"168 hours: You have more time than you think" by Laura Vanderkam

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

The idea of being periodically productive is so, so powerful. It's about respecting your own rhythm, your own energy, about being sustainable. Productivity shouldn't, you know, break your spirit. It should reflect the stuff that really matters and leave room for well-being—not endless hustle.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

So I particularly loved the idea from Laura Varnderkam's book "168 hours" is this idea that randomness... randomness is just part of life. You can’t remove it—you can't, but what you can do, what you can do, is use your time to sort of, stack the odds, right? Like, if I dedicated time once a week to pre-planning meal prep or household stuff, instead of winging it, the randomness of things, it feels less overwhelming. It’s not eliminated, but it’s—it’s manageable.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

Thinking strategically about your time is a, kind of, way to make space for, well, the things you can’t control. So, instead of aiming for perfection, the goal is to integrate your priorities—your values—with the hours that you do have. And when you're clear on those values, it gets so much easier to decide what really belongs in your week and what doesn’t. And for Laura that starts with a simple powerful step - start tracking your time precisely so you can learn what you really spend your time doing... and ask whether that's the way you WANT to be spending your time.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

OK before we go deeper into the book let’s recap the ideas of feminist productivity. So, you know, this isn’t about just flipping typical productivity advice on its head. It’s about creating a whole framework where the way we use our time reflects our realities, not someone else's idealized version of success. And feminist productivity, at its core, rests on three tenets.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

The first? Authenticity over perfection. So, I mean, that’s not always easy, right? Especially when you, like me, might feel pressure to do everything "by the book." But asking yourself—what’s true to who I am?—is such a freeing approach. It allows imperfection. Like, let's be real, life is messy. And that’s kind of, where the magic happens anyway.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

And then there’s community over individualism. This one, this one really hits home for me as a disabled solo parent. It’s learning to lean into support systems, not seeing it as weakness but as, you know, connection. Like, a good example—it’s not about going it alone to prove something. It’s about knowing who you can share the load with. It might be family, friends, or even groups that just... get you.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

Finally, resilience over burnout. And this is—this is one of those practices I have to remind myself of, you know, regularly. It’s seeing life not as this flat, constant grind but as seasons. Some seasons, yeah, you might pull late nights; others, you rest and regroup. It’s sustainable when you respect those cycles. And honestly? That’s more powerful than any hustle hack I’ve ever come across.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

Alright, let’s dig into this whole idea of authenticity over perfection. It sounds simple, like, you know, just "be yourself!" But if we’re being real, it’s a whole lot harder than it seems, especially when the world has such rigid ideas of what productivity should look like. I mean, there are days where even I catch myself thinking, "I should’ve done that better, I should’ve done more." It’s a constant negotiation.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

But here’s the thing—the most liberating part of embracing authenticity is realizing that you’re, you know, not chasing someone else’s timeline. It’s about checking in with your own reality, your own season of life. For me, as a solo parent managing disability, I’ve learned to set goals that don’t just sound good, but actually work with the energy and resources I’ve got. And that, honestly, is half the battle—it’s learning to let go of the idealized version of who we think we’re supposed to be.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

What helps me—and, maybe this could resonate with you too—is grounding this authenticity in data. And not, like, big intimidating data. I’m talking practical stuff—tracking where your time actually goes for a week or two. Not to measure productivity in some rigid, corporate sense, but to, you know, get an honest view of what moments feel meaningful versus the ones that drain you. Because yeah, when you’ve got clarity on that, it’s so much easier to spend your time intentionally without feeling like you’re constantly falling short of perfection. Laura's focus on time tracking is so, so powerful here.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

And then, once you’re working from, like, this place of truth—not judgment—you start to notice what works now might not work next month, and that’s okay. Life isn’t static; our priorities shift. Like, right now, maybe it’s figuring out how to handle school runs without losing my mind. A few months ago? It was all about carving out twenty minutes to just rest without guilt. It’s about honoring those shifts instead of forcing one unchanging model of productivity on yourself no matter what.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

