Hey everyone,

A lot of our clients are lawyers and one thing that keeps coming up is time management. 

Balancing client needs, court dates, and a mountain of tasks can be intense, especially when every minute counts (literally) toward billable hours. 

Thought I’d share some of the time management strategies I’ve seen that help lawyers make the most of their day.

1. Time Blocking

You already know about time blocking no doubt, but breaking it down further can help. Instead of blocking off a huge chunk for “Client X case,” for example, break it down into specific steps like drafting motions, court prep, or research. It feels less daunting that way.

2. Set a Time Budget for Tasks

Without a clear time limit, it’s easy to get stuck on one task and lose track of time for everything else. Setting and sticking to time budgets can help keep your day balanced. If your time-tracking software allows, you can usually set alerts that notify you when you’re close to hitting that budget. Failing that, a simple alarm clock will do.

3. Ditch the Multitasking Myth

Real talk: multitasking doesn’t work. Our brains just aren’t wired for it. What we actually do is called “task-switching.” However, that means neither task gets your full attention, and it can lead to mistakes. Focusing on one thing at a time is more efficient and = faster and higher quality work.

4. Set Boundaries on Communication

Interruptions from calls, emails, or walk-ins are workflow killers. If you can, set specific times to handle these and clear expectations on when you’re available.  Firm boundaries are key (so is sticking to them). Control your time instead of everyone else controlling it for you.

5. Real-Time Time Tracking

Tracking your time as you go helps keep you on task and prevents “time leaks.” It also gives you an accurate log for billing without relying on memory later. Plus, seeing where every minute goes can be a real eye-opener! Most time-tracking apps have this feature, or you can just use a pen and paper!

6. Find Your Biggest Time-Wasters

Looking back over your time data can help spot hidden time-wasters, like endless email checking, unnecessary meetings, or excessive admin. Use these insights to cut out what’s not working for you.

7. Automate the Repetitive Stuff

There’s no need to do repetitive tasks manually if there’s tech available that can handle it. Automating things like billing, document management, and client intake can save you hours each week and let you focus on more important things. It’s worth learning about the different apps and software available because it’ll save you in the long run.

8. Learn to Say No

One of the hardest things to do! Saying no to tasks or those “small favors” that don’t align with your priorities is huge. Stop overcommitting on things you don’t really want – or need – to do. Again, boundaries!

9. Plan Ahead for Court Dates

Sounds basic, but this one’s a game-changer. Start planning early, set mini-deadlines, and allow plenty of buffer time for unexpected issues. Better to be over-prepared than scrambling at the last minute.

10. Deal with Procrastination Head-On

Procrastination gets to everyone and often. This is what I’ve found works best:

- Start with the hardest task first. Everything else after that is easy.

- Begin imperfectly. Just get the job done, then worry about perfecting it.

- If starting in the middle or end of a task is easier, then start there. There’s no rule that says you have to start at the beginning.

Hope these strategies help!

Happy to chat more if anyone has questions or other tips they’ve found helpful.

A hour timer open it.countdown started

Where do you think I should post about it so that people can try the free plan and check themselves?

What's the routine ,please specify the time to eg: From this time to this I did this(studied)

https://preview.redd.it/9tpbampyqx2e1.png?width=643&format=png&auto=webp&s=27abeea5da9e4fc55d60117b10091308fc5801c3

Be honest, how much time do you spend scrolling on social media every day?

For me, it was 6 HOURS. I’d pick up my phone “just for a quick look,” and suddenly, half the day was gone. I hated it, but I didn’t know how to stop.

Then I discovered a simple trick that worked almost instantly. It’s called the Intentional Scroll Rule ( If found this trick on pinterest), and here’s how it works:

Before you open any app, ask yourself one question: “Why am I here?”

Are you opening Instagram to post something?

- Checking messages?

- Looking for inspiration?

If you have a specific purpose, that’s fine do what you came to do and then close the app.

But if the answer is “I don’t know” or “I’m just bored,” don’t open it.

Instead, find something else to do for just 5 minutes, read a page of a book, drink some water, or even stare out the window.

You’ll be shocked how quickly the urge to scroll fades.

"uH aCtuAlLy I wOulD StIlLl waNt tO ScroLL"

Stfu, just stfu if you have this mindset.

GET RID OF THIS WAY OF THINKING!!

Do something that really matters. Go outside do some fcking pushups, go for walk, learn a skill that will help you make money. Just DO SOMETHING THAT ISNT SCROLLING FOR HOURS.

