Shadowing Practice: Stop Wasting Your Time and Start Taking Control | English Listening Practice (B1–B2) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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1
Hey, hey, hey!
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Stop right there!
3
Wait, why?
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What happened?
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I have one question for you.
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Just one question.
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Okay, what is it?
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What did you do yesterday, all day, from morning to night?
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Hmm… I woke up, I had breakfast, then I… watched a few videos online, and then… And then?
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And then I watched a few more videos, and then… I don't know, the day was just… gone.
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Gone!
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The whole day, gone!
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Yes, gone.
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Like magic, but bad magic.
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Bad magic.
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I love that.
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But yes, that is exactly what we are talking about today.
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Time.
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Wasting time.
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And how to stop it.
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If you have ever looked at the clock and thought, where did my day go?
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Then this video is for you.
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And if you have never felt that way, are you even human?
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Stay with us, because today we are going to help you take back your time.
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And while you listen, you are also practicing your English.
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Two things at the same time.
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Now that is not wasting time.
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Let's go.
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Okay, Alice, let's start at the beginning.
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Simple question.
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What does it mean to waste time?
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Good question.
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To waste time means to use your time on things that are not important.
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Things that don't help you.
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Things that don't make your life better.
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Exactly.
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Let me say that again slowly.
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Yes, let's say it slowly.
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To waste time means to use your time on things that are not important.
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Things that don't help you.
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Things that don't make your life better.
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For example, watching videos online for five hours.
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Like someone we know.
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Yes, like someone we know very well.
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But wait, is watching videos always wasting time?
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Oh, that is a very good question, David.
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Thank you, I try.
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Sometimes watching videos is useful, like watching English lessons.
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That is not wasting time.
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That's right.
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Watching this video right now, not wasting time.
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Good job, everyone.
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But watching funny cat videos for three hours when you have important work to do?
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That might be wasting time.
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That might be wasting time, yes.
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So the key question is, is what I am doing right now helping me, or am I just passing time?
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Passing time.
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Oh, I want to explain that phrase.
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Please do.
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Passing time means doing something just because you are bored.
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You are not really enjoying it you are not really learning anything.
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You are just waiting for something else.
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Like waiting at the airport and looking at your phone for two hours.
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Yes, that is passing time.
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Okay, so we have two phrases now.
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Let's say them together.
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Ready?
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Wasting time, using your time on unimportant things.
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Passing time, doing something just to feel less bored.
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Both of these can be problems, but wasting time is usually the bigger problem.
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Why?
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Because when you waste time, you often feel bad after you feel guilty, you feel like you did nothing.
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Oh yes, that feeling.
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You know that feeling?
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That feeling when it is 10 o 'clock at night and you think, I had so many plans today and I did nothing.
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That feeling is not good.
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No, it is not.
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But the good news is you can change it.
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Yes, and that is what this whole video is about.
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So let's keep going okay david
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so before we talk about how to stop wasting time i want to understand why we waste time great idea
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because if we understand the reason it is easier to fix the problem exactly
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so why do people waste time there are many reasons
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but let's talk about the most common ones the most common
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reasons okay reason number one no plan no plan say more about
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that when you wake up in the morning and you have no plan, no list, no goals, nothing.
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What happens?
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You just do whatever feels easy.
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Right.
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And what feels easy?
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Picking up your phone, watching something, eating snacks.
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Exactly.
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Easy things, not important things.
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So no plan equals wasting time.
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Oh, that makes sense.
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No plan equals wasting time.
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Let me say that again.
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No plan equals wasting time.
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Good.
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Say it with me everyone at home.
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No plan equals wasting time.
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Okay, what is reason number two?
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Reason number two, feeling tired or overwhelmed.
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Overwhelmed.
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That is a B1 word.
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Let me explain it.
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Please.
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Overwhelmed means you have so many things to do and you feel stressed and you don't know where to start.
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So you do nothing.
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Yes, that is so true.
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When the list is too long, you just close the list And open Instagram instead.
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Exactly.
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And then one hour later, the list is still there.
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The list is still there.
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And now you feel worse.
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So being overwhelmed actually leads to more wasted time.
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Interesting, right?
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Very interesting.
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Okay, reason number three?
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Reason number three, distractions.
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Oh, distractions.
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Big one.
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Very big one.
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What is a distraction?
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A distraction is anything that takes your attention away from what you are doing. For example?
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Your phone buzzing, a message from a friend, a funny noise outside, a new notification.
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Ooh, notification.
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The enemy of focus.
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The enemy of focus.
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I like that.
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Every time you get a notification and you check it, you lose focus, and it takes time to get your focus back.
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How much time?
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Some studies say it can take up to 20 minutes to fully focus again after a distraction.
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20 minutes?
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Just because I checked one message?
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Just because you checked one message?
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That is, that is scary.
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It is scary.
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That is why distractions are so dangerous.
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Okay, any more reasons?
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Yes, one more big one.
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Reason number four, procrastination.
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Ah, procrastination.
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Everyone knows this feeling.
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Procrastination means you delay doing something.
