Why you’re so bad at managing your time.

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Time management gave rise during the industrial revolution because factory owners wanted workers to live by the clock rather than the sun. And while a lot has changed since those days, much of the advice we receive on time management today stems from those outdated ideas. Instead of trying to manage your time... do this instead.
Hi there 👋 If you're new to my videos my name is Matt D'Avella. I'm a documentary filmmaker, entrepreneur and KZbinr. I've made a couple documentaries for Netflix. I also teach courses on everything from filmmaking to habit change. If you like to nerd out about self-development as much as I do, you can subscribe for weekly videos.
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🎬 CREDITS
Directed by Matt D'Avella
Produced by Rochi Zalani & Matt D'Avella
Cinematography by Matt D'Avella
Edited by Matt D'Avella

[@michael_tunnell]

Tips in this video: 4:30 = 1. Find Your Peak Performance Periods 5:50 = 2. Find Out How Much Energy A Task Requires0 7:18 = 3. Refill Your Cup Regularly 8:57 = 4. Make Flexible To-Do Lists

[@Steerable6827]

Hey man, nice to see you here! I love the weekly linux news!

[@michael_tunnell]

@@Steerable6827 oh hey! Thanks a lot! I'm glad you enjoy the show! 😎👍

[@SaranKRS]

Thanks to you, I’ve managed my time well while watching this video.

[@abhrasrepository1173]

Wasn't expecting a KDE Plasma enjoyer on this channel

[@yeoldegrayCat]

my to do lists are so flexible tasks roll over to the next day again and again 😂

[@taressanorberg]

My mom started homeschooling with my older brother over 30 years ago, back when it really rare and "not cool". One of the reasons she did it was because she thought the school system was broken and outdated. She said more then once, "Making children sit for 8 hours in a day was to prepare them for the factories. Those days are over and kids shouldn't be cogs in a machine, it's not right." She understood energy levels and what's realistic long before so many and I thank her for it.

[@madasomaron]

Mind sharing your time-management routine? How do you accomplish

[@kleom]

your mother is on another level🧠

[@DeerghKataria]

"We all have 24 hours a day, but they aren't all the same. So, plan accordingly." - Matt D'Avella Excellent video Matt!

[@annabella3755]

I found that during the pandemic lockdown I somehow got way more ‘productive’ and ‘better at managing my time’ but in reality I just didn’t have to deal with all the other things (like Matt dealing with his dog hehe). The energy levels were so much higher for me and then school came back and began commuting and socializing and energy levels 📉 so it seemed like I was just being lazy but in reality I was just tired. Mornings are my productive time with optimal energy so love to get up early to get some stuff done before school :)

[@rafael_dp92]

I feel you.

[@terricarter8820]

I find that I work better, if I have the tv off, the other day I turned it off and got more jobs done.. Got a long list of jobs,on my Hinch book.

[@sameto559]

very great self-awareness!

[@seaofsolace]

This pandemic has been a curse for many people but for me it has been a lot of 💡 moments. Like the one you shared!!

[@AhmetBurakCIL]

Watch this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gInQeJyseqaGp7s

[@bradysmith4808]

“If you’re currently working a job that doesn’t value rest and downtime, if you don’t get enough time off, you don’t have a flexible schedule, or you can’t work from (at) home, it might be time to start looking for a new job. There’s only so much you can do if your boss expects you to be up at all hours of the night…” Matt D’Avella advising me to quit my gig as a stay-at-home dad. 🤣

[@mattdavella]

Lol

[@ShadowRaven66669]

Stay at home mom here. 🤣

[@judith5851]

Not everyone can work from home though, that is not how the world works or will ever work.

[@ShadowRaven66669]

@@judith5851 that's how the world worked for thousands and thousands of years. We screwed that up and are now paying the price.

[@HandledToaster2]

@@judith5851 so you're the authority on how the world and its people work? Wtf.

[@HeyImRod]

Our phones are a big part of this problem.

[@AhmetKaan]

*“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending...”* *―C. S. Lewis*

[@ApoMelon]

I love it when matt calls me out on my flaws with each and every video he uploads

[@theangelopez]

The honest mirror we need, not the one we deserve.

