The pressure to optimize every "white space" on your calendar can often become a trap of its own, leading to a state of "fake time freedom" where you remain stressed despite having control over your schedule.

In this episode of Productivity MD, Dr. Ann Tsung introduces her "Time and Energy Mission Control" a decision-making framework inspired by NASA's criticality levels to help you allocate your most precious capital wisely. She breaks down the five stages of time freedom, from "Time Prisoner" to "Time Transcender," and provides a step-by-step guide on how to identify when you are descending a stage and exactly how to course-correct.

You’ll learn how to craft a North Star through a Life Vision and Massive Transformative Purpose (MTP), ensuring that every "yes" or "no" brings you closer to the physical and mental vitality you desire at age 95.

Key Points From This Episode:

1. The Time and Energy Mission Control
2. Defining Your North Star
3. The Five Stages of Time Freedom
4. Massive Transformative Purpose (MTP)
5. The Trap of the "Time Creator"
6. Filtering by Energy, Not Time
7. Course-Correcting the Descent
8. The 80% Rule
9. Prioritizing Health for the Long Game
10. The Power of "No"

Listen to the previous episodes here

Welcome to Productivity MD where you can learn to master your time and achieve the 5 freedoms in life!

Show Notes - Decision Systems to Prevent Expensive Time and Energy Mistakes

Please subscribe and leave a review so you can help others who need the knowledge most discover this podcast.

Visit https://www.productivitymd.com/ to learn more

Here are 3 ways I can help you reclaim your time and be more productive:

#1: Book a 15 minutes 1 Year 1-1 Peak Performance and Productivity Coaching Qualification Call now to learn more and take control of your time!

#2: Join my Private Facebook Group and get full access to my 7-day Video Masterclass to 3X Your Productivity

#3: Subscribe to Productivity MD Podcast (Formerly It's Not Rocket Science) on Health, Relationships, and Productivity or watch in YouTube.

Follow Ann Tsung MD, MPH on

Ann Tsung on Facebook

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Ann Tsung on Twitter

https://www.productivitymd.com/2026/02/15/episode-82/

Do you ever feel like you’re constantly busy but never truly free?

In this episode, Dr. Ann Tsung reveals her Five Stages to Time Freedom framework—a powerful system to help you understand your current relationship with time and how to master it. From being a “Time Prisoner” stuck in endless reactivity to becoming a “Time Transcender” who lives in flow, you’ll learn what it takes to reclaim your time, energy, and peace of mind.

Dr. Ann explains why so many high-achievers fall into fake time freedom, saying yes to too many things, and how to break that cycle by aligning your schedule with your life vision and energy. Whether you’re a physician, entrepreneur, or parent, this episode will help you find balance without sacrificing productivity.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. The 5 stages of time freedom and how to know where you are
2. Why you might feel “free” but still stressed and overcommitted
3. How to shift from managing time to creating it intentionally
4. The question every “Time Liberator” asks before saying yes
5. How to design your days for energy, focus, and peace
6. The mindset that helps you live more in the present moment

Resources:

• WhisprFlow
• FreedomApp

Listen to the previous episodes here

Welcome to Productivity MD where you can learn to master your time and achieve the 5 freedoms in life!

Show Notes - How to Become a Time Alchemist & Transform From Time Prisoner to Time Transcender

Please subscribe and leave a review so you can help others who need the knowledge most discover this podcast.

Visit https://www.productivitymd.com/ to learn more

Here are 3 ways I can help you reclaim your time and be more productive:

#1: Book a 15 minutes 1 Year 1-1 Peak Performance and Productivity Coaching Qualification Call now to learn more and take control of your time!

#2: Join my Private Facebook Group and get full access to my 7-day Video Masterclass to 3X Your Productivity

#3: Subscribe to Productivity MD Podcast (Formerly It's Not Rocket Science) on Health, Relationships, and Productivity or watch in YouTube.

Follow Ann Tsung MD, MPH on

Ann Tsung on Facebook

Ann Tsung on YouTube

Ann Tsung on LinkedIn

Ann Tsung on Instagram

Ann Tsung on Twitter

https://www.productivitymd.com/2025/11/15/episode-80/

Do you feel like your days slip away before you ever get into a state of true focus? The problem might not be time—it’s energy.