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You say, I will do it later, and later never comes.
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I will start on Monday.
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I will start next week.
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I will start when I feel ready.
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And when do you feel ready?
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Never.
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Never.
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Procrastination is one of the biggest time wasters.
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Why do we procrastinate, though?
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I mean, we know we should do the thing.
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Why don't we just do it?
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Good question.
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Usually, it is because the task feels difficult, scary, or boring.
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So our brain says, let's do something easier and more fun instead.
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Our brain is sometimes not our friend.
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Our brain is trying to protect us, but sometimes it makes bad decisions.
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Okay, so let's review the four reasons.
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Ready?
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Ready.
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Reason one, no plan.
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Reason two, feeling overwhelmed.
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Reason three, distractions.
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Reason four, procrastination.
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These are the four big reasons why people waste time.
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And now we are going to talk about how to fix each one.
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Yes, but first think about yourself.
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Which reason is your biggest problem?
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Oh, that is a good question for everyone listening.
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Which one is your problem?
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Is it no plan, feeling overwhelmed, distractions, or procrastination?
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Think about it, because knowing your problem is the first step to fixing it.
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The first step.
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Okay, let's move to part three.
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Okay, solution number one, making a plan.
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David, how do you make a good plan?
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Great question.
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And I want to say, the plan does not have to be complicated.
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In fact, the simpler, the better.
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Simple as better.
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I like that already.
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Here is what I do.
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Every morning, or even the night before, I write down three things.
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Only three?
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Only three?
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Three important things I want to do that day.
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Not 10 things, not 20 things?
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No, three.
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Because if you write 20 things, you feel overwhelmed before you even start.
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Ah, like we said before, too many things, you do nothing.
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Exactly.
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So, three things, that's it.
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Okay, how do you choose the three things?
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You ask yourself one question.
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What are the most important things I must do today? Must do.
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Not should do or want to do, but must do.
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Right. Must do.
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The things that if you don't do them, your day was not successful.
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Oh, I like that.
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The things that make your day successful.
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Let me give an example.
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Let's say today is Monday.
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What might be on your list?
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Hmm.
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Maybe study English for 30 minutes.
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Good one.
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Maybe finish a work email.
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Good.
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And maybe go for a walk.
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Perfect.
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Three things.
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Simple, clear, possible.
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Possible.
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That is important.
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Don't write impossible things on your list.
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Like, today I will learn five languages and build a house.
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Yes, that is not a good plan.
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Realistic goals.
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Small realistic goals.
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Okay, so write three important realistic things every morning.
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And then do them before you do anything else.
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Before you check your phone?
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Before you check your phone.
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Ooh, that is hard.
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It is hard, but it is so powerful.
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Why?
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Because when you finish even one important thing in the morning, you feel good.
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You feel motivated.
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You want to keep going.
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That good feeling helps you do more.
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Exactly.
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Psychologists call this eating the frog.
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Eating the frog?
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What does that mean?
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It means do your most difficult or most important task first.
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Get it done.
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Then the rest of the day feels easy.
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Eat the frog first.
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Interesting.
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I don't like frogs, but I understand the idea.
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You don't have to eat a real frog.
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It's just an expression.
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Okay, good.
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So plan your day three important things.
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Do the hardest one first.
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That is the planned strategy.
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Simple and effective.
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Let's go to the next one.
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Okay, solution number two.
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How to deal with feeling overwhelmed.
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Oh, this one is personal for me.
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Tell me more.
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Sometimes I have so many things to do at work, at home, with my studies, and I just feel frozen.
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Frozen, like you can't move.
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Exactly.
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Like I am standing in front of a huge mountain and I don't know how to climb it.
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That is a perfect way to describe it.
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A huge mountain.
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And what do I do?
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I sit down and look at my phone.
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The mountain is still there.
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The mountain is always still there.
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Okay, so how do we deal with this?
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Tell me, please.
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The answer is simple, but it requires a small change in thinking.
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Okay, I'm listening.
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Stop looking at the whole mountain.
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Look at just one step.
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One step.
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Just one.
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Not the whole mountain, not even the middle.
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Just the very first step.
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Hmm, give me an example.
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Okay, let's say you need to clean your whole apartment.
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The whole apartment is the mountain.
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It feels huge, too big.
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So instead of thinking, I need to clean everything, you think?
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I need to clean… the table.
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Just the table.
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That's it.
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One table.
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Start there.
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And what happens when you clean the table?
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You feel a little better.
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And then maybe you clean the chair next to the table.
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And then maybe the floor near the table.
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And before you know it… The whole room is clean.
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Because you started with just one step.
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Exactly.
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The hardest part is always starting.
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Once you start, it gets easier.
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The hardest part is starting.
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Say that again.
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The hardest part is always starting.
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Once you start, it gets easier.
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I really believe that.
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Me too.
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And there is a great technique for this.
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It is called the two -minute rule.
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Two -minute rule.
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Tell me.
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The two -minute rule says, if something takes less than two minutes to do, do it now.
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Do not wait.
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Do not put it on a list.
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Just do it.
