Time management is a band-aid

One of Time Intentional’s biggest fans and a reader since the very beginning, Kevin B., inspired today’s issue when he shared what his version of “time intentional” means to him. I hope you enjoy it, Kevin!

As a longtime productivity writer with the bylines to back it up, I have a spicy take to share today: Time management is a band-aid to a much greater issue in not understanding (or lacking the ability to prioritize) what matters to us.

Ouch. And yes, I’m calling myself out on this one, too.

I’ve shared time management advice for years under the deep belief that the words I write will help someone, somewhere, find more productivity, energetic peace, and satisfaction in their life. Not to be braggadocios, but here are a few examples to prove how deep into the productivity and time management space I am:

• How to Maximize Your Time with the Pomodoro Technique

• Unraveling the Impact of Fragmented Time on Productivity

• The Surprising Trait That May Be Affecting Your Productivity

• 7 Tips for Improving Time Management Skills

• Eisenhower Matrix

In this respect, it’s no wonder the time-obsessed writer created a newsletter called Time Intentional, right? 😂

I genuinely hope and believe that every single piece of productivity and time management content I’ve contributed to over the years has helped someone manage their life, to-do list, and responsibilities better. There is immense value in knowing how to plan and organize effectively.

But you can’t Pomodoro Technique, Eisenhower Matrix, time block, Eat the Frog, or SMART Goal your way into living an intentional life if you aren’t doing the hard work to ask yourself whether you’re even doing the right things that align with the life you want to begin with.

Time management is a band-aid because when we aren’t careful, these techniques trick us into believing that our high productivity levels and ability to cross every item off the to-do list validates that we are on the right track, crushing it, and successful.