Analyzing Time-Use Patterns

🧠 How To Reduce Cognitive Load In UX. How people make choice, how to make products less demanding — and dismantling some UX myths ↓ 🤔 People go through a huge number of choices every day. ✅ We’re very efficient in scanning, skimming and skipping. ✅ Users often rely on small “islands” of sections to use daily. ✅ Experts often prefer to see all options or features at once. ✅ People are happier by choosing from a small set of choices. 🤔 The biggest challenge isn’t managing too many options. ✅ The problem is how poorly organized these options are. ✅ It’s also having too many *similar* options to choose from. 🤔 Similar options → users get confused, frustrated, paralyzed. 🚫 Number of clicks/taps are poor indicators of good/bad UX. 🚫 Don’t enforce users to keep information in working memory. ✅ Avoid sliding panels/overlays: show content in split screens. ✅ Run card sorting on features, filters, attributes, menu items. ✅ Break down complex decisions in a set of smaller decisions. ✅ Flows with more pages might work better than 1 single page. UX is filled with confusing misconceptions and myths. Beware of the “3-clicks-rule” as users typically don’t mind an extra click if it’s clear and predictable — and as long as it’s not repetitive or slows down their daily workflow. Also, don’t rely on “7±2 rule” for navigation: it’s not about the number of navigation items, but how many of those we have to keep in our working memory. People don’t always use your product the way you imagined they would. In fact, it's common to see people using only small portions of a complex product frequently — almost identifying small islands of clarity that help them in their daily work, while avoiding obscure or daunting parts of the product because they haven’t managed to learn how to use them yet. But once they do learn how to use them, their efficiency grows, and so do their expectations of how customizable, flexible and sophisticated the feature should be. There, it's not about the number of features or clicks or taps or how many items they can keep in their working memory. It's about a highly accurate mapping of how people think and how the interface works. And: expert software must be complex as it must match the complexity of the real world. It requires a vast number of attributes, settings, views, panels, data points. However, complex products don’t have to be complicated in use if they make sense to end users, and they can be proficient with them. There, the worst thing we can do as designers is to oversimplify. We shouldn’t assume that people always struggle with complexity. They struggle with products they don’t understand. They also learn products and navigational paths over time, making tremendous progress in just a few days. Help users avoid confusion and make fewer mistakes, and they will use even complex products effortlessly over time. [Sources and resources in the comments below ↓]

If you feel like you’re sprinting through the curriculum you’re not alone. 🏃♂️ But here’s the catch: Cognitive science says fast teaching doesn’t equal deep learning. Cognitive Load Theory (Sweller, 1988) reminds us that the brain’s working memory is limited. When we overload it, learning stalls no matter how great the content is. This isn’t just about students. It’s about teacher sustainability too. So many of us are under pressure to “cover everything.” But here’s the truth: Trying to do too much leads to shallow learning and teacher burnout. What works better? Teaching with the brain in mind: • Chunking content into manageable parts (Miller, 1956; 7±2 rule) • Using worked examples to reduce extraneous load (Sweller, 2006) • Providing pause time so students can consolidate and process • Eliminating distractions—less “busywork,” more focus • Building schemas through repetition, connection, and reflection • Focusing on one learning intention at a time As Willingham (2009) puts it: “Memory is the residue of thought.” We must give students time to think deeply not rush to the next thing. Slow learning is strong learning. Let’s ditch the overload and create space for what really matters: Clarity. Connection. Purpose. And yes - our own wellbeing too. #CognitiveLoadTheory #EvidenceBasedTeaching #TeacherWellbeing #DeepLearning #PrimaryTeaching #CurriculumDesign #BrainBasedLearning #EducationResearch #NeuroaffirmingPractice #LessIsMore