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Two minutes.
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Like sending a quick message?
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Yes.
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Sending a message.
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Washing one cup.
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Putting your shoes in the right place.
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Small things.
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Small things.
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And when you do small things immediately, your life feels less messy, less overwhelming.
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Because the small things don't pile up.
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Exactly.
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Pile up.
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That means they don't collect together and become a big problem.
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Small things can pile up and become a mountain.
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Yes.
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So deal with them quickly.
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Okay.
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I love the two -minute rule and the one -step idea.
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Simple tools, big results.
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Simple tools, big results.
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I'm writing that down.
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Good.
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Okay.
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Part five.
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Distractions.
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My personal enemy.
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The enemy of everyone.
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So, David, I want to be honest.
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When I am trying to work or study, my phone is right there.
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And it calls to me.
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It calls to you?
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Yes.
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Like, it says, Alice, look at me.
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There is a new message.
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There is a funny video.
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And what do you do?
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I look.
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Every single time.
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You are not alone.
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I know.
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But how do I stop?
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OK, here are some real strategies for dealing with distractions.
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Real strategies.
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Good.
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Strategy number one, put your phone in another room.
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Another room?
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Another room.
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Not on your desk.
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Not next to you.
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Another room.
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But what if someone calls me?
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Are you a doctor?
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No. Are you waiting for a very important call?
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Well, probably not.
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Then the call can wait.
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Put the phone in another room for one hour.
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Just one hour.
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One hour without my phone.
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Can you do it?
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I think so.
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Try it.
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You might be surprised.
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Okay, that's strategy one.
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Phone in another room.
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What is strategy two?
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Strategy two, turn off notifications.
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All notifications?
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Not all, but most.
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You don't need to know immediately every time someone likes your photo.
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But what if it is a really good photo?
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The likes will still be there in one hour.
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They are not going anywhere.
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That is true.
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Okay, turn off notifications.
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At least while you are working or studying.
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While working or studying, no notifications.
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Right.
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And strategy three, this one is very powerful.
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Use focus time.
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Focus time?
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What is that?
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Focus time means you decide.
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For the next 25 minutes, I will only do one thing.
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Nothing else.
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Just this one thing.
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25 minutes.
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Why 25?
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There is a famous method called the Pomodoro technique.
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Pomodoro?
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Like the tomato?
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Yes.
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Pomodoro means tomato and Italian.
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The person who invented this technique used a tomato -shaped kitchen timer.
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A tomato timer?
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That is adorable.
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Very adorable, but very effective.
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The method says, work for 25 minutes, then take a 5 -minute break, then work for 25 minutes again.
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So, 25 minutes on, 5 minutes off.
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Exactly.
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It sounds simple, but it works very well.
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Why does it work?
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Because 25 minutes is short enough that your brain says, OK, I can do this.
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It doesn't feel scary.
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It is just 25 minutes.
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And after four rounds, that is four times 25 minutes, you take a longer break.
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Right.
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A 15 or 20 minute break.
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So Pomodoro Technique.
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25 minutes work, five minutes rest.
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Repeat.
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Repeat.
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And turn off all distractions during those 25 minutes.
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Phone away.
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Notifications off.
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Just focus.
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Just focus.
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I feel like I can actually do this.
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You absolutely can.
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Anyone can do 25 minutes.
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Even me?
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Even you, Alice.
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Thank you for believing in me, David.
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Okay.
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Big topic.
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Procrastination.
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How do we stop delaying things?
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Procrastination.
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The king of time wasting.
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The king.
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I agree.
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So why is procrastination so hard to beat?
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Because it feels good in the moment.
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When you avoid a difficult task and do something easy instead, in that moment you feel relieved.
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Relieved means comfortable.
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Like pressure is gone.
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Exactly.
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But only for a moment.
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Because the task is still there.
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And now you feel guilty too.
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Guilty and still have the task.
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Double bad.
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Double bad.
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Good phrase.
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So the pleasure of avoiding the task is short, but the pain of not doing it is long.
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Wow.
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Say that again.
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That is deep.
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The pleasure of avoiding the task is short.
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The pain of not doing it is long.
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Okay.
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I need that on a poster on my wall.
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i'll make you one please do
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so how do we beat procrastination strategy one make the task smaller we talked about this
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but for procrastination specifically the task feels too big too scary
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so you break it into tiny pieces tiny pieces like a
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pizza like a pizza you don't eat a whole pizza in one bite well some people try true
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but normally you eat it one slice at a time One slice at a time.
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I like this metaphor.
468
Same with big tasks.
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One small slice at a time.
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Okay.
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Strategy two?
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Strategy two.
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Remove the option to delay.
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Remove the option.
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What do you mean?
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I mean, set up your environment so that starting is easy and delaying is hard.
477
Example?
478
Okay.
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You want to study English.
480
So the night before, you put your notebook and pen on the table.
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Open your book to the right page.
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Everything is ready.
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So in the morning, you just sit down and start.
484
Yes, there is no excuse.
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Everything is ready.
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You just start.
