Six Time Traps You Didn’t Know Were Sabotaging Your Happiness

Every day, you fall into invisible traps that steal your time and sap your joy. In 'Time Smart,' Ashley Whillans identifies six of the most insidious: the technology trap, where constant notifications splinter your attention; the money focus trap, where you chase more income at the expense of time; undervaluing your own hours, like driving across town to save a few dollars; busyness as a badge of honor, equating exhaustion with status; idleness aversion, where you fill every gap with activity; and the notorious 'Yes...Damn!' effect, overcommitting to future plans you’ll later regret. Each of these traps is supported by research and real-life stories. For instance, studies show that even brief interruptions—like checking your phone during a meal—can make leisure time feel less restorative. Millionaires, surprisingly, often feel more time-poor than others because their time feels more valuable and thus more scarce. And in today’s culture, being busy is seen as a sign of success, pushing people to pack every hour with activity.

But these traps aren’t inevitable. The first step is awareness: notice when you’re about to say yes out of obligation, or when you’re mindlessly scrolling instead of connecting. Ask yourself: Is this really how I want to spend my precious hours? By unmasking these hidden habits, you can start to make small changes that add up to big results. In the next blog, we’ll dive into practical ways to find, fund, and reframe your time, turning everyday routines into opportunities for joy.