Let’s talk about decoupling time.
Be honest: there’s something deeply unsexy about being tied to a time slot. Whether it’s a Monday morning meeting at 09:00 sharp or a «quick call» that’s anything but, time-based obligations can quietly wreck your productivity – and your mood.
Yet we often structure our workdays like we’re still in factory shifts from the 50s. Clock in, sit down, answer the phone, smile in meetings. Meanwhile, deep work, creativity and flow get squeezed into the margins.
So here’s a thought:
What if we stopped letting time boss us around? 🤔
What Does “Decoupling Time” Even Mean?
No, this isn’t about quitting calendars and joining a commune. It’s about shifting work away from rigid time-dependencies and towards flexibility. In simple terms: Do things when it makes the most sense – for you, your brain, and your context.
Instead of saying:
«We have our weekly team call every Tuesday at 10:00»,
we say:
«Let’s document our updates, check in asynchronously, and talk live only when it’s really necessary.»
This isn’t laziness. It’s design.
Why It Matters (And Why It’s Hard)
Time is a weird thing at work. We treat it like money, but we waste it like it’s free. We glorify being “always available” while forgetting that availability doesn’t equal output.
Decoupling time requires trust – in yourself and in your team. That’s the tricky part. Most of us were trained to perform presence, not results.
But the payoff is huge:
- More focus
- Fewer interruptions
- Better work-life flow (because balance is a myth, let’s be honest)
Real-World Examples (from Someone Who’s Actually Tried It)
Let’s talk about a few tools and tactics that genuinely help decouple time – no jargon, no BS.
1. Social Media: Write Once, Post Later
I use Metricool – it’s my little time-shifting machine. Instead of posting manually every day (hello, distraction spiral), I write all my content in one focused block, schedule it, and forget it.
You don’t need to use Metricool specifically. Buffer, Later, Hootsuite – they all do the job. The key idea? Batch it. Schedule it. Walk away.
2. Asynchronous Communication: Email > Call
I’ll say it:
I hate phone calls.
They’re disruptive, inefficient and they force everyone to stop what they’re doing at the exact same time. Which is rarely the best time for anyone involved.
Instead, use email, Slack, Teams, or even Notion comments. Let people reply in their rhythm. It’s not slower – it’s just saner.
Caveat: sometimes you do need to talk live. That’s fine. But let’s not make it the default.
3. Meetings: Kill the Calendar Clutter
There’s a special place in hell for recurring 60-minute meetings with no agenda.
If you must meet, do a stand-up (literally). Ten minutes. Everyone shares what’s up. No chairs. No slides. Done.
And please: cancel meetings that don’t serve a real purpose. You’re allowed.
The Tool That Makes It All Work: A Shared Task Manager
Here’s the glue: a transparent, shared, living to-do list. Without it, async work falls apart.
✅ At Get More Brain, we use ClickUp. It lets us:
- Track who’s doing what
- Chat right inside tasks
- Share updates without pinging each other constantly
- Start ad-hoc meetings only when needed
You can use whatever works:
✅ Trello (great for visual thinkers),
✅ Microsoft Planner (for the Office 365 crowd),
✅ Asana, Notion, Todoist…
Doesn’t matter. What matters is that everyone sees the same thing – and that thing is always up to date.
The Takeaway
Decoupling time isn’t about working less – it’s about working freer.
You’re not a machine on a conveyor belt.
You’re a thinking human who works best in focused bursts, not scattered chunks.
So if you’re feeling constantly “on” but rarely productive, start here:
- Use tools that let you work ahead
- Communicate asynchronously
- Replace meetings with shared task views
- Protect your time like it’s the rare resource it is
And then, go for a walk. Or nap. Or write that idea that’s been lurking in the back of your head. Because when you own your time, your time finally starts working for you.
☕ Now your turn
What’s one thing you could do today to free your time from the clock? Let me know – asynchronously, of course.