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But if your notebook is in your bag, your pen is somewhere, your book is on the shelf, then you have to find everything first, and that gives your brain time to say,
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Actually, I'll do it later.
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Actually, let me just check my phone first.
490
Exactly.
491
Make starting easy.
492
Remove the barriers.
493
Remove the barriers.
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Good advice.
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What is strategy three?
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Strategy three.
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Use a commitment device.
498
Commitment device.
499
Interesting.
500
What is that?
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A commitment device is something that makes it harder to not do the task.
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It is like creating a consequence for yourself if you don't do it.
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A consequence.
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So if I don't study English today, what happens?
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Well, you can tell a friend.
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I will study for 30 minutes today.
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If I don't, I will buy you coffee.
508
Ooh.
509
Now I have to study because I don't want to buy coffee.
510
Exactly.
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Now there is a cost to procrastinating.
512
So you need someone to hold you accountable.
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Accountable.
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Good word.
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Accountable means someone who checks if you did what you said you would do.
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An accountability partner.
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Yes, an accountability partner.
518
Very powerful.
519
I want one.
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David, will you be my accountability partner?
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Sure.
522
Did you study English today?
523
Um, I'm studying right now.
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Does this count?
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Yes, this counts.
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Good job, Alice.
527
Thank you.
528
Okay, so to stop procrastinating, make the task smaller, make starting easy, and get an accountability partner.
529
Simple, powerful, effective.
530
Okay, David, I want to talk about something that I think a lot of people don't consider as time wasting.
531
Oh, what is that?
532
Saying yes to too many things.
533
Oh, yes, this is a big one.
534
So imagine this.
535
Your friend calls you, hey, can you help me move to a new apartment this weekend?
536
You don't really want to, but you say, sure, of course.
537
And then another friend asks, can you come to my party on Saturday?
538
And you say, yes, I will be there.
539
And then your boss says, can you stay late on Friday?
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And you say, no problem.
541
And now your whole weekend is gone.
542
You had plans for yourself, plans to rest, plans to work on your goals, and now they are all gone.
543
Because you said yes to everything yes every yes to someone else is a no to yourself oh say
544
that again that is a powerful sentence every yes to someone else is a no to yourself wow
545
that is really true
546
when you say yes to helping a friend all weekend you
547
are saying no to your own rest your own goals your own plans
548
so learning to say no is a time management skill absolutely saying no kindly
549
and respectfully is one the most important skills for protecting your time.
550
But it is hard.
551
People feel guilty when they say no. Yes, especially if you are a kind, caring person.
552
You don't want to disappoint others.
553
But you end up disappointing yourself.
554
Exactly.
555
So how do we say no without feeling bad?
556
Great question.
557
First, You can say no with kindness.
558
You don't have to be rude.
559
Right.
560
You can say, I'm really sorry, I can't this weekend, but I hope it goes well.
561
That is polite, that is kind, and it is honest.
562
You don't need to give a long explanation.
563
You don't need to make up an excuse.
564
Just, I can't this time, but thank you for thinking of me.
565
Simple, clear, kind.
566
And here's the thing, real friends will understand.
567
Real friends will respect your time.
568
If someone gets angry because you said no politely, what does that tell you?
569
It tells you that maybe that person doesn't really respect you.
570
Hmm, something to think about.
571
Something to think about.
572
So protect your time.
573
Learn to say no. Every yes has a cost.
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Make sure the cost is worth it.
575
Every yes has a cost.
576
Make sure the cost is worth it.
577
I love that.
578
Okay, part eight.
579
This one might surprise you.
580
Oh, I love surprises.
581
Tell me.
582
We are going to talk about time wasters that most people don't even notice.
583
Hidden time wasters.
584
Hidden time wasters.
585
Things that steal your time every day and you think they are normal.
586
Okay, what are they?
587
Number one, checking your phone in the morning, right after you wake up.
588
Oh, I do that.
589
Most people do.
590
You wake up and before you even get out of bed, you check messages, social media, news.
591
It feels like I'm catching up, like I need to know what happened while I was sleeping.
592
But here's the problem.
593
When you start your morning by looking at other people's content, other people's news, opinions, and messages, your mind immediately goes into a reactive state.
594
Reactive?
595
What does that mean here?
596
It means you are reacting to the world, instead of being in control of your own day.
597
You are already thinking about other people's problems before you even had breakfast.
598
Oh, that is actually a big deal.
599
It is a big deal.
600
Many successful people say, don't touch your phone for the first 30 to 60 minutes of your day.
601
30 to 60 minutes?
602
That sounds like a long time.
603
It is.
604
But try it for one week.
605
Just one week.
606
And what do you do instead?
607
You can stretch, drink water, write your three important tasks for the day, eat breakfast and enjoy it, go for a short walk.
608
Actually enjoy the morning actually enjoy the morning start the day on your terms on your terms
609
that means the way you choose right exactly start the day
610
the way you choose not the way your phone chooses i never thought about it like
611
that my phone kind of controls my morning for many people yes
612
and that is a hidden time waster okay hidden time waster number two number two multitasking wait Right, I thought multitasking was good,
613
doing many things at once.
