Most of us dream about all the great things we could achieve if only there were more hours in the day. Well, what if I told you time was more abundant than you think, and that we can actually stretch it? 

Laura Vanderkam joined me on the Postcard Academy podcast to tell us how.

I’m a huge fan of Laura’s work, which includes the time management and productivity books Juliet’s School of Possibilities, I Know How She Does It, and 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think. 

Laura also speaks at conferences, including TED; writes for publications like the New York Times; and hosts the podcast Before Breakfast and co-hosts the podcast Best of Both Worlds. Wait, hang on, she just added a third! The New Corner Office.

She also has five kids and blogs almost every day at LauraVanderkam.com, so if Laura can find time to do all that plus spend quality time with those she cares about, then there is hope for us all. 

Listen to the podcast to hear Laura break down the time management strategies that will help us take back our time so we can enjoy more freedom in our life to pursue what we love. 

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A summary of Laura’s time management tips

For a full explanation of how to incorporate these life-changing productivity strategies into your routine, listen to the Postcard Academy podcast episode with Laura.

1

Plan your week ahead on Friday, and bucket your categories into career, relationships, and self.

2

Block off time on your calendar to accomplish specific kinds of work.

3

Build in white space when you’re planning your week  in case something comes up to foil your plans (likely).

4

Designate back-up time slots to complete projects you care about. 

5

Keep your to-do list for the day, and the week, small and realistic. There’s no honor in having a list of 100 to-do items if you don’t finish any.

6

Track how you’re spending your time. This doesn’t have to take long. Laura tracks her time in 3 minutes a day. Time tracking isn’t a punishment (which I used to believe); it’s a tool to help you do more of what you want and less of what you don’t.

7

Stop mindlessly scrolling social media and doing other things that you don’t care about at night. Go to bed earlier so you can get up and enjoy your morning doing whatever you want. 

8

Be a satisficer and not a maximizer, meaning start making ‘good enough’ decisions and moving on with your life, rather than agonizing over something insignificant for weeks (I used to be guilty of this!).

9

And finally, figure out the accountability system that works best for you. Personally, public shaming works for me. I’ve realized that if I announce I’ll do something, I’m more likely to do it. How about you?

If you found this article useful, please share it, and subscribe to the Postcard Academy podcast. Each week, expats and adventurers share their insider travel tips on the best food, nightlife, and cultural experiences in the most interesting places around the globe. I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel, an American who's spent the last 10 years living in, and traveling around, Europe.