# Make Time  ## Metadata - Author: [[Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky]] - Full Title: Make Time - Category: #books ## Highlights - The first step is choosing a single highlight to prioritize in your day. Next, you’ll employ specific tactics to stay laser-focused on that highlight—we’ll offer a menu of tricks to beat distraction in an always-connected world. Throughout the day, you’ll build energy so you can stay in control of your time and attention. Finally, you’ll reflect on the day with a few simple notes. Let’s zoom in for a closer look at those four steps. ([Location 500](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=500)) - Tags: [[blue]] - Highlight: Start Each Day by Choosing a Focal Point The first step in Make Time is deciding what you want to make time for. Every day, you’ll choose a single activity to prioritize and protect in your calendar. ([Location 505](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=505)) - Asking yourself “What’s going to be the highlight of my day?” ensures that you spend time on the things that matter to you and don’t lose the entire day reacting to other people’s priorities. ([Location 513](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=513)) - You’ll also need to rethink how you react to distractions that might get in your way, and that’s exactly what the next step is all about. Laser: Beat Distraction to Make Time for Your Highlight ([Location 516](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=516)) - Energize: Use the Body to Recharge the Brain To achieve focus and make time for what matters, your brain needs energy, and that energy comes from taking care of your body. That’s why the third component of Make Time is to charge your battery with exercise, food, sleep, quiet, and face-to-face time. ([Location 526](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=526)) - Reflect: Adjust and Improve Your System Finally, before going to bed, you’ll take a few notes. It’s super simple: You’ll decide which tactics you want to continue and which ones you want to refine or drop. ([Location 535](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=535)) - Perfection is a distraction—another shiny object taking your attention away from your real priorities. ([Location 559](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=559)) - The best tactics are the ones that fit into your day. They’re not something you force yourself to do; they’re just something you do. And in most cases, they’ll be things you want to do. ([Location 572](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=572)) - Doing more doesn’t help you create time for what matters; it just makes you feel even more frazzled and busy. ([Location 591](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=591)) - Setting goals seemed more meaningful than optimizing my to-do list, but I still felt adrift—these objectives were too far away to be motivating. And there were other problems: What if my priorities changed? ([Location 622](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=622)) - And living a “someday” life was demoralizing. In the words of author James Clear, I was essentially saying, “I’m not good enough yet, but I will be when I reach my goal.” ([Location 624](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=624)) - I realized I didn’t need perfectly planned task lists or well-crafted long-term plans. Instead, it was simple but satisfying activities that helped stop the blurring of time. ([Location 630](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=630)) - I began to think of my work in terms of more meaningful activities, too. Instead of checking off as many to-dos as possible or racing to clear my inbox before heading home, ([Location 636](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=636)) - thinking less about my to-do list and more about substantial projects like leading design workshops and spending a day fixing software bugs with engineers. ([Location 640](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=640)) - I began to understand something: I loved thinking about big, lofty goals and I was good at getting things done hour by hour, but neither was truly satisfying. I was happiest when I had something I could hold on to in the present—a chunk of time that was bigger than a to-do but smaller than a five-year goal. ([Location 645](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=645)) - But choosing a Highlight gives you a chance to be proactive about how you spend your time instead of letting technology, office defaults, and other people set your agenda. ([Location 661](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=661)) - Research shows that the way you experience your days is not determined primarily by what happens to you. ([Location 664](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=664)) - You can design your time by choosing where you direct your attention. And your daily Highlight is the target of that attention. ([Location 667](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=667)) - What do I want to be the highlight of my day? ([Location 673](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=673)) - The first strategy is all about urgency: What’s the most pressing thing I have to do today? ([Location 679](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=679)) - look for projects that are time-sensitive, important, and medium-size (in other words, they don’t take ten minutes but don’t take ten hours, either). ([Location 683](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=683)) - The second Highlight strategy is to think about satisfaction: At the end of the day, which Highlight will bring me the most satisfaction? ([Location 