614
That is what many people think, but research shows multitasking actually makes you slower and less effective.
615
Really?
616
Really.
617
Your brain cannot fully focus on two things at the same time.
618
When you try to, you do both things badly.
619
Poorly.
620
You do both things poorly.
621
Poorly, yes.
622
You make more mistakes, you take longer, and you feel more tired.
623
So multitasking is actually a time waster?
624
Yes.
625
Yes.
626
It feels like you are doing more, but you are actually doing less and doing it worse.
627
Wow.
628
Okay.
629
So do one thing at a time.
630
One thing at a time.
631
Full focus.
632
It is called single -tasking.
633
Single -tasking.
634
The opposite of multitasking.
635
And it is much more effective.
636
Okay.
637
Hidden time waster number three.
638
Number three.
639
Meetings that could be emails.
640
Oh, this is for people who work in offices.
641
Yes, you know this feeling.
642
A meeting that is scheduled for one hour, and it could have been a simple message or email.
643
Let's have a meeting to discuss our plans for the meeting.
644
Exactly.
645
Meetings about meetings.
646
That is a real thing.
647
It happens.
648
So, before you agree to a meeting, ask yourself, could this be an email?
649
Could this be a quick message?
650
Do we actually need to sit together for an hour?
651
Sometimes the answer is no. We don't need the meeting.
652
And that saves so much time protect your time from unnecessary meetings
653
and from unnecessary conversations too some people just talk and talk
654
and talk are you talking about me no no you are
655
wonderful Alice good answer David good answer okay we've talked about a lot of strategies
656
but David how do you make these strategies into habits
657
because knowing something and actually doing it every day are very different things oh
658
that is such an important point you are absolutely right i can know all the tips
659
but if i don't use them every day they're useless exactly
660
so how do we build habits yes teach me okay first
661
understand this a habit is something you do automatically without thinking
662
like brushing the keith exactly you don't think about brushing your teeth you just do it every night automatically
663
Because you have done it thousands of times.
664
Right.
665
So the goal is to make good time habits as automatic as brushing your teeth. But how?
666
The key is, start very, very small.
667
Very small.
668
So small that you almost can't fail. For example?
669
If you want to plan your day every morning, don't start by saying, I will write a complete detailed plan every day forever.
670
That sounds scary.
671
Very scary.
672
Instead, say, every morning, I will write just three words.
673
Three words.
674
Three words, like work, walk, study.
675
That's it.
676
That is so easy.
677
Anyone can do that.
678
Exactly.
679
And when something is easy, you actually do it.
680
And when you do it every day for two weeks, it starts to feel normal, automatic.
681
And then you can add more?
682
Yes.
683
Once the habit is there, you can make it bigger.
684
But you start small.
685
Start small, build slowly.
686
There is a great book about this, Atomic Habits by James Clear.
687
He says you don't need to change your life completely.
688
You just need tiny improvements every day.
689
Tiny improvements, like 1 % better every day?
690
Exactly.
691
1 % better every day.
692
After one year, you are not 1 % better.
693
You are 37 times better.
694
37 times from tiny improvements?
695
Because small improvements add up, compound.
696
Over time, small things become big things.
697
Small things become big things.
698
I love that.
699
And another tip for building habits, attach a new habit to an old one.
700
Attach it?
701
What does that mean?
702
It means find something you already do every day and attach the new habit to it.
703
Like a chain.
704
Like a chain.
705
This is called habit stacking.
706
Habit stacking.
707
Give me an example.
708
You already make coffee every morning, right?
709
Every morning, always.
710
So, while the coffee is making, you write your three tasks for the day.
711
Oh, so I attach the new habit, writing tasks, to the old habit, making coffee.
712
Exactly.
713
Every time coffee, also tasks.
714
After a few weeks, it feels like one thing.
715
You can't make coffee without writing your tasks.
716
That is brilliant.
717
Habit stacking.
718
Habit stacking.
719
Try it.
720
I will.
721
I will definitely try it.
722
Let's talk about something interesting now.
723
How do successful people, people who achieve a lot, how do they use their time?
724
Oh, I'm curious.
725
Because I always wonder, how does someone have time to exercise, work, spend time with family, learn new things, and still sleep enough?
726
Right?
727
It seems impossible.
728
It seems like they have more hours in their day.
729
But they don't.
730
Everyone has 24 hours.
731
Exactly.
732
So what is different?
733
The difference is how they use those 24 hours.
734
Okay, tell me, what do successful people do differently?
735
First, they protect their mornings.
736
We talked about this a little bit.
737
Yes.
738
Many successful people have a morning routine.
739
They wake up at a consistent time.
740
They do things that set them up for a good day.
741
Exercise, journaling, reading, planning.
742
They don't start the day randomly.
743
They don't start randomly.
744
They start with intention. With intention?
745
That means with purpose, with a plan.
746
Yes.
747
They decide, this is how my morning will go.
748
And they follow it.
749
Every day?
750
Almost every day.
751
Routine is powerful.
752
Okay, what else do successful people do?
