Einstein Was Right—Time Is Relative, But That Won’t Fix Your Schedule
Practical ways to get more done without bending the laws of physics.
I want whatever ChatGPT was using when it created this image.
There’s always that one person who seems to effortlessly balance a packed schedule while you struggle to stay afloat. They have a thriving career, multiple hobbies, a solid fitness routine, an active social life, and still manage to sleep eight hours a night. Meanwhile, you’re just trying to figure out how the day disappeared. How do they do it? Did they crack the space-time continuum?
Time May Be Relative, But We All Get 24 Hours
Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity popularized the idea that time is, well, relative. It means that the passage of time depends on your frame of reference 1 . But unless you're traveling at near-light speeds, time should feel like it's passing at the same rate for everyone. And yet, some people seem to stretch their hours while others barely keep up.
The secret isn’t magic. It’s two things: being brutally honest about how long things actually take and structuring daily routines efficiently.
Most of us are terrible at estimating time. We consistently underestimate how long a task will take, which leads to packed schedules, missed deadlines, and that constant feeling of playing catch-up. Studies in psychology have shown that when we reflect on past tasks, we tend to think they took less time than they actually did. Our brains focus on the best-case scenario instead of reality 2.
If you doubt it, try this: time yourself doing a routine task. Don’t set a goal beforehand, just track it and see how your expectations compare to reality. Chances are, you’ll be surprised.
That hyper-productive friend? They’re just better at estimating time realistically and planning around it.
How to Make Time Work for You
Here are some practical ways to reclaim your time without needing a PhD in physics.
1. Batch Cooking: Stop Losing Hours in the Kitchen
Cooking takes more time than we realize. Even making a sandwich can easily take 30 minutes when you factor in prep and cleaning. If you cook a hot meal every evening, that adds up to 8+ hours a week just on dinner alone.
Batch cooking is a game-changer. Instead of cooking daily, you prepare all your meals for the week in one go and freeze them. A well-planned batch cooking session takes about 2 hours and can cover meals for up to two weeks.
Of course, there are trade-offs. You might eat similar meals for a few days, or need to plan extra time for variety. But it can significantly free up your evenings. If you don’t like cooking, some meal prep services do this for you—cheaper than eating out, but pricier than cooking yourself.
2. Groceries: Automate the Errands
A typical grocery run takes about 2 hours when you include travel time. That’s a lot of lost time each week.
Many supermarkets now offer online ordering and delivery. You can even set up recurring lists for staples, cutting your grocery run from two hours to 15 minutes.
A small caveat: delivery fees add up, and fresh produce can sometimes be disappointing. But if time is more valuable to you than the extra cost, this swap is worth considering.
3. Cleaning: Work Smarter, Not Harder
Cleaning is one of the most time-consuming tasks people outsource—and for good reason. If hiring help isn’t an option, increasing efficiency is key.
One trick? Clean by task, not by room. Instead of deep-cleaning one room at a time, tackle a single task across all rooms. Dust every surface, then vacuum everything, then wipe down countertops. It’s much faster than resetting for each room.
Another trick: Use tech to your advantage. A robotic vacuum can clean your floors while you tidy up elsewhere. Investing in a good vacuum, mop, or multi-purpose cleaner can cut cleaning time significantly.
4. Commuting: Minimize Wasted Travel Time
Most people use their commute for entertainment (podcasts, music, social media), but there’s another optimization: bundling your routes.
Instead of going home between work and evening plans, can you go straight from one to the other? Can you work remotely on days when your plans are closer to home? Finding a gym near your office or a co-working space near social events can eliminate unnecessary travel.
Since commuting time directly impacts quality of life, minimizing it can make or break habits like going to the gym or seeing friends after work.
5. Freeing Up (Mental) Clutter
A cluttered space makes it harder to focus, and the same goes for a cluttered mind. Ever find yourself wasting time searching for a document, a to-do list, or even just trying to remember what you needed to do?
Digital clutter matters, too. An overflowing email inbox, a chaotic desktop, or a messy downloads folder all slow you down. With modern operating systems, file names matter more than folders—so name things clearly instead of relying on organization. Use filters, labels, and sorting tools to make important information easier to find.
But the biggest game-changer? Writing things down.
Our brains aren’t great at remembering minor tasks. Instead of keeping everything in your head, jot down anything you need to do as soon as it comes to mind. Use a notes app, a to-do list, or even a sticky note—as long as it’s somewhere you’ll actually see it. I personally use Google Tasks and Calendar.
This simple habit does two things: (1) You won’t forget tasks, and (2) Crossing them off gives a sense of progress.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need Einstein to tell you that time feels relative. Some people seem to have more of it because they plan realistically and eliminate unnecessary inefficiencies.
Mastering time isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters efficiently. Small tweaks can free up hours in your week, giving you more time for the things that actually make life fulfilling.
And the best part? No physics degree required.
A Matter of Time. Part of Einstein Exhibition. https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/einstein/time/a-matter-of-time
Frankenhaeuser, M. (1959). Estimation of time: An experimental study. Almquist and Wiksell.
Great addition! Indeed, our energy is limited and we need to employ it to our favor. Social media is a great example of how to waste precious energy.
Your tips about timing how long tasks take is spot on. There is a thing called time blindness which many people have, and people with ADHD are especially prone to it.
It means you find it difficult to estimate how long things take but you also don't allow for things going wrong. Bringing deadlines forward to allow for issues that may arise is also a hack.
So, if you have to get something done by Friday, set yourself a false deadline for Tuesday.