Ever wake up in a cold sweat about an unanswered email? Or feel a persistent sense that you’re missing something important in life but can’t pinpoint what?
You might be experiencing “time anxiety”—a phenomenon that bestselling author Chris Guillebeau discovered affects people from teenagers to retirees, creating physical symptoms and deep existential unrest.
Chris shares insights from his research with 1,500 people and reveals the two types of time anxiety: existential (feeling like time is running out in life) and daily chaos (never having enough hours in the day).
More importantly, he offers practical solutions for shifting from trying to control time to being in relationship with it.
Key Takeaways:
- The 40-minute check-in: A simple exercise to evaluate whether your recent time was valuable
- Time decluttering: Why clearing your calendar is more important than organizing your closet
- The gift of transitions: How adding 10-15 minutes buffer time can be life-changing
- Practice having fun: Why meaningless activities can be deeply meaningful
- Commitment over options: The power of choosing direction over keeping all doors open
Guest Bio:
Chris Guillebeau is a bestselling author of nine books, including “The Art of Non-Conformity” and “Side Hustle.” He’s visited every country in the world and hosts the annual World Domination Summit. His latest book explores time anxiety and our complex relationship with time.
Timestamps:
- 00:00 – Introduction and the concept of time anxiety
- 08:00 – Two types of time anxiety: existential vs. daily chaos
- 15:00 – Research insights from 1,500 people
- 22:00 – Time decluttering and giving yourself the gift of time
- 28:00 – Post-pandemic time shifts and cognitive energy
- 35:00 – Book structure and practical applications
Resources Mentioned:
- Time Anxiety Quiz: timeanxiety.com
- Chris’s Newsletter: yearofmentalhealth.com
- Take the Life Audit to know which areas of life need more of your time