753
Second, they do their most important work during their best hours.
754
Best hours?
755
What does that mean?
756
Different people have different times when their energy and focus are highest.
757
Some people are best in the morning.
758
Some are best in the evening.
759
I am definitely a morning person.
760
After lunch, my brain is slow.
761
The afternoon slump.
762
Yes, I just want to sleep after lunch.
763
So, a morning person like you should do the hardest, most important work in the morning, when your brain is sharp.
764
And save easy tasks like answering emails for the afternoon.
765
Exactly.
766
Match your tasks to your energy.
767
Match tasks to energy.
768
That makes so much sense.
769
Why didn't I think of that?
770
Now you know.
771
Now I know.
772
What else?
773
Third, successful people rest well.
774
Wait, successful people rest?
775
They have time for that?
776
They make time for it.
777
Because they know rest is not the opposite of productivity.
778
Rest is part of productivity.
779
Oh, that is interesting.
780
If you work 15 hours a day without rest, you get tired.
781
Your thinking gets slow, you make mistakes.
782
You are actually less productive.
783
So rest makes you more productive.
784
Real rest.
785
Good sleep, time with family, time for hobbies, walking in nature.
786
These things help your brain recover.
787
And then you come back to work stronger.
788
Stronger and clearer.
789
So resting is not wasting time.
790
Rest is not wasting time.
791
It is investing in yourself.
792
I love that.
793
Resting is investing in yourself.
794
And fourth, successful people review their time.
795
Review?
796
What do you mean?
797
At the end of each day or each week, they ask, how did I spend my time?
798
What worked?
799
What didn't work?
800
They check in with themselves.
801
Yes, and that helps them improve.
802
They notice patterns.
803
I always waste time on social media at 3 p .m.
804
Why?
805
What can I do differently?
806
Self -awareness, being aware of your own habits.
807
Self -awareness is one of the most powerful time management tools.
808
Interesting.
809
So successful people protect their mornings, match tasks to energy, rest well, and review their time.
810
Those are four big ones.
811
I'm going to try all of these.
812
Start with one.
813
Remember, start small.
814
Right, start small.
815
Not all four at once.
816
Okay, David, I want to talk about mistakes.
817
Because sometimes people try to manage their time better, but they make mistakes that make things worse.
818
Oh, this is a really good topic, yes.
819
What are the most common mistakes?
820
Mistake number one, trying to be perfect.
821
Perfectionism, yes.
822
People spend so much time trying to make one thing absolutely perfect that they run out of time for everything else.
823
Done is better than perfect.
824
Done is better than perfect, yes.
825
That is a very popular saying, and it is true.
826
If you spend four hours making one email perfect, but you had ten emails to write, you wasted so much time.
827
Write a good email, not a perfect email.
828
Send it, move on.
829
Move on.
830
I like that energy.
831
Perfectionism is often just fear in disguise.
832
Fear in disguise.
833
What do you mean?
834
Sometimes people say they are being careful or thorough, but really, they are afraid.
835
Afraid that it won't be good enough, afraid of being judged.
836
So they keep working and working and never finish.
837
And if you never finish, no one can judge you because it was never done.
838
Exactly.
839
But also, nothing gets accomplished.
840
Hmm.
841
Fear in disguise.
842
Something to think about.
843
Mistake number two, planning without doing.
844
Oh, planning without doing.
845
Some people love making plans.
846
They make beautiful schedules.
847
They use colorful pens.
848
They buy notebooks.
849
Oh, I know someone like this.
850
Not me.
851
Definitely not me.
852
And they spend so much time planning that they never actually do the thing.
853
Overplanning.
854
Overplanning.
855
The plan is not the goal.
856
The goal is the goal.
857
The plan is just the road to get there.
858
A plan without action is just a dream.
859
Ooh, say that again.
860
A plan without action is just a dream.
861
Beautiful.
862
Write that down.
863
I will.
864
Okay, mistake three.
865
Mistake three.
866
Comparing yourself to others.
867
Comparing.
868
Ah, social media problem.
869
Yes.
870
You see someone online who wakes up at 5 a .m., exercises, reads three books a month, runs a business, and looks perfectly happy.
871
And you feel… Bad.
872
Like I'm doing everything wrong.
873
And that feeling makes you less motivated, not more.
874
Right.
875
Because you feel so far behind that starting feels pointless.
876
Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to what someone else is doing today.
877
Compare yourself to yesterday you.
878
Are you a little better today than yesterday?
879
That is success.
880
Even a tiny bit better?
881
Even a tiny bit.
882
Remember, 1 % better every day.
883
1 % better every day.
884
Thank you, James Clear.
885
Thank you, James Clear.
886
Okay, any other mistakes?
887
One more.
888
Mistake 4, not taking breaks.
889
We mentioned this before with rest.
890
Yes.
891
Some people think the best way to get more done is to just work longer and longer without stopping.
892
No breaks.
893
Just push through.
894
But after a while, your brain gets foggy.
895
Foggy means unclear, slow, hard to think.
896
Foggy brain is not productive brain.