You're the bottleneck in your own business. Yesterday someone asked me how I stopped being everywhere at once in my company. Hard truth. Gently said— You're not irreplaceable. You just haven't taught anyone to replace you. Here's how to "Buy back your time". (hat tip to Dan Martell) Step 1: Time Audit Track every task for a week. Not what you think you do. What you actually do. That Instagram scroll? Write it down. That "quick" email that took 47 minutes? Document it. That client revision you should've delegated? Note it. Step 2: Create Your Escape Plan (SOPs) Record yourself doing the task. Loom. iPhone. Whatever. Just hit record and narrate your thinking. "I'm choosing this font because..." "I always check this metric first because..." "When clients say X, I respond with Y because..." Your brain on video. Your process in pixels. As Dan says, Camcorder yourself. Step 3: The Three-Phase Handoff Phase 1: "Watch me" They observe. Take notes. Ask questions. You're still doing. They're learning. Phase 2: "Let's do it together" They drive. You navigate. Supervised practice with immediate feedback. Phase 3: "You've got this" They own it. Random quality checks. Only escalate when stuck. This isn't delegation. This is how you clone yourself. The result? They get agency. You get freedom. The business gets systems. Most founders think they're protecting quality by doing everything themselves. You're not. You're protecting your ego. Your business shouldn't need you to function. It should need you to grow. Big difference. What task are you doing this week that someone else should be doing next month? Name it. Own it. Then delegate it. Small Business Builders #smallbusinessmentor #businessgrowth #delegation #buybackyourtime

What if you stopped working 48 hours before your project deadline?   This project management chart perfectly captures what happens to most teams. We laugh because it's painfully true.   But what if there was a way to avoid that chaotic "Project Reality" scenario altogether?   When I was a child, we would all be cramming the day before our school tests. During lunch breaks on test days, the school playground transformed into a sea of anxious children muttering facts while neglecting their parathas.   Then I witnessed something that would change my approach to deadlines.   The day before a major exam, I visited my neighbour to borrow her notes. I found her calmly playing carrom. "I never open my books 48 hours before an exam," she said with serene confidence.   I was shocked. Her grades? Consistently stellar.   This simple philosophy transformed my approach to project management:   Always allocate a 20% time buffer at the end of every project, during which no work is scheduled.   This buffer isn't for work. It's for reflection, quality improvements, and the strategic thinking that transforms good deliverables into exceptional ones.   Here are some benefits I have observed using this approach:   ▪️That last tweak in the colour or button dramatically improves UI ▪️Rework requests sharply decline ▪️Sales pitches achieve better outcomes ▪️The final touches which introduce the personalised elements help build strong customer relationships ▪️Board is much more engaged in the conversation and approvals go through smoothly ▪️Output is significantly streamlined and simplified multiplying impact ▪️Less stress all around   Do teams initially resist this approach? Absolutely.   "We're wasting productive time," or "the client/board doesn't need the material so much in advance of the meeting" are the common complaints.   But as teams experience the dramatic quality improvements and the elimination of those dreaded last-minute fire drills, attitudes change.   The next time you're planning a project, fight the urge to schedule work until the very last minute. Those final breathing spaces are where excellence happens.   Have you tried an unconventional deadline management strategy - do share!   #projectmanagement #leadership #execution #productivityhacks

When someone lands on your site, every extra word, button, or menu is a cognitive tax. Take this landing page comparison: Attio - keeps the load light • One navigation bar • 12 words in total for the header + sub-header • 9 clickable exits above the fold • Lots of whitespace • Sneak peak at product imagery The result = focus 🧘♀️ HubSpot - seems to have many cooks in the kitchen • Two navigation bars at the top • 50% more words (24 words in the header + subheader) • 13 clickable exits above the fold • Bigger chat widgets • Lifestyle imagery instead of whitespace The result = distraction 🐿️ With busier pages comes higher cognitive load, the paradox of choice, and decision paralysis 🧠 In real terms: if someone pauses even a split second more and doesn’t act, they’re more likely to bounce. And this isn’t just true for landing pages - it applies to pricing pages, homepages, dashboards… anywhere with competing priorities 👩🍳 👩🍳 👩🍳 It’s easy to add, hard to cut. ✂️ Good design isn’t what you add, it’s what you remove (or don't add in the first place). So ask yourself: What's the 30% you can remove from your page? 🗑️

