The time we want to have: 6 keys to taking care of it and of ourselves, according to our psychologist Cristina Martínez

How much time do we lose each day without realising it? Time has become one of the scarcest and most valued assets people have. Endless commutes, household chores and daily errands eat up hours that could be devoted to well-being, leisure or the people we care about most — in short, to quality time.

As different studies show, the lack of time affects many aspects of our lives: 35% of Spaniards don’t exercise, nearly 19% set aside cultural life and 40% of couples argue daily about household tasks. Not to mention that, on commutes to work alone, Madrid residents lose between 200 and 250 hours a year, and almost a quarter take more than an hour to get there. Faced with this reality, what can we do?

The era of ‘I don’t have time’

According to data from the Spanish Society for the Study of Anxiety and Stress, 76% of the population say they feel stressed by the lack of time. In this context, psychologist Cristina Martínez, a specialist in emotional well-being and time management and a collaborator at Be Casa, our innovative flexible living concept designed and managed by Greystar, identifies time as the great challenge of today’s society and shares six keys to taking care of it and of ourselves:

1. Use a planner as if it were your second brain: Writing things down frees your mind and reduces stress. Plan your week with time for yourself, not just work tasks.

2. Prioritise for real: not everything urgent is important. Organise tasks by importance, not just urgency, to avoid wasting time on things that don’t add up.

3. Plan realistically, not idealistically: Don’t try to do in a day what takes three. Leave gaps between tasks and value what you actually get done.

4. Group tasks into time blocks: Dedicate blocks of the day to similar tasks without interruptions. Work with more focus and less wear and tear.

5. Apply the 80/20 rule: 20% of our actions generate 80% of the results. Identify that small group of key tasks and prioritise them.

6. Surround yourself with an environment that makes life easier: Our environment shapes how we use our time. Living in a space that saves you errands and commutes takes care of you.

Be Casa, an enabling environment

As psychologist Cristina Martínez explains, from a psychological perspective our environment has a huge impact on our emotional well-being, our ability to concentrate and how we manage time and stress, but we rarely take it into account: ‘We focus on what we do, but not so much on where we do it. An enabling space is one that not only meets our basic needs, but also reduces mental load, anticipates solutions and adapts to our rhythms. And at Be Casa we think with that logic: to simplify, ease and support.’

At Be Casa we propose a flexible living model that combines the intimacy of a home with the comforts of a hotel. With five communities (Be Casa Valdebebas, Be Casa San Sebastián de los Reyes, Be Casa Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Be Casa Alcobendas and Be Casa Barakaldo), we offer fully equipped studios and apartments, with furniture and all utilities and services included (periodic cleaning, 24h reception, Wi-Fi, etc.), removing worries, tasks and repetitive decisions. Meanwhile, our shared areas — from the gym, padel courts, social club and coworking, among others — offer spaces of calm, well-being, connection and productivity. And all of it without having to leave home!

Learning to manage time isn’t just a question of organisation: it’s a way of living with more presence and well-being: ‘It’s about switching off the autopilot and regaining control of our day-to-day. When we live in an environment that supports us instead of demanding more of us, we lower our alert level, sleep better, feel safer and make more conscious decisions. All of this translates into better time management, but, above all, into more emotional and mental energy to devote to what really matters. And that, in the end, is health, well-being and quality of life’, says the expert Cristina Martínez.

In this way, and through the campaign The Time We Want to Have, at Be Casa we put forward a reflection on the accelerated pace of today’s life, inviting us to reconnect with the essential — quality time — and consolidating our purpose: to create homes that adapt to people and not the other way around. Because time is the new luxury, and at Be Casa we live with intention. You’re invited to discover it!