Encore: How to Feel Less Pressed for Time

The Science of Happiness

PRX and Greater Good Science Center

Science, Social Sciences

4.4 • 1.9K Ratings

🗓️ 15 February 2024

⏱️ 17 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When we devote a little time to the other people in our life, we actually feel like we have more of it. Our guest tried a practice to regain control of his time and schedule

Link to episode transcript: http://tinyurl.com/mr3r6jfn

Episode summary:

Like many of us, our guest Bryant Terry felt like he never had enough time in his day. And while he was eager to reconnect with his family, his schedule was spiraling out of control. For our show, Bryant tried a practice proven to help you feel like you have more time, by specifically devoting some of your time to others. He set intentions to spend quality time with his children doing activities that they truly enjoy. By prioritizing those special moments with his family, Bryant felt more control over his schedule, recognizing that he has the power to make time for what truly matters to him. Later, we hear from professor Cassie Mogilner Holmes about why this practice works, and how being intentional with our time can reshape our relationship with it.

Learn more about this practice at Greater Good In Action:

https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/gift_of_time

Practice

Think of a person whom you care about.
What might you be able to do for this person that entails nothing more than the giving of your time?
Plan a gift of time for this person and give it, whether it means doing something with them (in person or virtually).
Spend as much time as needed to do the favor well and do not take any shortcuts. You might even consider taking off your watch or putting your smartphone away.

Today’s guests:

Bryant Terry is an award winning chef, author and artist.

Learn about Bryant’s work: http://tinyurl.com/3wf3264h

Follow Bryant on Instagram: http://tinyurl.com/2w68z8bc

Learn about his imprint, 4 Color Books: http://tinyurl.com/yuhrsrp8

Cassie Mogilner Holmes is a professor of marketing and behavioral decision making at UCLA.

Learn about Cassie’s work: http://tinyurl.com/rb5r97s5

Resources from The Greater Good Science Center:

How to Feel Like You Have More Time: http://tinyurl.com/p6ykm7y2

Ten Ways to Make Your Time Matter: http://tinyurl.com/34dvwnv4

Why You Never Seem to Have Enough Time: http://tinyurl.com/4t8vyhy3

Can Awe Buy You More Time and Happiness? http://tinyurl.com/m28d8wcx

How to Spend Your Time on What Matters Most: http://tinyurl.com/ycw527tj

More Resources on spending quality time with others:

BBC - How to feel more in control of your time: http://tinyurl.com/nhbt7btm

Stanford - Jennifer Aaker: How to Feel Like You Have More Time: http://tinyurl.com/n8cc6yfk

Harvard -You’ll Feel Less Rushed If You Give Time Away: http://tinyurl.com/yc86ymve

How do you devote time to others? Email us at [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.

Help us share The Science of Happiness!

Rate us on Spotify and share this link with someone who might like the show: http://tinyurl.com/yjdesnze

Transcript

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0:00.0	Okay, hold on a second.
0:02.0	All right, let's do this.
0:04.0	You know, coming out of 2020,
0:09.0	where our whole family was sheltering in place.
0:12.0	My wife was working from home, I was
0:14.5	working from home, and both of our daughters were distance learning. Then
0:19.0	having the whole family here, there was a lot to negotiate and workout and you know some bumps in the beginning.
0:26.6	But it was interesting because while we were here all the time, we were busy and we were, you know,
0:32.3	kind of in the mode of just transactional like, did you get that done?
0:36.3	Have you done this? And you know, getting the kids situated and you know I realize that we could be here all the
0:42.0	time together and we could actually not be spending so much time together.
0:47.0	I'm Dacker Keltner. Welcome to the Science of Happiness. This week we're revisiting a favorite
0:57.8	past episode about a practice called The Gift of Time. To do it, you just carve out a little piece of your day no matter how
1:06.2	busy you are and then you dedicate it to another person. Studies show that when we give
1:12.4	our time to others it actually changes the way we perceive time
1:16.0	and we actually feel like we have more of it.
1:18.0	James Beard winning chef and author Brian Terry felt like his schedule was completely out of control. Chef and
1:25.0	author Brian Terry felt like his schedule was completely out of control. So he tried this practice for our show.
1:27.0	We hear from him and also about the science behind
1:31.0	why this practice works and what happens when we spend time on ourselves
1:36.0	versus others.
1:37.0	Maybe by slowing down, stopping to help others, it could make us feel like we had more time.
	...

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