How to Master Time Management with Alegre Ramos

mgraziano45
14 minutes ago
4 min read

On this episode of the Adventures in Business podcast, Amani and Mandi sat down with time management expert Alegre Ramos. Whether you think you’ve got time management down or you know your calendar needs serious help, Alegre will be the first to say: we can all fine-tune how we use our time. In this episode, she shares her top time management mistakes to avoid, her favorite time-saving strategies, and how knowing your “chronotype” can completely change your productivity game.

Meet Alegre Ramos

Alegre Ramos (Clifton: activator, strategic, achiever, individualization, and learner; MBTI: ENFJ) is a Brain-Science-Based Productivity Trainer, Author, and Coach who is passionate about helping people live their best lives.

She’s the author of four books including the bestselling "3-2-1-Done: Three simple strategies to get your to-do list done!" (Books2Read.com/321Done). She has a diverse educational background including degrees in anthropology and business, and certifications in public speaking and sustainability.

Alegre Ramos on the 3 Biggest Time Management Mistakes

Alegre Ramos kicked things off with the three mistakes she sees most often:

1. Not Deciding How to Spend Your Time

If you haven’t decided how you want to spend your time, nothing is a waste of time… and everything is. “The average American spends four hours a day watching TV,” she said. “If that’s your job, great. But if you were supposed to be writing a report or starting a side hustle? That’s time lost.”

2. Failing to Prioritize

Urgent tasks (deadlines, emergencies, other people’s demands) are loud. They’ll always take over unless you intentionally carve out time for the important, non-urgent things like writing your book, going back to school, or starting your dream business. “I’ve never seen a calendar with ‘Someday’ on it,” Alegre quipped.

3. Not Setting Boundaries

Clear priorities make it easier to say no. Alegre shared how, even in her twenties, she stopped going to bars because she realized she didn’t enjoy them. That simple boundary freed up time for things she did love, like standup comedy.

How to Achieve Your Big Goals

When it came to writing her four books, Alegre leaned on one powerful concept: consistency. “Writing is like drinking water,” she explained. “You can’t skip six days and then try to drink 10 gallons on Sunday. You have to do a little bit every day.”

The same goes for any big goal, like building a business, running a marathon, or remodeling your house. Small, steady actions add up to big progress.

Why Efficiency Isn’t Effectiveness

Many high-achieving leaders try to cram everything into a meeting or project. But Alegre cautions that checking boxes isn’t the same as moving the needle. “If you share 15 points in a 60-minute meeting and no one remembers them the next day, you were efficient but not effective,” she said.

Macro vs. Micro Prioritization

Alegre breaks prioritization into two levels:

Macro (Life-Level)

Start by identifying your values. Alegre uses “value cards,” which are eight beautifully designed cards listing her top priorities, in order. When a new opportunity conflicts with her values, she knows instantly which way to go.

Micro (Day-to-Day)

Structure your day so the most mentally demanding work happens during your peak energy time. Alegre writes in the morning because she’s a “lion chronotype” and is three times more productive before noon. She also schedules breaks and builds in “white space” so she’s not constantly grinding.

Chronotypes: Your Secret Productivity Weapon

Chronotypes describe your natural circadian rhythm, which is your body’s preferred schedule for sleep and energy. Alegre broke down the four types:

Lions (10–15%): Early risers. Most productive in the morning.
Bears (55%): Energy follows sunrise to sunset. Peak productivity mid-day.
Wolves (10–15%): Late risers and night owls. Peak productivity mid- to late afternoon.
Dolphins (5%): Light sleepers with irregular patterns who may need naps.

Knowing your chronotype helps you align deep work with your natural high-energy times and schedule meetings that actually work for your team. For example, 10–11 a.m. for a full-team meeting is the sweet spot for most people.

Building Purposeful Morning Routines

Alegre believes that the key to a grounded morning routine lies in being purposeful. Instead of waiting for the day to happen to you, take small, repeatable actions that prepare your mind and body.

Her advice? Start with the two things every human does anyway:

Go to the bathroom: While you’re there, add in small extras like a quick stretch or mindful breathing.
Drink water: Since we all wake up dehydrated, use that kitchen trip as a cue to grab supplements or do another tiny ritual.

From there, Alegre layers on her own routine. While her water boils, she unloads the dish rack. She makes three morning drinks: hot water with lemon or lime, a smoothie, and a matcha hibiscus tea. She sneaks in stretches during toothbrushing. And she always follows up with a calming skincare ritual, complete with music and a favorite candle.

Start Small, Keep It Simple

Both Mandi and Alegre agreed that you don’t need an elaborate routine to see results. Even one small ritual can shift your mindset and calm the chaos. Mandi shared that her own day improved dramatically once she committed to a simple RPM routine: Rise, Pee, Meditate. Even a five-minute meditation can make a difference.

If you’re unsure where to begin, Alegre recommends a super simple habit: make your bed.

It takes only 20 seconds, but the impact is big. A neatly made bed gives you a sense of control, a quick win to start your day, and an instantly tidier bedroom. And don’t worry about being perfect; aim for 70%. If you make your bed five out of seven days, you’ve still built a habit that pays off.