691](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=691)) - Think about the sense of accomplishment locked inside each potential Highlight. ([Location 695](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=695)) - These projects are super vulnerable to procrastination, because although they’re important, they are not time-sensitive, and that makes them easy to postpone. Use your Highlight to break the “someday” cycle. ([Location 697](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=697)) - The third strategy focuses on joy: When I reflect on today, what will bring me the most joy? ([Location 704](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=704)) - To other people, some of your joyful Highlights may look like wastes of time: ([Location 707](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=707)) - You only waste time if you’re not intentional about how you spend it. ([Location 708](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=708)) - A good rule of thumb is to choose a Highlight that takes sixty to ninety minutes. ([Location 717](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=717)) - If you spend less than sixty minutes, you might not have time to get in the zone, but after ninety minutes of focused attention, most people need a break. ([Location 717](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=717)) - It’s never too late in the day to choose (or change) your Highlight. ([Location 730](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=730)) - But his observation that daily satisfaction comes from a medium-size Highlight rather than tiny tasks or lofty goals ([Location 735](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=735)) - remember the mantra Pick, Test, Repeat. Make a note of the tactics that sound helpful, fun, and a little challenging. ([Location 741](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=741)) - Choose Your Highlight 1. Write It Down 2. Groundhog It (or, “Do Yesterday Again”) 3. Stack Rank Your Life 4. Batch the Little Stuff 5. The Might-Do List 6. The Burner List 7. Run a Personal Sprint ([Location 747](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=747)) - The things you write down are more likely to happen. If you want to make time for your Highlight, start by writing it down. ([Location 758](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=758)) - Make writing down your Highlight a simple daily ritual. You can do it at any time, but the evening (before bed) and the morning work best for most people. ([Location 759](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=759)) - You don’t have to reinvent yourself each day. Once you’ve identified something that’s important to you, focusing on it day after day will help it take root in your life, grow, and flourish. ([Location 778](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=778)) - Think about what needs the most effort or work. For example, exercise might be very important, but if you already have a strong habit in place, you might shift your focus elsewhere. ([Location 797](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=797)) - Bundle up the small tasks and use batch processing to get them all done in one Highlight session. ([Location 836](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=836)) - You’ll realize the real power of this tactic on the days you don’t use it: knowing you can safely ignore small, nonurgent tasks, letting them pile up while you focus on your Highlight. ([Location 842](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=842)) - Most to-dos are just reactions to other people’s priorities, not yours. ([Location 851](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=851)) - To-do lists also can obscure what’s really important. ([Location 853](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=853)) - Whenever you begin a project, your brain is like a computer starting up, loading relevant information, rules, and processes into your working memory. This “boot up” takes time, and you have to redo it to a certain extent every time you pick up the project. ([Location 932](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=932)) - Note: Cognitive load of the project to understand and execute the task - you’ll do better work and make faster progress if you keep at it for consecutive days. Just choose the same Highlight for several days in a row (breaking it up into steps for each day if you need to) and keep your mental computer running. ([Location 937](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=937)) - The first day after a long break is hard. ([Location 944](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=944)) - Make Time for Your Highlight 8. Schedule Your Highlight 9. Block Your Calendar 10. Bulldoze Your Calendar 11. Flake It Till You Make It 12. Just Say No 13. Design Your Day 14. Become a Morning Person 15. Nighttime Is Highlight Time 16. Quit When You’re Done ([Location 949](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=949)) - When you schedule something, you’re making a commitment to yourself, sending yourself a tiny message that says: “I’m going to do this.” ([Location 965](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=965)) - But scheduling your Highlight has another important benefit: It forces you to confront the trade-offs in how you spend your time. ([Location 966](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=966)) - Early in my career, I didn’t have many meetings, so I never used a calendar. But I had a to-do list. ([Location 977](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=977)) - Be very intentional with any time you block—turn it into Energize time (see this page) or Highlight time. ([Location 1006](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1006)) - If