Time Management Is Dead—Here’s What Actually Works

“There’s nothing noble or romantic about being busy. It just means you don’t have your shit together… all of us can live with a more expansive sense of time right now regardless of our circumstances simply by making some important choices and taking some specific actions in our lives.”

That’s from my new book, Never Play It Safe. And damn, it hits hard, right? We’ve been fed this myth that being busy is a badge of honor, that the more you cram into your day, the more you’re winning at life. But let’s be real—if you’re always busy, you’re just reacting, not creating. And when you’re constantly reacting, you’re not really in control of your time. But the good news is, you can change that.

Rethink Your Relationship with Time

Most of us think of time as this finite, unforgiving resource. But here’s what I’ve learned: time isn’t fixed. It’s elastic. Think about those moments when you’re so immersed in something that time just flies by—or those other moments when it feels like it’s dragging on forever. That’s time stretching and contracting. So, why does this matter? Because if you can understand how to make time stretch, you can spend more of it in those creative, productive states where the magic happens.

So, how do we make this happen? I’m going to break it down for you.

Time Blocking: Your Secret Weapon

One of the best ways I’ve found to stretch time is by time blocking. This isn’t just about managing your calendar better—it’s about creating sacred space for what matters most. When you block time specifically for creativity, you’re setting up a container that allows you to dive deep without interruptions. Here’s how I do it:

Pick Your Time Block: Find a time when you’re at your best—early morning, late at night, whatever works for you. Commit to it. Even 30 minutes to an hour can make a big difference.
Cut Out the Noise: Close those tabs, turn off notifications, and put your phone on Do Not Disturb. You wouldn’t let just anyone walk into your creative space in the middle of a session, so treat your time block the same way.
Set a Clear Goal: What do you want to accomplish in this block? Make it specific. Write a draft of that article, sketch out that concept, record that song. When you have a clear goal, you can measure your progress.
Set Your Intention: Before you dive in, take a moment to think about why this work matters to you. Ground yourself in that. It’s a small ritual, but it sets the stage for you to be fully present.
Reflect and Adjust: After your block is over, take five minutes to reflect. What worked? What didn’t? Use these insights to adjust your next session. It’s about progress, not perfection.

When you start treating your creative time as non-negotiable, not only do you get more done, but you also enjoy the process more. Time doesn’t feel like it’s slipping away—it feels like it’s expanding.

Making the Most of Flow States

Now, if you really want to maximize this time, it’s about getting into flow—that state where time seems to vanish because you’re so deep in what you’re doing. Flow is where the magic happens. And while you can’t force it, you can definitely create the right conditions.

You already know the basics: eliminate distractions, set clear goals, and find that sweet spot of challenge where it’s hard enough to keep you engaged but not so hard that it’s frustrating. But there’s more to it than that.

Here’s another excerpt from Never Play It Safe that digs into this idea of flow and presence:

“Time management is dead. Flow states and time dilation are real—this is just the tip of the spear. We can and will use this lever to experience both the delicious sense of presence we discover in the now and the fullness of our lives, which stretch out before us. And no, it’s never too… ahem… late to begin.”

This concept isn’t just about getting more done. It’s about deep, meaningful engagement. When you’re in flow, time expands, and that’s when you do your best work.

Creating a Mindset of Time Abundance

We’ve all been there—feeling like there’s never enough time. But what if you reframed that? Instead of seeing time as a limited resource that’s always slipping away, what if you saw it as abundant? When you shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, you open up possibilities.

And look, I get it—sometimes we just feel stuck. That’s when I use what I call the “15-minute rule.” Just commit to working on something for 15 minutes. That’s it. More often than not, once you get started, you find yourself going far beyond that initial commitment. The trick is lowering the barrier to getting started.

A Story About Time Stretching

Let me take you back to when I first started as a photographer. I had this makeshift darkroom in my bathroom—yeah, you heard that right. I’d spend hours in there. The smell of the chemicals, the dim red glow of the safelight, the sound of the water running—it was like being in another dimension. I’d think an hour passed, but it’d be four or five hours later. That’s what happens when you’re in flow—when you’re fully present. Time bends. It stretches.

And here’s the kicker—you don’t need a darkroom or some fancy setup to experience this. You just need to be intentional about how you use your time.

Finding Meaningful Moments

So, here’s the deal. Stretching time isn’t about packing more into your day. It’s about carving out meaningful moments where you’re fully engaged in what you love. Start with time blocking—commit to it every day. And mix in those complementary strategies—cut the noise, shift your mindset, and use the 15-minute rule to kickstart when you’re feeling stuck.

You’ve got the power to stretch time. It’s up to you to use it. If what we’re talking about here resonates, and you want to dig deeper into how you can expand your sense of time and live more creatively, check out my book, Never Play It Safe. You’ll find it full of practical ways to tap into your full potential. Grab your copy here.

Until next time, keep pushing, keep creating, and remember—you got this.