897
Not at all.
898
A well -rested brain works much faster and better than an exhausted brain.
899
So take your breaks.
900
They are not laziness.
901
They are essential.
902
Breaks are essential.
903
Essential means necessary.
904
You must have them.
905
Exactly.
906
Breaks are not a reward for working.
907
They are a requirement for working well.
908
Breaks are a requirement for working well.
909
Noted.
910
Okay, friends.
911
We are almost at the end of the video.
912
But before we finish, let's do something very important.
913
Key phrases review.
914
Yes, we learned so many great phrases today.
915
Let's go through them together.
916
Slowly and clearly.
917
Slowly and clearly.
918
Ready?
919
Ready.
920
Phrase one, to waste time.
921
To waste time.
922
This means to use your time on things that are not important.
923
Example sentence, I wasted three hours on social media today.
924
I wasted three hours on social media today.
925
To pass time.
926
This means to do something just because you are bored.
927
I was passing time while waiting for the bus. To procrastinate.
928
To delay doing something.
929
To say, I'll do it later.
930
I keep procrastinating on my homework.
931
Phrase 4.
932
To feel overwhelmed.
933
To feel like there is too much to do, and you don't know where to start.
934
I have so many tasks, I feel completely overwhelmed.
935
Phrase 5.
936
Eat the frog.
937
Eat the frog.
938
Do the hardest or most important task first.
939
Example.
940
I always eat the frog in the morning.
941
I do my most difficult task right away.
942
I always eat the frog in the morning.
943
Phrase 6.
944
Habit stacking.
945
Habit stacking.
946
Attaching a new habit to an existing one.
947
Example.
948
I use habit stacking.
949
Every time I make coffee, I also write my to -do list.
950
Every time I make coffee, I also write my to -do list.
951
Phrase 7.
952
Single tasking.
953
Single tasking.
954
Doing one thing at a time.
955
Giving full focus to one task.
956
Example.
957
I stopped multitasking.
958
Now I focus on single -tasking, and I get more done.
959
I stopped multitasking.
960
Now I focus on single -tasking.
961
Phrase 8.
962
Accountability partner.
963
Accountability partner.
964
A person who checks that you do what you say you will do.
965
Example.
966
My friend is my accountability partner.
967
She checks if I studied every day.
968
My friend is my accountability partner.
969
Phrase 9.
970
Done is better than perfect.
971
Done is better than perfect.
972
Don't wait for perfection.
973
Finish it.
974
I always try to remember, done is better than perfect, just finish it.
975
And phrase 10.
976
Every yes to someone else is a no to yourself.
977
When you say yes to others, you say no to your own time.
978
I learned to say no, because every yes to someone else is a no to myself.
979
I learned to say no, because every yes to someone else is a no to myself.
980
Excellent!
981
10 great phrases.
982
Let's do a super quick summary of all the tips we learned today.
983
Ready.
984
Tip 1.
985
Make a simple plan.
986
Write three important tasks every morning.
987
Tip 2.
988
Break big tasks into small steps.
989
Focus on just one step at a time.
990
Tip 3.
991
Use the two -minute rule.
992
If it takes less than two minutes, do it now.
993
Tip 4.
994
Fight distractions.
995
Phone in another room.
996
Notifications off.
997
Use the Pomodoro technique.
998
Tip 5.
999
Stop procrastinating make starting easy.
1000
Use an accountability partner.
1001
Tip six, learn to say no. Protect your time.
1002
Every yes has a cost.
1003
Tip seven, avoid hidden time wasters.
1004
Don't check your phone first thing in the morning.
1005
Stop multitasking.
1006
Tip eight, build habits slowly.
1007
Start tiny.
1008
Use habit stacking.
1009
Tip nine, learn from successful people.
1010
Match tasks to your energy.
1011
Rest and recover.
1012
Tip 10, Avoid common mistakes Don't be a perfectionist Don't over plan Don't compare yourself to others
1013
And don't forget to take your breaks Breaks are essential That was a lot, but you did it You did it If you listened to this whole conversation,
1014
you are amazing You listened, you practiced your English, and you learned how to manage your time better Three things in one video Now
1015
that is not wasting time
1016
That is the opposite of wasting time all right friends we have reached the end of today's video
1017
and what a video it was we talked about
1018
so much today we did and i hope i really hope
1019
that you take even one of these ideas
1020
and try it today not tomorrow not next monday today right now
1021
because here's the truth you cannot get time back once it is gone it is gone
1022
but you can change how you use the time you have starting right now right now this moment
1023
and it doesn't have to be a big change remember start small, one tiny step.
1024
One tiny step every day adds up to something big.
1025
Small things become big things.
1026
All right, quick question for everyone at home, and I really want you to answer this in the comments.
1027
Yes, tell us.
1028
What is your biggest time waster?
1029
Is it your phone, social media, procrastination, too many meetings?
1030
Or maybe it is something we didn't mention today.
1031
Tell us in the comments, my biggest time waster is, and finish that sentence.
1032
We love reading your comments they make us so happy.
1033
And they help other learners too.
