We're Not Late (Or, Rethinking the Long-Term)

We're Not Late (Or, Rethinking the Long-Term)

From What Works by Tara McMullin

June 4, 2026 · 21 min

About this episode

Tara McMullin discusses the concept of temporal bandwidth and how it affects our long-term commitments and relationships.

Today, I'm resharing an episode from last spring but with a fresh introduction about the feeling (too) late and some timely advice for my daughter, who graduates from high school tomorrow. It might be a good one to share with the graduate in your life! *** This episode is about the long term —the commitments, projects, and relationships we can work on when our "temporal bandwidth" widens. How we perceive time and our ability to do what's meaningful to us in time does have to be constrained by the urgency of now . There are ways to feel more grounded and create more possibilities at the same time. Footnotes: Read the essay version of this episode. The Steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein On Freedom by Timothy Snyder Breaking Bread with the Dead by Alan Jacobs How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell " Practicing the Future " by Tara McMullin " Wibbly-Wobbly, Timey-Wimey Stuff " by Tara McMullin " Busyness Decoded " by Tara McMullin Find the What Works archives and subscribe to the newsletter at whatworks.fyi . (00:00) - EP 489: Temporal Bandwidth (00:04) - To be on time is to be late. Or is it? (04:58) - Time Flies (07:33) - The Steerswoman (11:19) - "Temporal bandwidth is the width of your…

People in this episode

Host: Tara McMullin

Topics covered

  • long-term thinking
  • temporal bandwidth
  • commitments
  • projects
  • relationships
  • perception of time
  • groundedness

Keywords

  • temporal bandwidth
  • long-term
  • commitments
  • projects
  • relationships
  • perception of time
  • groundedness
  • advice for graduates

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Steerswoman, On Freedom, Breaking Bread with the Dead, How to Do Nothing, Practicing the Future, Wibbly-Wobbly, Timey-Wimey Stuff, Busyness Decoded

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