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Time Management Is Broken. Here’s How to Fix It.

If you’ve ever felt confused by conflicting productivity strategies or wondered why “best practices” in time management don’t always work as promised, you’re not alone. Here’s the thing: I’ve been coaching freelancers and small business owners for 10 years, and the number one frustration I hear is that productivity advice feels absolute and rigid, with no consideration for where someone actually is right now or what their brain actually needs.

Turns out, the science backs this up.

A comprehensive systematic review, recently published in Frontiers in Education, analyzed over 100 studies and uncovered some surprising truths about how we understand, measure, and improve time management in both business and higher education contexts. And honestly? Some of these findings explain SO much about why generic productivity advice keeps failing us.

There’s No Universal, Scientific Definition of “Time Management”—And That’s a Problem

One of the most striking findings is that despite decades of research, there is still no universally accepted definition of time management.

Let that sink in for a second.

The review analyzed 107 studies published between 2006 and 2021. Almost half of the 86 peer-reviewed papers in the sample (21 were dissertations) did not clearly define what “time management” meant before measuring or intervening. That means many time management tips, training programs, and even scientific articles might be talking about completely different things.

This drives me absolutely nuts about the productivity industry. Everyone’s selling you THE system without even defining what problem they’re solving. When I was younger, I tried Getting Things Done because everyone raved about it. It lasted about a week. There was WAY too much friction because all the tricks were new to me—I was trying to implement everything at once. Then I tried time blocking every little thing, and I threw the whole thing away almost immediately.

Why? Because no one stopped to define what “effective time management” meant for ME, in MY context, with MY brain.

More Actionable Breakdowns Below 👇

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More Actionable Breakdowns

Did you miss one of our previous breakdowns? Here are some you might find helpful.

Future-Proofing You: Adapting to Thrive in the Age of Distraction

Are you constantly battling between productivity and distraction in the digital age? As a business owner or freelancer, your smartphone is your lifeline, but could it also be hindering your success? Discover how the digital revolution is rewiring our brains and transforming our behavior. Arm yourself with the knowledge you need to master your digital tools and unleash your full potential in the modern business landscape.

Think Smarter, Not Harder: How to Implement Lessons Learned For Business Growth According to Neuroscience

Your daily experiences, interactions, and projects are shaping your mind and influencing your success. By understanding how your brain decides what to remember, forget, and transform into core skills, you can harness the power of experiential learning to skyrocket your business and optimize your life. Learn how to train your brain the right way to think smarter, not harder.

How “Vacation Mode” Unlocks Your Prioritization Ninja (Hint: it’s not about self-care)

I have to admit that I don’t remember where I read the actual term “vacation mode” for the first time but suffice it to say I did not invent it. We could even call it the “vacation phenomenon”. I know most think of “vacation mode” as that feeling of being on vacation and that’s not what I mean here…but whatever you want to call it, I am capitalizing on it now and it also just came up in a discussion in virtual coworking in the inner circle. PLUS, the great news is you don’t need a postponed wedding to use this trick…So let’s get to it. 💪

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I hope you found this valuable!

Wishing you much productivity!

- Jenae :)