1034
When you share, you help the whole community.
1035
We are all learning together, and we are all getting better together.
1036
One more thing, if this video helped you, if you learned something, if you enjoyed the conversation, if you practiced your English, please give us a thumbs up.
1037
It only takes one second, but it helps us so much.
1038
And if you want to keep learning English with us, make sure you subscribe to this channel and ring the bell.
1039
Ring the bell
1040
so you never miss a new video we have new videos
1041
every week every week new conversations new phrases new topics all
1042
in simple clear beginner friendly english just like today david i
1043
have a question for you before we go of course what
1044
is it after everything we talked about today what is the one most important piece of advice
1045
if someone can only remember one thing what should it be
1046
hmm one thing that's a tough question think about it okay
1047
if i had to choose just one thing i would say
1048
start just start just start whatever it is you have been
1049
putting off whatever goal you have whatever habit you want to build whatever task you have been avoiding just start
1050
Because you can plan and think and read and watch videos, but nothing changes until you start.
1051
The hardest part is always starting.
1052
The hardest part is always starting.
1053
Once you start, it gets easier.
1054
Once you start, it gets easier.
1055
So, whatever you want to do, do it.
1056
Today.
1057
Now.
1058
Just start.
1059
Just start.
1060
I love that.
1061
Simple.
1062
Powerful.
1063
True.
1064
Thank you all so much for watching and listening today.
1065
You are wonderful.
1066
You are amazing.
1067
And every time you listen to English, you are getting better, even if you don't feel it yet.
1068
Even if you don't feel it yet.
1069
Trust the process.
1070
Keep going.
1071
Keep going.
1072
We will see you in the next video.
1073
Take care of yourselves.
1074
And please, don't waste your time.
1075
Use it well.
1076
Use it well.
1077
Bye everyone.
1078
Bye bye.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Stop Wasting Your Time and Start Taking Control”. This video has 1078 sentences and 6774 words to shadow. The speech runs for 40:23. The speaker talks at a natural 168 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 89% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| habit noun | /ˈhæb.ɪt/ | An action performed on a regular basis. |
| phrase noun | /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ | A short written or spoken expression. |
| distraction noun | /dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən/ | Something that distracts. |
| notification noun | /ˌnoʊtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn̩/ | The act of notifying. |
| accountability noun | /əˌkaʊn.təˈbɪl.ə.ti/ | The state of being accountable; liability to be called on to render an account or give an explanation; liability to be held responsible or answerable for… |
| stack noun | /stæk/ | A large pile of hay, grain, straw, or the like, larger at the bottom than the top, sometimes covered with thatch. |
| scary adjective | /ˈskɛə.ɹi/ | Causing fear or anxiety |
| technique noun | /tɛkˈniːk/ | The practical aspects of a given art, occupation etc.; formal requirements. |
| compare verb | /kəmˈpɛɚ/ | To assess the similarities and differences between two or more things [“to compare X with Y”]. Having made the comparison of X with Y, one might have found it… |
| delay noun | /dɪˈleɪ̯/ | A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity. |
| attach verb | /əˈtæt͡ʃ/ | To fasten, to join to (literally and figuratively). |
| bore verb | /boɹ/ | To inspire boredom in somebody. |
| tomato noun | /təˈmeɪ.toʊ/ | A widely cultivated plant, Solanum lycopersicum, having edible fruit. |
| topic noun | /ˈtɑpɪk/ | A subject; a theme; a category or general area of interest. |
| commitment noun | /kəˈmɪtmənt/ | The act of sending a legislative bill to committee for review. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| pile up verb | To form a pile, stack, or heap. | |
| turn off verb | To power down, to switch off, to put out of operation, to deactivate (an appliance, light, mechanism, functionality etc.). | |
| wake up verb | /ˌweɪk ˈʌp/ | To stop sleeping; to awake. |
| sit down verb | To assume a sitting position from a standing position. | |
| add up verb | To take the sum of; to total. | |
| add up to verb | To have a particular effect in combination. | |
| catch up verb | To pick up suddenly. | |
| end up verb | To bring to a conclusion. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Just because I checked one message?
- Just because you checked one message?
- Why do we procrastinate, though?
- Why don't we just do it?
- Why didn't I think of that?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | If I don't, I will buy |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have ever looked · have never felt · we've talked |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | being overwhelmed · is called · is scheduled |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | person who invented · someone who checks · people who work |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 71 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, can't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: thumb /ˈθʌm/, thorough /ˈθʌɹoʊ/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: distraction /dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən/, notification /ˌnoʊtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn̩/, brush /bɹʌʃ/, intention /ɪnˈtɛnʃn̩/, sharp /ʃɑɹp/
- Long words — get the stress right: notification /ˌnoʊtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn̩/, accountability /əˌkaʊn.təˈbɪl.ə.ti/, automatic /ˌɔː.təˈmæt.ɪk/, differently /ˈdɪf.ə.ɹənt.li/, unnecessary /ʌnˈnɛs.əˌsɛɹ.i/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like habit, phrase, distraction.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.