Most of the time, scrolling isn’t about the content, it’s about avoiding something else.

Maybe it’s boredom, stress, or even procrastination.

Asking yourself “Why am I here?” forces you to pause and decide if opening the app is actually worth your time.

When I started using this rule, I cut my screen time in half within a week.

HALF.

Still 3 hours of scrolling but HEY, those other 3 others im putting in improving my body, I still hate that I scroll for 3 hours and im trying to lower that to 1 hour.

But look just try it see how it works for you.

And if you can't do the bare minimum of atleast trying, your 100% cooked.

I know we all joke around about the term brain rot but we should probably start taking it more seriously.

Our mindless scrolling, dopamine savoring, quick-hit content consumption is actually deteriorating our brain.

It’s giving us digital dementia. 

The concept of "digital dementia" proposes that our heavy reliance on the internet and digital devices might harm cognitive health, leading to shorter attention spans, memory decline, and potentially even quickening the onset of dementia.

A major 2023 study examined the link between screen-based activities and dementia risk in a group of over 462,000 participants, looking specifically at both computer use and TV watching.

The findings revealed that spending more than four hours a day on screens was associated with a higher risk of vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other forms of dementia. Additionally, the study linked higher daily screen time to physical changes in specific brain regions.

And listen, I normally hate when people reference studies to prove a point because you can find a study to back up whatever opinion you have, but this is pretty damning.

And unfortunately, it makes complete sense. Smartphones primarily engage the brain's left hemisphere, leaving the right hemisphere—responsible for deep focus and concentration—unstimulated, which can weaken it over time.

This also extends to how we handle memory. We’ve become pros at remembering where to find answers rather than storing those details ourselves.

Think about it: how often do we Google things we used to memorize?

It’s convenient, but it may also mean we’re losing a bit of our own mental storage, trading depth for speed.

The internet’s layout, full of links and bite-sized content, pushes us to skim, not study, to hop from one thing to the next without really sinking into any of it. That’s handy for quick answers but not great for truly absorbing or understanding complex ideas.

Social media, especially the enshittification of everything, is the ultimate fast food for the mind—quick, convenient, and loaded with dopamine hits, but it’s not exactly nourishing.

Even an hour per day of this might seem harmless, but when we look at the bigger picture, it’s a different story.

Just like with our physical diet, consuming junk on a regular basis can impact how we think and feel. When we’re constantly fed a stream of quick, flashy content, we start craving it. Our brains get hooked on that rush of instant gratification, and we find it harder to enjoy anything slower or deeper.

It’s like training our minds to expect constant stimulation, which over time can erode our ability to focus, be patient, or enjoy complexity.

This type of content rarely requires any deep thought—it’s created to grab attention, not to inspire reflection. We become passive consumers, scrolling through a feed of people doing or saying anything they need to in order to capture our attention.

But what’s actually happening is that we’re reprogramming our brains to seek out more of this content. We get used to a diet of bite-sized entertainment, which leaves little room for slower, more meaningful experiences that require us to actually engage, to think, or even to just be.

I can go in 100 different directions on this topic (and I probably will in a later post), but for the sake of brevity, I’ll leave you with this:

Please, please, please be mindful of your content diet. Switch out short clips for longer documentaries and videos. Pick up a book once in a while. Build something with your hands. Go travel. Do something creative that stimulates your brain.

You’re doing more damage than you think.

--

p.s. - this is an excerpt from my weekly column about building healthier relationships with tech. Would love any feedback on the other posts.

Hi! I am a fellow student who is in middle school, but this is my last year (I'm in grade 9. It is considered high school in the US, but I'm in Canada) and I want to be prepared for high school because my teacher keeps telling our class to do so.

I applied for a transfer to another school because they have a program that I'm interested in, but the school I want to transfer to is very far away. It is about 21.1km away from my house which means I have to use two busses to commute. I think that this will also affect my sleep schedule too.

I'd also like to add the fact that high school here starts at 8:50am.

I wanted to make this post to ask what time I should start getting to bed and wake up in order for me to be consistent. I'd like to keep my sleep for 8 hours.

We tend to approach work satisfaction as a binary. Either satisfied or dissatisfied. For the most part, there are so many factors that cause us to be unhappy with our work… and often, we can’t precisely identify why. Psychologist Frederick Herzberg devised the Two-Factor Theory to discuss workplace motivation. He broke it down into:

• Motivators: Markers of job satisfaction
• Hygiene Factors: Markers of job dissatisfaction

Very often, we can never find the motivation needed if our basic work ‘hygiene factors’ are not met. This was extremely interesting for me to learn about and I wanted to break it down for you here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le5Wfk4zWd8

Let me know if this helps shift how you approach satisfaction with work going forward. 

