We often go about our days completely unaware of how we fritter away our time. Going through motions and constantly rushing, we forget to stop and look at how much time things take up. Laura Vanderkam, time management expert, suggests that tracking our time is the first step to taking control of it. This mindful approach to time will allow you to spend it the way you want.

Vanderkam’s own continuous time-tracking revealed “blind spots”: she was working 40 hours weekly, not the 50 she’d assumed, and spending seven hours each week simply sitting in her car. This forced mindfulness transformed her relationship with time. Paradoxically, if you want to feel “off the clock” and enjoy time freedom, you’ve got to become disciplined about time.

In 2017, the author recruited more than 900 employed parents with children under 18 for a time-use study. This study revealed insights about people who feel they have enough time. These people approached each day with conscious planning, taking charge of their schedules rather than leaving them to chance. For example, they built adventures into ordinary Mondays and got rid of self-imposed burdens such as constant connectivity. People who felt relaxed about time also checked their phones far less frequently.

A good example of meticulous time tracking is school principal Robert Kauffman. With the help of the National SAM Innovation Project, Kauffman learned how to invest his valuable time as a principal. He discovered he was spending only 39% of his time on high-value instructional leadership. By actively tending his schedule (establishing “Teaching Tuesdays,” delegating lower-value tasks, and leaving intentional white space), he increased this to 51%. As a result, he had time for meaningful work.

Here are some tips to help you become more mindful of your time. Firstly, question the stories you tell yourself. Many individuals attach their egos to numbers, like those who emphasize how many hours they work. But if you’re meeting your goals, the exact hour count doesn’t matter. Endurance and consistency matter much more for productivity.

Try designing your “realistic ideal day.” Include in it the elements that matter most to you, such as meaningful work, connection, rest, and something just for you. You won’t hit it every day, but aiming for it changes how you choose. Each Friday, ask yourself: “What would make next week meaningful?”