In this episode of Productivity MD, we dive into the concept of energy arbitrage—mastering your chronotype, aligning your day to your natural rhythms, and using intentional flow blocks to get more done with less struggle.

You’ll learn how to identify your personal peak zones, build two daily flow blocks, and even optimize what you eat to sustain deep focus. By the end, you’ll have a roadmap to hit your goals while still making time for yourself.

Key Points From This Episode:

1. How to determine your chronotype and why it matters
2. Structuring your day around energy—not just tasks
3. Action steps that bring you closer to your goals
4. Why starting with time for yourself sets the tone for focus
5. Leveraging your second flow block during peak energy zones
6. The different types of peak zones and their timing
7. Why two flow blocks a day can transform productivity
8. The role of nutrition in sustaining focus and energy

Listen to the previous episodes here

Welcome to Productivity MD where you can learn to master your time and achieve the 5 freedoms in life!

Show Notes - Are You Wasting Your Peak Energy Time on Low Value Tasks? Find Your Chronotype Peak Zone and 4X Your Productivity

Please subscribe and leave a review so you can help others who need the knowledge most discover this podcast.

Visit https://www.productivitymd.com/ to learn more

Here are 3 ways I can help you reclaim your time and be more productive:

#1: Book a 15 minutes 1 Year 1-1 Peak Performance and Productivity Coaching Qualification Call now to learn more and take control of your time!

#2: Join my Private Facebook Group and get full access to my 7-day Video Masterclass to 3X Your Productivity

#3: Subscribe to Productivity MD Podcast (Formerly It's Not Rocket Science) on Health, Relationships, and Productivity or watch in YouTube.

Follow Ann Tsung MD, MPH on

Ann Tsung on Facebook

Ann Tsung on YouTube

Ann Tsung on LinkedIn

Ann Tsung on Instagram

Ann Tsung on Twitter

https://www.productivitymd.com/2025/09/15/episode-78/

Most people feel like there’s never enough time—but what if you could create it? Being a Time Creator means designing a life where your hours serve your vision, not the other way around.

In this episode, we break down the exact steps you can take to guide clients through conversations that help them rethink how they spend their days, who they spend them with, and what they’re building for the future. From mapping out your “wheel of life” to envisioning where you want to be at 85 or 90, this approach shifts the focus from endless busyness to intentional living.

You’ll discover how to align daily actions with long-term purpose, build passive income, stay sharp and energized, and ultimately control the one resource you can never get back—time.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. What it truly means to be a Time Creator.
2. How to use the “wheel of life” to identify gaps and opportunities.
3. Why having a clear life vision changes how you spend your hours today.
4. The role of peers, travel, passions, and contribution in living intentionally.
5. Practical ways to take control of your time and align it with your values.
6. How well are you controlling your time?
7. Create 5 goals for the year

Listen to the previous episodes here

Welcome to Productivity MD where you can learn to master your time and achieve the 5 freedoms in life!

Show Notes - Do You Want To Become a Time Creator_ Start with Life Vision, Wheel of Life, and 5 Goals for the Year

Please subscribe and leave a review so you can help others who need the knowledge most discover this podcast.

Visit https://www.productivitymd.com/ to learn more

Here are 3 ways I can help you reclaim your time and be more productive:

#1: Book a 15 minutes 1 Year 1-1 Peak Performance and Productivity Coaching Qualification Call now to learn more and take control of your time!

#2: Join my Private Facebook Group and get full access to my 7-day Video Masterclass to 3X Your Productivity

#3: Subscribe to Productivity MD Podcast (Formerly It's Not Rocket Science) on Health, Relationships, and Productivity or watch in YouTube.

Follow Ann Tsung MD, MPH on

Ann Tsung on Facebook

Ann Tsung on YouTube

Ann Tsung on LinkedIn

Ann Tsung on Instagram

Ann Tsung on Twitter

https://www.productivitymd.com/2025/08/27/episode-77/