1978: The Science of Getting Your Time Back with Laura Vanderkam, Author of Big Time

So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

Farnoosh Torabi

Business, Entrepreneurship

4.7 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 4 May 2026

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We all say the same thing: I don’t have enough time.

Not enough time to work, to parent, to rest, to exercise, to finally do the thing we’ve been putting off for years.

But what if that story… isn’t actually true?

What if the problem isn’t time itself—but how we think about it, measure it, and ultimately choose to spend it?

Today’s guest wants us to completely rethink our relationship with time. Laura Vanderkam has built her career challenging the idea of time scarcity, and in her new book, Big Time, she makes a compelling case that many of us have far more time than we think—we’re just not seeing it clearly.

In our conversation, we get into the real data behind how we spend our days, why tracking your time can be a game changer, and how small mindset shifts—especially around your evenings—can unlock what she calls “time abundance.”

We also talk about the very real challenges of balancing work, family, and everything in between—and how to negotiate time more effectively, whether that’s with your partner, your boss, or even yourself.

Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open!

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey friends, if you've been sitting on a book idea and wondering, could this actually become something,
0:05.2	this is your moment. Join me in New York City on October 9th for book to brand. This is my intimate
0:10.6	full day immersive designed to help you turn your idea into a clear, compelling, pitch-ready book
0:16.0	concept. You will meet the insiders, agents, publishers, and recent authors who can help bring your book to life.
0:23.3	Spots are limited and early birth tickets are on sale now.
0:26.9	Head to booktobrand.co to reserve your spot.
0:30.2	So Money episode 1978, The Science of Getting Your Time Back with der Kham, author of Big Time.
0:39.2	You're listening to So Money with award-winning money guru Farnush Karabi.
0:44.1	Each day, get a 30-minute dose of financial inspiration from the world's top business minds,
0:49.4	authors, influencers, and from Farnoose yourself.
0:53.4	Looking for ways to save on gas or double your double
0:56.4	coupons? Sorry. You're in the wrong place. Seeking profound ways to live a richer, happier life.
1:02.6	Welcome to So Money. Even people who work long hours are generally not working around the clock.
1:10.7	Many people who have a rough
1:12.9	night here and there do, in fact, get a reasonable amount of sleep averaged over an entire week.
1:18.6	Even people who work full-time generally see their families. And when we tell ourselves,
1:24.3	I have no free time whatsoever, what that tends to mean is that I don't
1:27.8	have as much free time as I want, which is true. But that is a very different story from having none
1:32.9	whatsoever. And so once we see the data, we can start rewriting these stories and just changing
1:38.8	things that allow for a better life. Welcome to So Money, everybody. I'm Farnoge Tarabi. You know, we all say the
1:45.6	same thing. I just don't have enough time. Not enough time to work, to parent, to rest,
1:50.3	exercise, to finally do the thing we've been putting off for years. But what if that story isn't
	...

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