[@sipanievan8126]

𝐒͠𝐩͠𝐞͠𝐜͠𝐢͠𝐚͠𝐥͠ 𝐝͠𝐚͠𝐭͠𝐢͠𝐧͠𝐠͠ 𝐟͠𝐨͠𝐫͠ 𝐲͠𝐨͠𝐮͠➺ sexy-nudegirls.host Anna is a beautiful girl. He's the person I love, he's my light day. The way the music flows and sounds is extravagant and fun. Anna is icon, legend, beautiful girl, princess, inspiration, a star. I could go on and on, understand this. I love NBA Anna.#垃圾

[@meganhamlyn1694]

My husband has chronic pain and we use the analogy of spoons. You only have a certain amount of spoons in the drawer for your day. Getting dressed and breakfast takes a spoon, running errands takes two, etc. He tells me he’s running out of spoons instead of having to tell me he’s sore and tired. He needs to be careful how he uses them so he doesn’t suffer through the end part of the day and even into the next. Thank you for showing us a different side of productivity rather than the hustler way👍

[@excel04]

As someone who recovered some severe chronic fatigue I can say these techniques work. One of these techniques is called "Pacing" within the fatigue community. TIP: for a week log everything you do (personal and professional). Log the times you spent doing and when. Get 4 highlighters. Grade the logged tasks according to the energy required to complete them: high/medium/low. Assign each a highligher. Colour the tasks in. Do the same for rest periods. Rest ideally is shutting the brain off and not scrolling on your phone. Results: Ideally you want a balanced spread of colours that make use of peak energy periods. You don't want to see a run of high energy days (with no rest) followed by a run of low energy days. That's the recipe for burn out.

[@cjmazon]

Trying this out! Thanks for this tip!!

[@excel04]

@@cjmazon good luck with it

[@eduwitch8954]

summary 4:30 - find your peak performance periods (pick a time in a day where you are the most focused). 5:50 - Find out how much energy a task would require (list high energy tasks and low energy tasks, it doesn't mean a high energy task is the most important one) 7:18 - refill your cup regularly (rest = productive, find out what replenishes your energy - ex walking, meditating, exercises) 8:57 - make flexible to-do lists (decreaes dissapointment)

[@anitas5817]

This is the exact video I needed at this moment. I don’t need time management - I need energy management. I have plenty of time but pitiful little energy.

[@ailsaburns]

Rest is productive... and more importantly, it doesn't need to be earned. ✨ Thanks for another awesome video, Matt, this one is really useful!

[@SergioLivings]

Wow, how important is this video! No one ever talks about energy management and I think everything in the video was on point. We appreciate all your work and content Matt, thank you.

[@kybzhen]

Why you’re so bad at managing your time summary 00:52 1 - we all have different 24 hours 02:04 2- time is a fix resource, but energy is a different game (body, emotion, mind and spirit) 04:26 tips to manage energy better 1 -04:32 find your peak performance period (when you seem to be in a flow state) keep a productivity journal 2- 05:52 find out how much energy a task requires (list all your tasks from most draining to least draining, do your most important item that requires most energy when you are focused) 3- 07:18 refill your cup regularly (rest is productive, you can’t pour from an empty cup, make space for activities that replenish you) 4- 08:58 make flexible to do lists (plan accordingly) Thanks Matt for a wonderful video as always, I always learn something new and feel connected to your videos and has been a big part in my self-discovery journey, once again thanks!

[@RealJamieBarclay]

Energy management, instead of time management. Simple yet brilliant.

[@saraackerman8019]

this is a great video and hits on a lot of things I've been realizing lately as well. I've realized that I need at least one day a week to be completely lazy and relax. That day is Saturday. I've also realized that after work I can barely muster the energy to do much else other than make dinner, maybe do an exercise if I'm super motivated, and do the dishes. That means I need to clean on the weekend, and since Saturday is for resting, Sunday is for cleaning. I've also realized I only tend to be productive when it's light outside, so I need to get started on those chores or errands early. If I don't get started before Sunday night, it isn't getting done for the rest of the week. Lastly, I've realized that if I exert a lot of energy on one day, then the following day I'm pretty spent. So now on Sunday nights, I cook extra so that my Monday evening dinner is prepped. Makes everything a lot easier to plan for those low energy days and not think I'm a failure because I can't muster the energy I have the day before.

[@jab89981]

Sara, I function similarly, so I appreciate you sharing your experiences! Best of luck to you.

[@blacksilver09]

This was a lowkey cameo moment for the cute doggo.~

[@scampydog2318]

Agree. When I have a task scheduled and it starts becoming more than just hard work, it's taking too long, it's just not "happening" the problem isn't the task difficulty -it is my mindset and energy at that specific time. I used to try and power through, but now when I recognize it's getting unproductive vs time I switch that task out for another. I find another time of day or next day I get that same task done in 5mins piece of cake! It's almost like I need a key to unlock that task, but I just don't have it on me at the time.