you don’t take those commitments seriously, other people won’t either. Treat these blocks like important meetings, ([Location 1010](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1010)) - The bulldozer might compress one meeting by fifteen minutes and another by thirty. ([Location 1015](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1015)) - There’s no harm in telling people something important came up and asking if they can meet a little earlier or later or for a quick chat instead of for an hour. In fact, when meetings are shortened or disappear from the calendar, people are usually thrilled. ([Location 1020](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1020)) - Just be honest, explain why you’re bailing, and let it go. Bailing is not a good long-term strategy; ([Location 1032](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1032)) - If she can, she’ll offer a connection to another person with capacity or interest for whom the invitation might be a cool opportunity. If not, she offers encouragement or gratitude. ([Location 1057](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1057)) - a completely planned day provides the freedom to focus on the moment. ([Location 1072](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1072)) - Instead of thinking about what to do next, you’re free to focus on how to do it. ([Location 1072](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1072)) - Rather than using my calendar or a journal, I used an approach recommended by Cal Newport in Deep Work: writing my schedule on a piece of blank paper, then replanning throughout the day as things change and evolve, like this: ([Location 1086](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1086)) - Start with Light, Coffee, and Something to Do ([Location 1116](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1116)) - Note: All lights on, watch the sunrise, pour some coffee instead of scroll, and have something scheduled that makes you wake up earlier. - And I try to always watch the sunrise, even if it’s an hour or two after I get up; seeing the sky go from dark to light reminds my brain that it’s time to transition from night to day. ([Location 1120](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1120)) - This process is more labor-intensive than using a machine, but that’s the idea. My slow coffee ritual keeps me occupied during the low-willpower period when I would otherwise check email or look at Twitter, both of which are likely to send me into a reactive vortex of unproductivity. ([Location 1125](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1125)) - Exercise is a great morning activity. Even doing dishes, ironing shirts, or straightening up around the house helps me wake up and feel productive before the day has started. ([Location 1130](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1130)) - Note: Do something to feel productive "before the day has started". - Start with an honest assessment of how much sleep you need and how much you get. ([Location 1136](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1136)) - Pay attention to how food and drink affect your sleep. ([Location 1140](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1140)) - adjust your environment to wind down and signal “bedtime” to your body. ([Location 1143](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1143)) - It’s not always easy for me to wake up at 5:30 a.m., but I’ve learned to love mornings. And the payoff is amazing; by 9:30 a.m. most days I’ve had an hour of productive work, showered and dressed, walked two miles, had breakfast, and enjoyed two cups of coffee. ([Location 1148](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1148)) - I decided to get better at being a night person. I realized that the hours between 9:30 p.m. (when my kids were asleep) and 11:30 p.m. (when I went to sleep) could be the perfect time to focus. ([Location 1166](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1166)) - I was in the habit of squandering those bonus hours on low-energy, low-benefit activities such as checking email and reading ([Location 1171](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1171)) - If I’m planning to stay up and work on a project, I’ll start by refreshing my brain with a real break ([Location 1176](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1176)) - No matter how long you keep your foot on the accelerator, if the tank is empty, you aren’t going anywhere. You need to stop and refuel. ([Location 1198](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1198)) - you need to create your own finish line. Perhaps you can find a perfect time of day to stop—in our design sprints, we used 5 p.m. as our cutoff. Or you can use your Highlight. ([Location 1202](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1202)) - I quickly learned that it was easier for me to focus on work in the hours before lunch, so when I found myself struggling with a not-so-hard task late in the day, I’d give myself permission to quit and pick it up again in the morning. ([Location 1212](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1212)) - Distraction is the enemy of Laser mode. It’s like a giant disco ball in the path of your laser beam: Light goes everywhere except in the direction of the target. ([Location 1242](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1242)) - Apple reports that people unlock their iPhones an average of 80 times per day, and a 2016 study by customer-research firm Dscout found that people touched their phones an average of 2,617 times per day. ([Location 1249](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1249)) - Altogether, in 2017, studies showed Americans used their smartphones more than four hours per