Ashley Whillans

Ashley Whillans, an assistant professor at Harvard Business School, shares insights on balancing time, money, and happiness. She discusses the shift in priorities post-pandemic, emphasizing the need for personal fulfillment over constant productivity. Whillans highlights the importance of redefining success to align with individual values and promotes intentional scheduling for joy and rest. The conversation dives into the true nature of leisure and encourages listeners to reflect on their definitions of a fulfilling life.

We try to use our time wisely—both at work and in leisure—but we often waste it. We may blame work for stripping us of recreation, but when valuable free time comes around, we can often revert back to more work.What explains the gap between how we use our time and how we want to use our time? A conversation with Harvard Business School professor Ashley Whillans helps us analyze our complex relationship with time and how to orient our time use around what we value. This episode was produced by Rebecca Rashid and is hosted by Arthur Brooks. Editing by A.C. Valdez and Claudine Ebeid. Fact-check by Ena Alvarado. Engineering by Matthew Simonson.  Be part of How to Build a Happy Life. Write to us at howtopodcast@theatlantic.com. To support this podcast, and get unlimited access to all of The Atlantic’s journalism, become a subscriber. Music by the Fix (“Saturdays”), Mindme (“Anxiety”), Gregory David (“Under the Tides”), and Yomoti ("Nebula").Click here to listen to more full-length episodes in The Atlantic’s How To series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Constantly feeling like you never have enough hours in your day? Then you’re actually experiencing what psychologists call ‘time famine’. And it could be having major implications on your health, happiness and even productivity. So, how do you get more time? Social psychologist Ashley Whillans, author of Time Smart, unpacks key strategies that could help you reframe your time and feel more in control of your day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Behavioral scientist and Harvard Business School professor Ashley Whillans discusses the relationship between time, money, and happiness in her book 'Time Smart'. She highlights the importance of making time-first choices for greater happiness, offering strategies to save time and buy time back. The podcast delves into societal preferences for money, the benefits of prioritizing time, and strategies for reclaiming time to enhance overall well-being.

Ashley Willans, a Harvard Business School professor and author of 'Time Smart,' joins to discuss the pervasive feeling of 'time famine' and its impacts on happiness. They reveal how our busy lives can strain mental health and relationships, and emphasize the importance of embracing time affluence over scarcity. Strategies for effective time management and the necessity of 'idling' for creativity and well-being are explored. Listeners are encouraged to rethink productivity norms and cherish well-deserved downtime.

Ashley Whillans, an Assistant Professor at Harvard Business School and author of "Time Smart," shares her insights on how intentional time management can enhance happiness. She discusses the concept of 'time confetti' and its potential to boost well-being, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing time over money. Whillans suggests conducting a personal time audit to replace unfulfilling tasks with more rewarding activities. She also advocates for taking time off work to foster engagement and productivity, urging a cultural shift towards valuing breaks.

Ashley Whillans, an Assistant Professor at Harvard Business School and author of 'Time Smart,' shares innovative strategies for managing time amid modern challenges. She discusses the concept of 'time poverty' versus 'time affluence,' emphasizing how prioritizing time over money can boost happiness. Whillans introduces techniques like conducting a time audit and reframing tasks to reclaim valuable moments. The conversation also tackles the chaos of 'time confetti' created by technology, encouraging listeners to find balance between work and meaningful leisure.

Ashley Whillans, professor at Harvard Business School, researches time-money trade-offs. She argues more people would be happier if they spent more of their hard-earned money to buy themselves out of negative experiences. Her research shows that paying to outsource housework or to enjoy a shorter commute can have an outsized impact on happiness and relationships. Whillans is the author of the HBR article “Time for Happiness.”

Ashley Whillans, a behavioral scientist and Harvard Business School professor, discusses the detrimental effects of an always-on work culture on our personal lives and productivity. She highlights how distractions from work can rob us of joy during family events or vacations. Whillans shares three practical strategies for setting boundaries that stick, aiming to reclaim focus and enhance work-life balance. Her research provides actionable insights on improving happiness and productivity amidst our busy lives.

Ashley Whillans, a Harvard business professor, delves into the concept of 'time poverty' and its detrimental effect on happiness. She offers practical strategies to prioritize time over money, emphasizing the importance of effective time management to enhance well-being. Listeners discover how outsourcing disliked tasks can free up precious time, allowing for a more fulfilling life. Whillans highlights the need to cherish small moments of free time, advocating for a balanced approach to work and personal enjoyment.