Time Management
I’ve been struggling for years with Time Management. I was doing a Pre-Sessional course at the Univerity of Nottingham and we had 3 days of training before we were let loose on the students.
At the end of Day One, the instructor wrapped up for the day by saying, “We’ll finish there for today, we haven’t got time for Time Management so we’ll do it tomorrow.” Reader, I snorted. Worse, I was the only one who noticed or thought it amusing.
On questioning my colleagues later, none of them had heard it, they’d all stopped listening hours before. Which does make you wonder how useful the course was.
Since then I have read many Time Management tips and books.
Oliver Burkeman, Tim Ferriss, Pomodoro etc.
Here’s Kate Northrup
“1. Cycles Are Not a Flaw—They’re a Feature: Kate introduced me to the concept of living cyclically instead of linearly—respecting the ebbs and flows of energy, emotion, and creativity. As a mom, I had been conditioned to show up the same every day, regardless of how I felt. But when she described the moon phases and menstrual cycle as natural rhythms that can guide our productivity, something clicked. It gave me permission to honor my low-energy days as necessary—not lazy. This lesson helped me begin tracking my own energy and adjusting expectations. For anyone constantly feeling behind, this shift alone is revolutionary.
2. Your Worth Is Not Tied to Your Output: There’s a moment in the audiobook when Kate says something like, “You are enough, even when you do nothing.” I paused the book and just sat there. That sentence felt like it had been hiding behind every to-do list I’ve ever written. She shares personal stories—like the one about her postpartum haze—and invites us to imagine a world where being is just as valuable as doing. For a recovering overachiever like me, it’s the kind of truth that confronts you gently but persistently. And if you’ve ever measured your day by how many boxes you ticked, this lesson will set you free.
3. Energy Management > Time Management: I had always tried to manage my time down to the minute, squeezing in productivity between errands and bedtime. But Kate flipped the script: Instead of asking, “How can I fit more in?” she asked, “What gives me energy?” It was a startling question. Through her lens, time management becomes less about control and more about alignment. She talks about identifying energy leaks—tasks or people that drain you—and I started noticing where I was constantly depleted. This lesson doesn’t just help moms; it helps anyone living on autopilot.
4. Rest Is Not a Reward: I used to treat rest like dessert—something you earn after doing the hard stuff. But Kate argues that rest is foundational, not optional. She talks about how rest enhances creativity, sharpens decision-making, and stabilizes emotions. Hearing that from someone who’s built a business and raised kids felt validating. I started scheduling rest not as a backup, but as the main event. It’s amazing how different life looks when rest isn’t just allowed—it’s prioritized. For anyone who collapses into bed only after everything’s done, this one’s for you.
5. Doing Less Requires Trust: One of the most honest parts of the book is when Kate admits that doing less isn’t always easy—it’s vulnerable. Letting go of control, saying no, slowing down…it all demands trust. Trust that things won’t fall apart. Trust that you’re enough. Trust that the universe—or God, or whatever you believe in—can carry the parts you’ve set down. Her voice quivers just slightly when she shares this, which makes the message feel even more real. It helped me see that doing less is not a weakness—it’s an act of courage.
6. Focus on the 20% That Matters: She leans into the Pareto Principle—that 80% of our results come from 20% of our actions—and challenges us to identify that vital 20%. It made me rethink everything: from how I run my home to how I handle relationships. What was truly essential? What could be dropped without consequence? Kate offers simple but profound questions to help clarify this, and suddenly, I saw how much of my life was busywork disguised as importance. This lesson has helped me cut through the noise and make space for what really matters.
7. The Power of the “No”: Kate’s discussion of boundaries is warm but firm. She doesn’t just say “Say no more often”—she explains why it’s an act of protection, not rejection. She gives practical scripts and insights that helped me say no without apology or over-explaining. One thing she said that stuck with me was, “Every yes is a no to something else.” It made me think twice about what I was giving my time and soul to. For the people-pleasers among us, this lesson is like a balm and a boundary rolled into one.
8. Surrender Is a Strategy: This final lesson surprised me. Surrender, in Kate’s world, is not giving up—it’s giving over. She shares how, in moments of tightness or fear, she surrenders outcomes, expectations, and the need to control. She tells a story about launching a project with minimal effort and trusting it would be enough—and it was. This idea softened something in me. It made me wonder what could bloom if I stopped gripping so tightly. For anyone tired of pushing, this lesson feels like an open window in a stuffy room.”
(from Reading Life on fb)
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