Alright, let’s dive into this idea of community over individualism, because, honestly, how much of our time do we actually spend with the people who matter to us the most? Like, when was the last time you sat down and thought about it? I mean, really thought about it. I know for me, there are moments where I feel like, you know, the day just slips through my fingers. And it’s—it’s so easy to let that happen, especially when life feels packed.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

What’s been eye-opening for me is realizing how being intentional about time with others can, kind of, reshape everything. Like, even when life feels stretched thin, the moments I carve out for connection—they’re the ones that stick. Not, you know, the to-do lists or the hustle, but just sitting with my son during snack time or having a five-minute chat with a friend. Those moments start to feel like anchors in my day, pulling me back when everything else feels a bit too much.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

And, you know, it’s not about quantity. It’s about being present. Like, really present. I’ve caught myself, more times than I can count, sitting with someone but my mind racing through, like, five hundred other things I need to do. But when I actually put that aside—even if it’s just for ten minutes—I find these small but, you know, really meaningful interactions. They kind of, remind me why all this other busy-ness even matters in the first place.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

One thing that’s also stood out to me—this isn’t just about personal relationships, it’s about community in the broader sense too. We’re we’re not meant to do it all alone. And, really, trying to is just exhausting. Building those connections, whether it’s a trusted neighbor who can step in during a tough week or an online group where you can share advice—it’s what keeps so many of us going, right? The truth is, we thrive when we share the load. Again seeing it set out in a time log like Laura suggests gives so much clarity on the way we prioritise - or forget - to make time for connection with our communities.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

So, resilience over burnout—let’s break that down a bit, shall we? This idea, it’s not, you know, about gritting your teeth and somehow pushing through everything, every time. It’s about making thoughtful decisions. Like, looking at your time, your energy, and asking—what do I really wanna focus on? What actually matters?

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

For me, I’ve had to learn—sometimes the hard way—that trying to do everything, it’s just not sustainable. And it’s not even efficient. When you’re constantly, well, burning the candle at both ends, the things that matter—they end up getting buried under this, like, never-ending pile of to-dos that you didn’t really choose in the first place. Does that sound familiar?

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

What’s been helpful is learning to prioritize—not just prioritize, but honestly, ruthlessly prioritize—how I use my time. And, you know, I remind myself that just because I can do something doesn’t mean I should. That’s such a liberating thought, isn’t it? It’s choosing to spend your time in a way that feels purposeful, instead of just... reactive.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

And you know, resilience—it’s not some big, dramatic thing. Often, it’s the little practices, the small boundaries you hold, the mundane choices that don’t seem all that revolutionary at first. Like, saying no to something that doesn’t align with your values—whether it’s a new commitment or even just that scrolling habit that eats away at your evenings. It’s about being intentional, not perfect. And honestly? That’s been such a game-changer for me, navigating life as, well, not just a parent, but someone who needs to be realistic about energy levels day to day. I really appreciate the reality of Laura's advice - in this book and in her podcast "Best of Both Worlds" with Sarah Hart-Unger - that we can embrace each season of life in all its messy reality. And still thrive

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

As we wrap up, I hope the ideas we’ve talked through today leave you with, well, a sense of clarity. Maybe even just one thing—a small shift to carry into your hours ahead. Because, you know, it’s those small, deliberate choices that often make the biggest difference.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

And remember, productivity, it isn’t about squeezing every last drop of energy to tick off some never-ending list. It’s about aligning your hours with your values, your priorities. I hope, as you move through the week, you find ways to honor your own rhythm—even if it’s just for a moment.

Dr. Elizabeth Blakelock

Thank you for joining me here on Periodically Productive—a small space for big reflections. Until next time, I hope your hours are filled with purpose, and your days are shaped by what matters most to you. I’ll see you next time.