Are you losing 40 hours a week on the wrong tasks? Reclaim your time with these practical steps: The 80/20 Mindset Shift: Identify the 20% of tasks driving 80% of your success. Track your time for two weeks, then focus on the vital 20%. Reclaim up to 20 hours weekly. Escape Energy Vampires: Ditch time-draining meetings, especially in the morning. Prioritize clear agendas and action points for important ones. Gain back 10 hours weekly. Calculate Your True Hourly Rate: Evaluate your time’s real value. Calculate your actual hourly rate for non-critical tasks. Save 5 hours a week by eliminating/delegating lower-value work. Cultivate Systems Thinking: Goals are static; systems build momentum. Implement systems for repetitive tasks like lead gen and content creation. Save over 5 hours per week as systems evolve. The Grand Total: Reclaim 40+ hours weekly for crucial priorities. It’s like unlocking a whole workweek. Invest in systems, audits, and asynchronicity, and your greatest ROI emerges: time. 🚀 #TimeManagement #ProductivityHacks #UnlockYourWeek

Work is evolving. The data show us where to focus: => Remote workers aren't thriving. => FIXED ONSITE employees are struggling. New Gallup Global Workplace: 2025 Report shares data to guide where to improve employee experiences and achieve better results. Remote workers need more support--better management and sense of belonging through culture and connection. Hybrid employees are clearly also experiencing high stress which needs addressing. However, notice the data for fixed onsite workers: - Only 19% are engaged - the lowest by far - Only 30% are thriving - the lowest by far FLEXIBILITY is essential for EVERY worker. More autonomy is necessary and possible for ALL onsite workers with different options depending on the role. Flexibility for onsite workers means more: - Shift patterns and options; - Staggered start and end times; - Rotating shifts and compressed workweeks; - Shift swapping; - Floaters and part-time schedules; - Job-sharing to fulfill a full-time role; - Phased retirement and on-demand labor; - Choice of vacation timing. Manufacturing, retail, and hospitality examples: - Land O'Lakes, Inc.: Introduced “flex work” program in 60 of 140 facilities, allowing factory workers to set their schedules vs rigid 12-hour shifts. - RICK STEIN RESTAURANTS: Flexible careers scheme allows staff (all ages and experience levels)to work as little as one shift per week. -Pets at Home (UK): Offers job-sharing and part-time options for store managers supported by manager training and explicit policies. Humans thrive with more autonomy, wherever they work. What greater workplace flexibility can your company offer every worker so that your workforce and business can thrive more?

Here’s another Pinterest image circulating SM designed to motivate you, but it falls short of any real value. Here’s why. Yesterday, a client of mine sent me the attached photo of this "List of Habits" and asked me for my opinion. My answer in one word:  Garbage. We've all seen that specific list of daily habits, "you're ahead of 99% of the population,” yada yada (and yada). Let’s debunk “The 99% Club Myth” once and for all and examine what the research shows: 1) "Deep Work: 4 hours daily" ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸: According to Microsoft's 2023 Work Trend Index, 69% of employees struggle to find enough time for deep work. 💡 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱: Schedule two 60-minute distraction-free blocks daily (phone off, notifications disabled, door closed) rather than chasing the elusive 4-hour goal. 2.) "10,000 Steps Daily" ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸: A 2023 JAMA Open study found that Americans average 4,800 steps daily. Only 7% of U.S. adults consistently achieve 10,000+ steps. 💡 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱: Focus on consistency by adding just 1,000 steps to your current baseline, then working up gradually, to reach health gains occurring between 4,000-7,500 steps. 3.) "Exercise 3x Weekly" ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸: The 2023 American Heart Association Statistical Update shows just 24.2% of adults engage in adequate leisure-time physical activity. 💡 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱: Anchor physical activity to existing daily routines (like a 7-minute strength circuit after brushing teeth) to bypass motivation entirely. 4.) "Save 20% Per Paycheck" ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸: According to The Bureau of Economic Analysis, the January 2024 report shows the current personal savings rate at 3.8%. 💡 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱: Automate a 5% savings contribution now (which already beats the national average), then increase by 1% every six months until you reach your target. 5.) "Sleep 8 Hours" ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸: Gallup's 2023 sleep survey found Americans average 6.8 hours nightly, with only 31% regularly achieving 8+ hours. 💡 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱: Create a non-negotiable 30-minute wind-down ritual (no screens, dim lights, same time nightly) that signals your brain it's time to transition to rest. 6.) "Read 10 Pages Daily" ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸: Pew Research Center's 2023 reading survey found that 30% of Americans report not reading a book in the past year. Statista's 2023 media consumption data shows Americans spend an average of just 16.2 minutes daily reading books or e-books. 💡 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱: Place a book where you waste time (next to your phone charger, bathroom, TV remote) and commit to reading just one page before engaging with the distraction. 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧: Creating unrealistic standards doesn't motivate—it discourages. The reality is that consistent, moderate #habits serve most people better than arbitrary perfection. Coaching can help; let's chat. Follow Joshua Miller