[@findingagain]

This falls very closely with the way disabled folks and spoonies have to manage their days, and for that I do want to thank you for making this. The idea of energy management doesn't really ever occur to able-bodied people, it's always time management that takes the spotlight. So, almost every time myself or others mention having to manage our days like this people are so taken aback and often weirded out by it. It's not just for us!

[@munojat_alimova]

I needed this. I have been constantly blaming myself for not completing all the tasks from my to do lists which obviously impacted my self-esteem. I feel so much relief after watching this video. Thank you 🙌

[@user-by3nd4rm6c]

Hell yeah, energy management is so underrated, and should arguably take priority over time management

[@unmendedwalls5735]

The best book I've ever read on this subject was "When" by Daniel Pink! I'd say there is a lot of overlap between the tips in this video and the book. One subject the book goes into great depth on though is diving deeper into planning when you do different tasks throughout your day. Although we have an energy peak throughout the day, the trend actually follows a peak, trough, rebound. In the peak, we are best at the highest focus intensive work, but in the rebound we are actually much better at creative work. It's a great book, that I'd highly recommend.

[@Carries_Self-Improvement]

Not gonna lie, this video was an eye-opener for me because I tend to be really fixed up on how I can manage my time in the best, productive way possible. The way Matt explained about the energy levels makes total sense, and I am really glad he emphasized rest being an important thing because for years now, I've neglected making that part of my everyday life. I will definitely try putting these tips to use daily and hope for the best on finding true rest again. Thank you for a great video as always, Matt!

[@audreyguo13]

Same. I always get super hung-up on time management and then beat myself up for not doing enough in a day, but this really clears things up for me

[@Carries_Self-Improvement]

@@audreyguo13 I know right? I do the same thing as well sadly, but all we can do is take each day as its own and make each one a total restart when it comes to time-management and rest. I hope this goes better for you though and have a good rest of your day/night! :)

[@POSITIVEMILLIONAIRE]

I don't know who Needs to Hear This but " Greatness is often built when no one is watching ". So don't give up and keep going

[@tempest9172]

After 2 years of working from home, I returned to the office. I noticed the following: 1/ WFH gave me autonomy. I was able to spend time with family, and everyone was able to pitch in for different tasks. Even the little ones were happy to help sort their own toys out. 2/ Meetings we pre-scheduled. They didn't just "happen". 3/ More fitness. I have to schedule workouts because they happened over zoom so it was an extra commitment I wanted to meet 4/ We cooked. A tonne. So good.

[@Gagetydavis]

Remember to be nice to yourself, be your own personal cheerleader cause you aren’t always going to be on the ball. Great video!

[@mohammadwasif2765]

"Tomorrow will be different". That hit hard and also I burst into laughter.😏😂🤣

[@emilyanderson4069]

'Meditating after having a full blown mental breakdown isn't going to solve any of your problems' I feel attacked. I'm so guilty of trying to make the changes after/during when things go pear-shaped hoping they'll miraculously improve the situation and then abandoning such techniques when life's good

[@missyoneal]

I loved seeing this. I have chronic illnesses and I've had to learn this lesson the hard way. It's one of the biggest things I'm trying to teach others now is that energy is a crucial resource to consider when getting stuff done because since I have a chronic illness, my energy is more limited than most. It's more valuable to me than time now. Thank you for explaining this so well.

[@Leonardopenguin]

I love how some people watch this an apply the strategies, and some just watch because they like the overall vibes. 😆👍🏻

[@georgiedixon2663]

I think a book you would reallly enjoy is: The ruthless elimination of hurry. It’s crazy enlightening about the busy lives we live - always living in distraction, and distraction from the distraction

[@manojkumar1012]

the timing of this video is impeccable

[@twotightslaps]

The irony of uploading a video on time management after 6 weeks gap instead of usual 2 weeks shall not go unnoticed.

[@alba2403]

This is a truth for me, I usually blame myself for being lazy or not get things done, but sometimes I am just so tired to continue. I must learn to hear my body instead of blaming myself for my mistakes, I really want to stay in control. Thank you for managing your time for us.

