Time Hacks: The psychology of time and how to spend it

Description

Time Hacks: The Psychology of Time and How to Spend It by Ian Taylor is a fascinating, thought-provoking, and deeply practical exploration of one of the most universal yet profoundly misunderstood aspects of human experience — time. Published by Piatkus in 2025, this engaging 288-page paperback draws on the latest research in psychology, behavioural science, and cognitive neuroscience to reveal the hidden forces that shape how we perceive, experience, and ultimately use the time we have.

Ian Taylor, a respected psychologist and expert in human performance and wellbeing, approaches the subject of time not merely as a scheduling or productivity problem but as a deeply psychological one. In Time Hacks, he makes the compelling case that our relationship with time — how we think about it, feel about it, and respond to it — has a profound impact on our happiness, productivity, health, and sense of meaning. And crucially, that relationship can be changed.

The book takes readers on an illuminating journey through the psychology of time perception, exploring why time seems to fly when we are enjoying ourselves and drag when we are bored or anxious, why we consistently underestimate how long tasks will take, why we procrastinate even when we know better, and why so many of us feel perpetually rushed despite having the same 24 hours as everyone else. Through these insights, Taylor helps readers understand not just how time works, but how their own minds shape their experience of it.

What truly sets Time Hacks apart is its emphasis on practical, evidence-based strategies — or “hacks” — that readers can immediately apply to reclaim a sense of control, presence, and intentionality in their daily lives. From reframing how we think about deadlines and leisure to building habits that expand our sense of available time, each chapter delivers actionable insights grounded in real psychological science rather than generic productivity advice.

Taylor also explores the deeper, more philosophical dimensions of time — the importance of living in the present moment, the role of memory in shaping our sense of a life well lived, and how investing time in experiences, relationships, and purpose leads to a richer and more fulfilling existence. The result is a book that is as nourishing for the soul as it is useful for the mind.

Whether you feel constantly overwhelmed by busyness, struggle with procrastination, wish you could slow down and savour life more fully, or simply want to make better use of the hours you have, Time Hacks offers a genuinely fresh, scientifically grounded, and deeply engaging perspective on how to spend your most precious and non-renewable resource — your time.

• Author: Ian Taylor
• Publisher: Piatkus (2025)
• Pages: 288
• Language: English
• Format: Paperback
• ISBN-13: 9780349440217