Change Wired

Breaking free from busyness and firefightening: how being busy makes you a bad time manager


Listen Later

Ever feel trapped in a cycle of perpetual busyness?  

Wonder why, despite your best efforts, you never seem to have enough time to create better time management systems? The answer lies in what behavioral scientists call "the scarcity tunnel", a fascinating cognitive phenomenon that explains why the busier we get, the worse we become at managing our time. 

When we're short on time, our brains enter a survival mode where only immediate tasks matter. Like a jar filling with pebbles, each small task occupies precious mental space, leaving no room for strategic thinking or system-building. This creates a cruel paradox: precisely when we most need innovative solutions to our time problems, we're least equipped to develop them. 

This episode dives deep into the science of scarcity and its impact on decision-making.  

You'll discover why even intelligent, capable people make shortsighted choices under pressure, and how this affects everything from financial decisions to daily time management. More importantly, you'll learn the counterintuitive step required to break free from this cycle, deliberately setting aside time for strategic thinking when you feel you have none to spare.  

Your calendar doesn't lie; it reflects where your life is heading. By understanding the psychology behind time scarcity and implementing the practical strategies shared in this episode, you can escape the tunneling effect and build systems that create more meaning, impact, and fulfillment.  

Don't just survive each day - design a life you'll be proud to look back on.  

  

Text Me Your Thoughts and Ideas

Support the show

Brought to you by Angela Shurina

Behavior-First Change Leadership & Culture Transformation Consultant
EXECUTIVE & OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE COACH

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Change WiredBy Angela Shurina

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

15 ratings


More shows like Change Wired

View all
Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,483 Listeners

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee by Dr Rangan Chatterjee: GP & Author

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

4,064 Listeners

The Genius Life by Max Lugavere

The Genius Life

4,813 Listeners

Hacking Your ADHD by William Curb

Hacking Your ADHD

694 Listeners

Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

Huberman Lab

28,304 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

20,541 Listeners