[@eclowe6594]

Love that you made it a point to mention it's not the same 24 hours. As someone with chronic pain I used to get so much guilt and shame about "_____ has 24 hours just like you"... But you're so right a lot of the rich and famous don't have the monotony of life to deal with. A lot of them also don't have chronic pain which I have to really work on remembering. I do sometimes. Like since I work from home 2.5/4.5 of my days I have started realizing that things like email don't really need to be answered from a desk. I can do it from the couch just as easily. Nobody is even gonna know if I don't tell them.

[@Phinaplexy]

Yeah, I needed to hear this. Thanks

[@eshaarora7481]

Just what I needed to hear. Thanks a ton for putting this up.

[@joeshmoe9177]

This is excellent. Thank you for sharing

[@thepmaexperience]

What a perspective shift and game changer this really is as yeah, we’re familiar with time management but I’ve never heard anybody suggest energy management in a day to day task environment! Thank you so much Matt! Fantastic to hear points such as if we went down a rabbit hole with unforeseen technical issues etc that we shouldn’t let it effect our self worth and our well being! As those are the worst days for me, applying myself with no pay off but time wastage but now you’ve given me the tools to pull myself out of that rabbit hole and say those carrots are no longer sold here! Powerful info indeed! I’ve transcribed so much to implement moving forwards… You rock Matty and I appreciate all that you do! Have a wonderful day!👌👍🙂🙏

[@juanpabloreinosa9054]

Wow! Excellent video. Thanks Matt

[@DrNanuli]

Great video, Matt, thank you!

[@dylanweinand-flannery3778]

Man, I needed this. Perfect timing!!

[@saarthakyadav4370]

been waiting for some kind of video like this for so long, thank you matt, appreciate all the efforts you've put in to make the videos

[@dustyparadiseasmr2780]

Thank you ❤️ This is such an important video ❤️

[@shiptj01]

I always appreciate your videos.

[@batedhaill]

Love the videos always just what I need to hear! 🙌

[@christophercruzart]

Thanks for this Matt. Dealing with a lot of school work while moving so I’ve been stressed out and feeling unaccomplished more often than I should so these tips were awesome and something I need to consider moving forward.

[@adventuresinfitnessland5066]

Thank you, I needed that.

[@VideoStalker234]

this is so real and so helpful! thanks

[@mimistorm6297]

Just in time. Thanks buddy ❤️

[@krushnakantapatra4744]

thanks for the video man ❤❤

[@WillBowers]

Another incredible one Matt. Thanks for always making such high quality content for us

[@rcpanol]

Love your videos, man! I've been assessing myself these past few weeks and damn it really does take a toll on me especially if like 10 hours of my day is already spent on a job that's just a "means to an end" and by the time it's over, and i get the time to do the things I love the most, I'm dead tired. Hoping that maybe someday you'd get to notice this comment and make a video for people who live and work at night and how to better manage time and energy when you're up at the time the world isn't. Thank you for being an inspiration/motivation for me and for everyone watching your content! Much love from Manila 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

[@bellabernadette6787]

Thank youuuu for making this one, Mattt

[@ymb6987]

THIS is soooo timely! Discovering your peak performance periods is essential and absolutely true - thanks always for the insight Matt!

[@l2xu_2000]

I'm just about to change some of my workflow stuff (especially time management-related things). This was super helpful. A lot of things to consider while setting up my new workflow. Thanks a lot!

[@windmediaco]

I needed to see this today. Thanks Matt!

[@Daniel_Braun]

Love this take on energy management on top of time management! Some important things that I'm going to evaluate for my own daily schedule

[@Dr_Analise]

This is spot on!!!!!! Thanks Matt!

[@ellencausey6317]

This was so helpful!! Thanks!

[@asza6018]

i appreciate the effort you put into your video scrips and videography! very inspiring and just awesome!

[@EileenRobles]

Content on point 💯💯💯 LOVE this!

[@philomathmel]

Your videos always come at the right time, Matt. This is literally EXACTLY what I needed to hear. Thank you so much for making this video. Working on my lists now. I will master my time.. the right way. And be kind to myself, when things don’t go according to plan.

[@AverageGuyMakingMoney]

Been there!! Great way to look at it.

[@wilsonboro3296]

Really useful and much needed. Thanks a lot Matt.

[@carylmaluping9632]

Thanks for this Matt.

[@Dmzfotografie]

I am so glad that i found your KZbin Channel. I follow you since a while. You really change my mood with your videos. Thanks that you put so much effort into your videos Matt, really Thank you!

