Time-Optimized Life with David Buck

What’s more important, time or money? If you have a lot of time, but not a lot of money, you may say that money is more important. On the other hand, you can always make more money, but once you spend your time, you can never get it back. 

In this episode, Matt talks with time-optimization expert David Buck about some game-changing strategies for taking control of your time. They explore the differences between time management and time optimization, balancing work and family, overcoming distractions, and practical strategies for saying no and structuring your schedule.

Procrastination is the #1 time and money sucker – and specificity is key to conquering it and those lingering to-dos. Listen in and learn how small adjustments can lead to BIG results!

Here are some power takeaways from today’s conversation: 

• Prioritizing family over career by building "relationship capital"

• Smartphone distractions as the #1 time challenge and morning/evening routines 

• The economic costs of procrastination

• Overcoming procrastination through specificity

[08:24] Building "Relationship Capital" to Prioritize Family Over Career

Create an overall "life purpose statement" to help make values-based decisions. A key part of this is building "relationship capital" – fostering understanding with employers so that flexibility is allowed when family needs arise. By developing trust through consistent performance, one can negotiate time off for important personal events while still meeting work commitments through established relationships. This balance helps to optimize both career and family responsibilities.

[12:15] Minimizing Distractions and Routines for Staying Present and Productive

Distractions, especially from smartphones, are identified as the number one challenge for time management. Some ways to minimize distractions include quarantining phones during important tasks, and having morning and evening routines like airplane mode overnight and turning phones off in the car to avoid distraction.

[22:52] The Economic Costs of Procrastination 

David defines procrastination as intentionally delaying something that will end up hurting you. This delay can cause negative economic impacts by missing commitments, incurring unnecessary costs, or overloading your schedule to the point where you can't keep up. Procrastination has the biggest economic impact of all the time management challenges. When you procrastinate, it's like you're experiencing a flood – tasks and obligations continue piling up without any way to release or manage them. Delaying tasks compounds the issues, as more things get added to your plate that then need to be pushed back as well. 

[23:48] Overcoming Procrastination Through Specificity

Specificity is key to overcoming procrastination. Break down projects into detailed steps and tasks, and assign them targeted due dates to gain clarity, momentum, and a sense of progress. Planning calendars in detail two weeks out also provides structure and accountability.

Resources Mentioned: 

https://infinitylifestyledesign.com/ 

The Time-Optimized Life

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About the Guest 

David Buck is an internationally recognized time management expert and the author of "The Time-Optimized Life." He has worked with individuals, teams and companies to help optimize their use of time through assessing workflows and implementing strategic planning techniques.