Time management isn’t just about getting more done; it’s about shaping your brain and enhancing your overall well-being. For college students, time is one of the most valuable resources. Managing it effectively not only influences academic performance but also mental, emotional, and physical health. Research shows that the way you manage your time can directly affect your brain’s neuroplasticity, resilience, productivity, and overall well-being (Duckworth & Gross, 2014). In this blog, we’ll explore powerful time management tips that align with how your brain works and how they can empower you to achieve more while staying balanced.

The Science Behind Time Management and Neuroplasticity

The brain is constantly rewiring itself through neuroplasticity, which means the more you practice a skill, the stronger and more efficient the neural pathways become (Kolb & Whishaw, 2018). Time management is no different. When you establish constructive time management habits, your brain adapts, becoming more resilient and capable of handling stress. This directly impacts your mental and emotional health, making you more productive, focused, and able to bounce back from challenges.

For example, a study conducted by Pychyl (2013) found that students who implemented structured time management strategies had lower stress levels and better overall academic performance. These students experienced improvements in cognitive flexibility—a core aspect of neuroplasticity—which enhanced their problem-solving abilities.

Core Time Management Tips for College Students

Let’s dive into some empowering tips designed to align with your brain’s natural tendencies:

1. Prioritize Deep Work Over Multitasking

While it’s tempting to juggle multiple tasks, research indicates that multitasking is destructive for productivity. The brain cannot efficiently switch between tasks, and each switch uses up valuable cognitive resources (Rosen, 2008). Instead, focus on deep work—immersive, uninterrupted sessions where you tackle one task at a time. This approach strengthens your brain’s ability to focus, enhancing neuroplasticity and making you more efficient.

Empowering Tip: Schedule specific blocks of time for deep work during your most productive hours, and train your brain to enter a focused state. Over time, you’ll find your capacity to concentrate and complete tasks improves.

2. Use the Pomodoro Technique to Boost Focus and Well-being

The Pomodoro Technique involves working for 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break. This method leverages the brain’s natural rhythm to maintain high levels of focus while preventing burnout. Incorporating short, constructive breaks has been shown to increase overall productivity, mood, and resilience (Cirillo, 2006).

Research Insight: A study from the University of Illinois found that periodic breaks help prevent decision fatigue and improve long-term memory retention. This technique not only increases productivity but also empowers your mental and emotional health, helping you stay balanced throughout your day.

3. Plan Ahead but Stay Flexible

A well-organized schedule can be empowering, but it’s also important to maintain flexibility. Unexpected events and setbacks are part of life, and your ability to adapt reflects your brain’s cognitive flexibility, a key component of neuroplasticity. Embrace a growth mindset by allowing space for adjustments while keeping your goals in sight.

“Time management isn’t about controlling every second; it’s about mastering your mind’s ability to adapt, prioritize, and thrive.”

From my experience working in brain enhancement, I’ve seen that students who balance structure with adaptability are often the most resilient. They train their minds to not just react but to recalibrate, enhancing their overall well-being.

How Time Management Impacts Mental, Emotional and Physical Health

Time management is directly linked to mental, emotional and physical health. Here’s how:

1. Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Poor time management leads to procrastination, and procrastination can become a cycle that increases anxiety. By managing time effectively, you gain a sense of control, which can reduce stress levels. Research from the American Psychological Association (APA) highlights that students who proactively manage their time report lower levels of anxiety and improved emotional well-being (APA, 2015).

2. Enhances Physical Health

Time management isn’t only about mental focus; it’s about creating time for self-care. Allocating time for physical activities like exercise, mindfulness, or even a walk helps boost neuroplasticity and resilience. Physical activity enhances brain function, increases productivity, and empowers overall emotional and physical health.

Research Insight: A study published in Nature revealed that exercise increases the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports neuroplasticity, cognitive function, and mood regulation (Hillman et al., 2008). College students who incorporate physical activity into their schedules often show better academic performance and enhanced emotional well-being.

Practical Tips to Implement Effective Time Management Strategies

1. Break Down Goals Into Manageable Tasks

Set clear, empowering goals, and break them down into small, actionable tasks. This approach helps your brain feel a sense of accomplishment as you check off each item, reinforcing a constructive cycle. It aligns with the brain’s reward system, making it easier to stay motivated.