[@hamedpourjafar4661]

Thank you for this helpful video, wonderful job

[@snakonec]

After years of watching you make great content, this was the most interesting and useful one for me. Had such an “aha!” moment. You’ve done it again! 👏

[@jj123123123100]

My favourite video of yours so far! Really a huge paradigm shift in thinking for me

[@internetprincess8998]

You're one of my favorite KZbinrs for a reason. Your content is always so neatly packed and informative. Thanks, Matt.

[@danielacanog12]

This is so helpful for me right now. Thanks Matt, you truly are helping me to live a more meaningful life. Cheers!

[@natashaforcadegomez735]

Thank you very much Matt, I love hearing from you. I reflect a lot on my time when I see your videos. In Cuba, the country where I live, there are always inconveniences to work, which makes us stronger, more flexible and decisive. A constant challenge for the human mind. Sometimes it's frustrating. I am lucky to love what I do and see how I make time for life by observing its details.

[@rawanahmed9272]

Thank you so much for the new prespective here, i am always struggling with feeling guilty specially with all the time management tips and tricks all over the internet. Analysing my energy makes so much sense to me and definitely will help me a lot. Thanks again ❤

[@vertex-6714]

I love this warm color grading. Nice job

[@jaimetan]

Really great advice here! And totally agree that "rest is productive" - I schedule lots of 5 - 10 minute mind breaks throughout the day, and short, day time yoga nidra meditations have been helpful for me to come back to work more focused. Thanks, Matt!

[@Graham-Christian]

I did't even finish the video - but I wanted to say I love the production value you're bringing to the new stuff. Everything is looking so good. :)

[@imperial-gamer]

Right when I am procrastinating! Thanks Matt 😅

[@tabbywarrior]

The beginning part literally appealed to me SO MUCH. I've been cycling routines just trying to find the perfect one but I've been doing the wrong thing in my peak time: school work is so much easier in the morning than at night for me. Thanks for another amazing video!

[@lopes.altamiro]

For me the most difficult thing was understanding that a shitty day doesn't make me a failure.

[@rayaneredhead3374]

I cannot thank you enough for the work you put to do such a video.

[@james-wf7ki]

WOOOOW AMAZING ! It's sooo different from everything I've heard before, thanks dude!

[@emee91]

Just what I need to see today . Thank you so much 💛

[@aretipan3489]

I love your videos Matt, i think they help us see things from a different perspective and understand that there are so many ways to complete our goals.Things are not always as complicated as we think.Thank you!

[@gamzaify]

Needed this. My todo list has everything written down and the time, needless to say life gets in the way and i dont always get to finish everything on it and I end up feeling bad. Thanks for the energy tips Matt

[@a-96raginitare89]

Omg Matt you have no idea.. how eagerly I was waiting for your next video !! ✨🙏🏼🙌🏼

[@starryeyeddu]

I was just thinking about this yesterday. Feeling overwhelmed about all the things I have to do, and then this pops up in my feed- almost like Matt is talking to me. Thanks Matt!

[@KrisKazlauskaite]

Thanks Mat! I liked the angle of the problem, so true what you said about ‘different 24 hours’, made me think. Going to implement your recommendations! 😌

[@gentleyuan5916]

learned a lot , thank you Matt!

[@AngeDani.]

This video showed up just in time! I'm working in how to improve my time management right now and I didn't take in consideration my energy level, thanks for the content Matt.

[@nightisnotforsleep]

WOW! This is one of the most important videos I’ve seen lately. Thank you so much for making another very high quality video:)

[@CreateGreg]

Solid one and the one I needed to listen to and ponder... Thanks Matt!

[@transformingstep]

Another quality video packed with practical strategies. Great job Matt!

[@danielmahathir4001]

wow. this hits the nail. ive tried every time management tactics. whereas in fact its energy. thanks matt!

[@1AngeloElian]

amazing video production, that music detail at the end doesn't go unnoticed

[@nathalieex247]

this was such an interesting perspective on productivity! love your videos Matt!

[@wendycordova5943]

Watching/listening to your videos just soothes me…thank you 😊

[@hachi_ko]

Hi Matt! Thank u for making this kind of content. I'm a perfectionist (at work) and a workaholic and until few months back I have a work who drain me and experience too many burnout in 4 years; Your content help me to accept that i need to rest, i don't have to be always the best version of me but most importantly, I am not define by my work. Thank you for your hard work. I hope, that with your work, you will inspire as many people as possible to take care of their mental health in regards to work.

[@Jcthered]

I love the insight into that quote... that's a good way to reframe what we're told "we all have the same 24 hours"... Thank you