00:35

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Laura Vanderkam is a time management expert and bestselling author.

Why do so many people feel time-starved—even when they technically have more freedom than ever? Are we really as busy as we think? And how can we design a week that actually reflects what matters most?

Expect to learn why most people overestimate how busy they are, how tracking your time reveals hidden patterns of fulfilment or frustration, what high performers do differently with their 168 hours, how to stop reacting to life and start designing it, the myth of balance and what to aim for instead, why “core competencies” matter more than routines, how to build a sustainable schedule without burning out, and how small changes in how we spend time can change everything—and much more.

00:00 - Why Most People Feel Time-Starved

03:12 - The Truth About How Busy You Really Are

06:25 - What Happens When You Track Your Time for a Week

09:44 - The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything

12:56 - Why Time Management Isn’t About Being Efficient

15:40 - “Core Competencies” and How They Reshape Your Schedule

18:18 - How to Make Time for What Actually Matters

21:06 - The Most Common Time Traps We Fall Into

24:22 - Designing Your Week Like a High Performer

27:00 - The Myth of Balance and What to Aim for Instead

30:10 - The Hidden Emotional Side of Time Management

33:27 - Micro Habits That Make a Macro Difference