2. Limit Screen Time and Digital Distractions

In an era where digital distractions are abundant, it’s easy to lose time scrolling through social media. Digital distractions are disempowering for focus and productivity. Consider using tools like screen time trackers or apps that block social media during study periods. This simple adjustment helps you reclaim your time and enhances mental clarity.

Empowering Tip: Replace unproductive screen time with empowering activities like reading, meditating, or engaging in creative hobbies. These activities not only refresh your mind but also promote neuroplasticity.

3. Set Up a Nightly Routine for Better Sleep and Planning

Your nightly routine is essential for time management. Sleep is when the brain consolidates memories and reorganizes information, making it critical for overall productivity. Establishing a consistent bedtime routine that includes planning the next day can empower your time management skills while also enhancing physical and emotional health.

Research Insight: Studies show that individuals with consistent sleep patterns are more productive, have better mental health, and experience improved cognitive functioning (Walker, 2017).

Conclusion: Time Management as a Gateway to Success and Well-Being

Time management for college students goes beyond just scheduling; it’s about shaping your brain, improving productivity, and enhancing your overall well-being. By adopting empowering habits and understanding how your brain works, you can build resilience, boost productivity, and maintain emotional and physical health. Remember, your college years are a time of growth, and mastering time management can be a transformative tool to maximize your potential.

The journey to mastering time management isn’t about perfection; it’s about consistency and self-awareness. Use time as a tool to empower your growth, shape your mind, and enhance your well-being. You have the power to control how you spend your time and, ultimately, how you shape your future.

Hi guys, When i am in my class I get lot of motive thoughs.. i thought about study hard in home and when I reach home I just forgot those motives.....And procrastinate..... And When I go to sleep I plan to wake up early morning but I don't want to get out of that comfy bed. and my life is serious...I just forgot and don't want to get out of bed...Help

Hey there, I’m completely new to this but very much need it. I am suffering a endless cycle that I cannot escape.

I’m a uni student that has to share a small 12X10 room with someone who works a night shift. The lights are off by 3 PM till 12 PM. He sleeps during that time and he snores so FUCKING LOUD. Sadly living with him actually makes focusing impossible and I just distract myself wasting the rest of my day from there. Literally can’t sleep till after 12, it’s super easy to focus onces hes gone.

My huge problem is the time wasted, I’d love to get ahead in life but since I sleep after 12 I usually sleep at 12-2 wake up at 8, go to class come out at 12 and then leave 2 hours to actually do anything.

I really need help and just want to get a job and get out of here, those two hours I have are usually used to just do daily task, eat, shower, tend pets, any other chores.

I love the idea of timeboxing, but it doesn’t work out.

I just feel like I don’t “respect” the box. I get lost in the details of the project, or lose track of time, or I underestimate the time, or I get distracted. Or I procrastinate. And then it all just feels really demoralizing.

I feel like I just end up punting my box over and over again. Until I end up just working all night to get it done.

Does anyone have tips to get my mind straight?

I am so confused on how others around this age (hs and college) get so many things done every single week. They hang out with people over the weekend, (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) usually all three days or two days, and somehow they still manage to wash their clothes, dry their clothes, fold/hang them up, and wash and dry and change their sheets, and wash and dry their towels, and keep their room clean, and take the trash out of their room/bathroom and then rebag the little trash can, and still do their homework and keep decent grades, and still do their everyday routines like showering and getting dressed and brushing hair and everything, AND still have time for the ocasional errand of like buying necessities like razors or q tips or other things they need. How do they have the time every weekend? Are they rushing every single day and feel like they have no time???? I know that’s not the case because I’ve never heard anyone say they feel that way about it, they just go about their weekend getting to go out and still somehow do all those things every week.

I don’t even hang out or go out on the weekends at all and I still can’t even do it all. I literally have to save an entire day for washing my clothes and drying them because I usually have two loads and I have to put one in the wash, wait, then put it in the dryer and put a new load in the wash, then wait, then take the load out of the dryer and put the other load in the dryer, then wait, then come back and remove the load from the dryer. And then that takes me all day and I don’t even end up hanging up or folding my clothes, they just stay in my basket until I’ve used them all.

And throwing out the trash from my little trash cans feels like it takes forever and then I never manage to rebag them and I just end up throwing trash away in my trash can with no bag.

