It’s a common perception that time management and productivity are the keys to success in our professional and personal life’s. However, what do the actual academic studies say?
Well, some researchers at Concordia University recently conducted a meta-analysis study, which asked the question: “Does time management work?”
From their findings of analysing over 150 studies on the context time management, they said that it works, but in interesting ways.
Rather than being so much about increasing performance and results, they found that time management has a greater impact on wellbeing and life satisfaction. As they write,
“Interestingly, we found that time management impacts wellbeing — and in particular life satisfaction — to a greater extent than performance. That means time management may be primarily a wellbeing enhancer, rather than a performance booster.”
They further added, “Time management helps people feel better about their lives because it helps them schedule their day-to-day around their values and beliefs, giving them a feeling of self-accomplishment.”
This aligns with what Mahatma Gandhi had said so many years ago: “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
Darren Hardy has similarly written, “Nothing creates more stress than when our actions and behaviors aren’t congruent with our values.”
Ultimately, therefore, time management isn’t going to lead to success as much as it’s going to leave you feeling more satisfied as your head hits the pillow each night.
We learn that if you don’t schedule the time to those things that are important and personally meaningful to you, then your well being and personal fulfillment will take a hit.