During a recent conversation with a dear friend Vivek Agrawal, a fascinating concept emerged that truly captivated me: the ROI of time. Have you ever considered the return on investment (ROI) of the time you spend each day? We often measure ROI in terms of money, but what about our most valuable resource – time? Why should we consider the ROI of time? 1.⁠ ⁠Time is finite: Unlike money, time is a limited resource. Once spent, it can never be regained. How are you spending your limited minutes and hours? 2.⁠ ⁠Prioritization: Evaluating the ROI of our time helps us prioritize tasks that provide the most value. What activities are truly worth your time? 3.⁠ ⁠Productivity boost: Focusing on high-ROI activities can significantly enhance productivity. Are you focusing on what truly matters? 4.⁠ ⁠Balanced life: Considering the ROI of time encourages a balanced approach, ensuring we allocate time to activities that promote well-being and happiness. Are you investing your time in things that bring you joy? Tips to maximize the ROI of your time: 1.⁠ ⁠Set clear goals: Define what you want to achieve in various areas of your life. 2.⁠ ⁠Evaluate activities: Regularly assess if your activities contribute to your goals. 3.⁠ ⁠Time blocking: Allocate specific time slots for high-ROI tasks. 4.⁠ ⁠Learn to say no: Not every opportunity is worth your time. 5.⁠ ⁠Continuous improvement: Regularly review and adjust how you spend your time. Example: I realized I was spending too much time on unproductive meetings. By cutting down unnecessary meetings and focusing on key projects, I can save several hours each week, which I can now use for strategic planning and personal growth. This shift will significantly improve the ROI of my time. Applying this mindset has been truly mesmerizing. It has not only improved my productivity but also brought a sense of balance to my life. What steps are you taking to maximize the ROI of your time? #ROIofTime #TimeManagement #Productivity #LifeBalance #PersonalGrowth

🚨Flex work isn't fading. But the gap between policy and reality is widening. Leaders of distributed teams - take note. The latest Flex Index report gives data-driven insights to reveal what’s really going on. Here’s what you need to know: 📊 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺. 67% of U.S. companies still offer work location flexibility.  “Structured Hybrid” leads at 43%, while only 33% are mandating full-time in-office work. 🏢 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻-𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. 35% of firms with 500-5,000 employees require full-time in-office. Yet 70% of companies with <500 employees remain Fully Flexible. 📅 𝗜𝗻-𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽. On average, required office days went from 2.49 to 2.82 over the past year. 📈 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. Companies say they want people in office more (+10% vs Q1 2024), but actual attendance? It’s barely moved (< +2%). 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀? 👉 Being in the office doesn’t mean being connected - you are likely still working with people in other locations. 👉 Structured hybrid requires structured leadership development - not just policy. 👉 Culture and collaboration don’t follow mandates. They follow skills. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙛? Instead of focusing energy on “getting people back to the office”… What if we invested in upskilling people to work better from wherever they are on any given day?   📉 Global Workplace Analytics research shows that only 23% of companies have provided training on the skills and best practices to work effectively in hybrid, distributed, and remote environments.   It’s time to build a new leadership muscle... 𝗢𝗺𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 - the ability to be equally effective at communicating, connecting, collaborating, and influencing when: ✅ Fully in-person ✅ In a hybrid setting (either in the location majority or location minority) ✅ Fully remote And being able to transition between modes, even within a single day! (check out the comments for more on this concept)   𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘻𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘺𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴? 🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗤𝟮 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘅 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: https://lnkd.in/ehr3H-YD Note: Flex Index is now under the trusted stewardship of my colleague and future of work expert, Brian Elliott!