I didn’t even mention this before, but where are they also finding the time to vacuum??? Or wash their shower? Or clean their toilet???? Just WASHING my clothes takes me a whole day and I don’t hang them/fold them and I want to at least have ONE day where I get to just chill/relax but if I do that I don’t know how to find the time to still do everything else I’ve listed above. (buy necessities, clean room, wash sheets, wash towels, clean shower, clean toilet, vacuum, throw trash out, bag trash cans….etc.). Even on holiday weekends where there is an extra off day I can’t get it all done (like even if I don’t take a break day to do nothing, i still can’t get it all done). I literally need a full day for clothes washing and another full day for homework because I also need time in between things to chill like I don’t do every single action one after the other if that makes any sense. Is everyone else like not stopping between the things they do at all?? But like also I know they still use their phone throughout the day because they’ll text friends and snap friends throughout the day so it’s not like they turned their phone off the whole day and did one task after the other with no downtime in between or phone time.

What am I missing 😭😭😭 I don’t understand

In case you haven’t watched the movie in a while, let me remind you of the line the main character says at the very end of the film:

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

― Ferris Bueller

What does that mean exactly?

For me, an image of an office worker comes to mind. A person who commutes to work through traffic, does the work that’s in front of him, comes home, watches TV until he sleeps and repeats the whole thing for decades of his life, never stopping to “look around” and think about what it is that he is doing with his life. Then one day, he wakes up and thinks, “what happened to those years of my life? I have no memories!” - His entire life passed him by, he “missed it”. It’s a tragedy.

Another image springs to mind, too: I like to hike a lot, and I’m the kind of person that likes to take in the scenery. - I like to “stop and look around every once in a while”, if you will. And some of my fellow hikers would get impatient and they would want to get going again. And so I noticed that there were only really 2 types of hikers - Those who enjoyed hiking to marvel at the views of nature, and those who hiked just to say they’d done it.

It’s a great metaphor for life. I observed that those who “stop and look around” tend to be happier people.

Even in daily life, if I’m at a party, if I’m travelling somewhere different, even if I’m just experiencing a tender moment with a loved one… I look around, take it all in, take a mental picture of that moment in time: What were the colours like that night?, what smalls were there?, what sounds?, how did I feel?

If I keep doing that, with every nice moment in my life, soon I’ll have a library of memories to look back upon and think: “Wow! I have so many wonderful memories.”

…and I certainly wouldn’t feel like I’ve “missed it.”

Hope this helps,

- Dilan :)

Hey y'all! I'm a uni student and have been finding it hard to manage my time. I've already fixed that I'd be waking up at 5 AM and going to bed by 10 PM. I just don't know how to manage the in-betweens lol. Can y'all help me out? I guess for the most part, I can't decide between working out in the mornings or night, or how long should I partition my study time after university hours.

I'm returning to the office after working from home/ hybrid for 2 years. I have a dog, a household to maintain, gym routine, as well as social commitments that i need to work into my new schedule . One thing that will be a challenge is getting ready (I work in an office and need to do my hair and makeup each day), eat, and walk the dog all before leaving the house at 6:20am. What are some "life hacks"/ routine ideas that have made you life easier?

I have to juggle: Two part time jobs College (Economics, Math and Accounting (if that helps)) Homework Friends and Family Football team And girls

At this very moment, my mind is collapsing in on itself trying to juggle everything and you may think, why not just drop one of the jobs? Its not that easy, Im saving up to learn to drive a car and a decent laptop for my sister. Considering Im 16 and trying to learn to drive a car as soon as possible, dropping a job is not possible in my eyes, does anyone with a fresh pair of eyes think they could give me a work of advice?

Hey everyone I wanted some advice. So I work overnight and have a toddler. My husband works in the morning, but doesn’t get home until 5:30pm. I’m off at 6:30am. I’m also in the process of trying to find time to workout (home workout) while I’m up with our child. But I’m so exhausted after work. What seems like a realistic time frame to incorporate a solid workout (45mins-1hr) and rest while also on mom duty?

I put absolutely everything in my Google Calendar - tasks, todos, appointments, things I need to remember, etc. As a result, my Google Calendar is so packed with events that they look like a swarm of tiny beans. I don't think this is the best method, but I feel more at ease when my to-dos are managed by my schedule. If there are any better ways to do this, please let me know.

.

I recently bought a new laptop and discovered that the clock app comes with a built-in focus and pomodoro function, and best of all, it links with To-Do list! It’s the best news I’ve had in years; I never wanted to pay for Focus To-Do and hated not being able to track my stats!

But did the app really die because of this? What other apps could Microsoft, the mega-corporation, kill off?