Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life

Escape Time Poverty and Design a Life Rich in Meaning, Happiness, and Control

“Time Smart” confronts a modern epidemic: time poverty. Ashley Whillans reveals that the majority of adults feel overwhelmed, constantly busy, and chronically short on time—and that this stress damages happiness more than even unemployment. Drawing on extensive behavioral science and psychology research, the book explains how feeling time-poor reduces joy, productivity, health, and relationship satisfaction. Instead of offering vague productivity tips, Whillans introduces the concept of “time affluence”—the feeling that you have enough time to do what truly matters. Through practical examples, such as reducing mindless phone use or outsourcing draining tasks, she demonstrates how small strategic changes can reclaim lost hours.