The ‘Full Jar’ Fallacy: Leonardo Freixas on Prioritizing What Truly Matters

In a recent LinkedIn post, Leonardo Freixas challenges the common notion of a “full jar,” arguing that the perceived lack of time for important pursuits often stems not from an inability to fit more in, but from the presence of the “wrong things.” Freixas uses a vivid analogy of his daughter pouring coffee into a jar already packed with rocks and sand to illustrate how essential elements can find space only when the clutter is removed.

Freixas highlights the paradox many face: claiming there’s no room for what matters while simultaneously making time for activities that drain their energy and focus. He writes:

“You say there’s no room for what matters. Yet somehow there’s always time for:
→ Meetings where nothing gets decided
→ Proving you’re busy to people who don’t care
→ Scrolling past midnight while exhausted
→ Saying yes to dodge two seconds of awkwardness
→ Carrying problems that were never yours”

The Illusion of Busyness

According to Freixas, the core issue isn’t a lack of capacity, but a failure to identify and eliminate time-consuming, low-value activities. He suggests that the “jar lesson” is fundamentally about subtraction, not addition. Many individuals, Freixas points out, are hesitant to remove these unproductive habits for fear of disappointing others or creating momentary discomfort.

“Most won’t,” Freixas states bluntly. “They’d rather drown than disappoint. They’d rather complain than cut.” This resistance, in his view, prevents people from making space for their priorities. The leader emphasizes that the time and energy for what truly matters are often already present, but they are obscured or actively defended against by less important commitments.

Strategies for Reclaiming Your Time

Freixas advocates for a proactive approach to time management, centered on intentional subtraction rather than mere addition. He frames the problem not as an external constraint, but as an internal one, rooted in a reluctance to set boundaries and make difficult choices.

The Imperative of Subtracting

“Here’s the uncomfortable truth: You already have time for what matters. You just won’t defend it,” Freixas asserts. This direct statement underscores his belief that individuals possess the agency to reclaim their time. The solution, as he presents it, lies in actively dismantling the structures that consume valuable hours.

Freixas urges readers to take immediate action:

“Stop adding. Start subtracting. Pick one thing today that steals hours from what you claim matters most. Remove it completely.”

This advice is designed to be actionable, encouraging a single, decisive step to initiate the process of clearing out the metaphorical “sand and rocks” from one’s personal and professional jar. By removing even one significant time-waster, Freixas suggests, individuals can begin to uncover the space they need for their most important goals and aspirations.

In conclusion, Leonardo Freixas’s insights on LinkedIn offer a powerful reframing of productivity and time management. By shifting the focus from adding more to strategically subtracting the superfluous, individuals can, as Freixas argues, finally create the space needed for what truly matters.