We go to the dentist, get our eyes checked, and get our cars inspected. These regularly scheduled health and safety audits let us know how we’re doing.

But we rarely audit how we spend our time.

Sure, most of us have a calendar. Yet few of us study how these calendar events impact our happiness. We rarely track the connection between what we spend our time doing and how well we’re flourishing.

As a result, we can find ourselves feeling unhappy, frustrated, and what scientists call “time poor.”

Researchers like Cassie Holmes want to change that. They’ve learned there’s a strong connection between how we spend our time and how happy we feel. In her book, Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most, she shares ways we can optimize our calendars for happiness, including ways to avoid distraction, extend joy, create a meaningful schedule, and avoid regret.

Holmes’ tips on time tracking and time auditing are simple and powerful. As the year draws to a close, this may be just the book you’re looking for as we head into a new year.

Episode Links

Having Too Little or Too Much Time is Linked to Lower Subjective Well-being

Our Flawed Pursuit of Happiness – and How to Get It Right

A Valuable Lesson for a Happier Life (video)

Trust by Hernan Diaz

The Team

Learn more about host, Gayle Allen, and producer, Rob Mancabelli, here.

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CM 229: Cassie Holmes on Happiness, Meaning, and Fulfillment

Curious Minds at Work