We tend to overvalue money and undervalue time. This makes us constantly fail to realize the tradeoffs we make between the two.

Understand the value of time

Six traps make us "time poor" with too many things to do and not enough time to do them:<ol><li>Technology and the interruptions that fragment our time</li><li>Money/work focus "I'll work hard now for leisure later" (spoiler: later never comes)</li><li>Undervaluing time</li><li>Busyness as status</li><li>Aversion to idleness</li><li>Saying "yes" because we believe there will be more time later</li></ol>

Traps that steal our time

<ol><li>Address why - Do not do things simply to kill time.</li><li>Allow slack time - Leave time for spontaneity.</li><li>Know your calendar mindset - Is it time to move on to the next event or do events shape the schedule?</li><li>Create intentions - Make action statements like “I will use my commute to listen to audiobooks.”</li><li>Rewards & punishments - Reward if things go well. Penalize if they don't.</li><li>Engineer defaults - Automatically dismiss distractions like email and notifications.</li><li>Fight urgency - Schedule or delegate tasks that are not urgent and important.</li><li>Make leisure leisurely - Appreciate time you gained even if it cost you.</li></ol>

Strategies to prioritize your time

Start here. Which do you value more – time or money? There is no wrong answer, and your response can change over time.But research shows that people who value time are happier, healthier, and more productive.

Which do you value?

Active leisure involves things like volunteering, socializing, and exercising. Passive leisure includes activities like watching TV, napping, or online shopping.Active leisure promotes greater happiness than passive leisure. Spend your leisure time being active!

What to do with time savings

Try these ideas to buy more time:<ul><li>Outsource tasks</li><li>Do less comparison shopping</li><li>Don't waste time for savings (e.g. driving 10 miles to save 10¢ on gas).</li></ul>

Tips to save time

How did it get so late so soon?It’s night before it’s afternoon.December is here before it’s June.My goodness how time has flewn.How did it get so late so soon?