Staying Sane at Work | Laurie Santos

Time Affluence

Dr. Laurie Santos introduces the concept of "time affluence," which refers to the subjective feeling of having enough free time. She explains that feeling time-starved, or experiencing "time famine," can negatively impact well-being, similar to the effects of unemployment 1. Dan Harris shares his personal experience of gaining time affluence after leaving ABC News, noting that while his weekends have become more relaxed, his weekdays remain hectic 2.

Time famine works a lot like hunger famine, where you're kind of triaging things. There's like evidence of stress on your body.

--- Laurie Santos

Laurie suggests reframing time-saving activities, like ordering takeout, to appreciate the time gained and reduce stress 2.

   

Time Management

Laurie provides practical strategies for managing time effectively to enhance time affluence. She highlights the importance of using small pockets of free time, termed "time confetti," for activities that boost well-being, such as deep breathing or gratitude journaling 3.

We actually have more free time now than we did, like, 15 to 20 years ago.

--- Laurie Santos

Laurie also emphasizes creating boundaries between work and personal life, especially in the context of remote work. Simple rituals, like covering a laptop at the end of the day, can signal the end of work and help maintain mental separation 4.