day. ([Location 1338](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1338)) - Product designers like us have spent decades removing barriers to make these products as easy to access as possible. ([Location 1370](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1370)) - Note: Design hasn't challenge the goal of use but the ease of interaction pushed by MKT to focus on adoption while pushed by sales leaders to bri g customers and keep them the most time. So people develop addiction instead of using those as a tool. - The key to getting into Laser mode and focusing on your Highlight is to bring those barriers back. ([Location 1370](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1370)) - you can short-circuit the cycle that makes these products so sticky. ([Location 1375](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1375)) - When distraction is hard to access, you don’t have to worry about willpower. ([Location 1377](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1377)) - It’s like compound interest. The longer you remain focused on your Highlight, the more engaging you’ll find it and the better work (or play) you’ll do. ([Location 1385](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1385)) - Part of the reason we’re all so hooked on distractions is that everybody else is, too. It’s the fear of missing out—FOMO—and ([Location 1388](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1388)) - LASER TACTICS Be the Boss of Your Phone 17. Try a Distraction-Free Phone 18. Log Out 19. Nix Notifications 20. Clear Your Homescreen 21. Wear a Wristwatch 22. Leave Devices Behind ([Location 1398](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1398)) - My phone used to call to me from my pocket the way the Ring called to Bilbo Baggins. ([Location 1418](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1418)) - Logging out wasn’t enough of a speed bump for my distractible brain, so I supercharged this tactic by changing my passwords to something crazy, annoying to type, and impossible to remember. Personally, I like e$yQK@iYu, but that’s just me. ([Location 1486](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1486)) - Whether or not you try a distraction-free phone, you should at the very least turn off almost all notifications. ([Location 1500](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1500)) - Try leaving just one way for people to interrupt you with time-sensitive things ([Location 1505](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1505)) - By turning off your notifications, you’ll teach your phone some manners. You’ll transform it from a nonstop blabbering loudmouth into a polite bearer of important news—the kind of friend you’d actually want in your life. ([Location 1508](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1508)) - A blank homescreen provides a tiny moment of quiet every time you use your phone. It’s an intentional inconvenience, a small pause—a speed bump keeping distraction one step away. ([Location 1516](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1516)) - It took nearly fifty years and dozens of prototypes until finally, in 1761, John Harrison created the first “chronometer.” ([Location 1527](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1527)) - A wristwatch replaces the need to check your phone whenever you want to know the time. And if you’re anything like us, a quick time check on your phone often pulls you into an Infinity Pool, especially when there’s a notification on the screen. ([Location 1534](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1534)) - Inconvenient? Definitely. But Chris says the temporary isolation is made up for by improved focus—and sleep. ([Location 1546](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1546)) - Leaving your devices behind is a helpful tactic when you want to make time for an “offline” Highlight like reading to your kids or working on a project with your hands. ([Location 1549](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1549)) - Note: We used to be Offline. Now we're ALWAYS online. - Instead of keeping your phone by your side when you get home, put it in a drawer or on a shelf; ([Location 1551](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1551)) - LASER TACTICS Stay Out of Infinity Pools 23. Skip the Morning Check-In 24. Block Distraction Kryptonite 25. Ignore the News 26. Put Your Toys Away 27. Fly Without Wi-Fi 28. Put a Timer on the Internet 29. Cancel the Internet 30. Watch Out for Time Craters 31. Trade Fake Wins for Real Wins 32. Turn Distractions into Tools 33. Become a Fair-Weather Fan ([Location 1560](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1560)) - This is a golden moment. The day is fresh, your brain is rested, and you have no reason to feel distracted yet. ([Location 1576](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1576)) - Note: What do you want to do in your Golden Hour? - If your Kryptonite is a social network, email, or anything that requires a password, logging out might be enough to slow you down (#18). If your Kryptonite is a specific website, you can block it or turn off the Internet altogether during your Laser time ([Location 1595](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1595)) - How many of those headlines are designed to provoke anxiety? “If it bleeds, it leads” is a newsroom cliché, but it’s true. ([Location 1628](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1628)) - we suggest reading the news weekly. Anything less frequent is likely to make you feel like you’re at sea, unmoored from human civilization. Anything more frequent and you’ll feel fogged in, able to focus only on what’s in front of you. That fog can easily obscure the important activities and people you want to prioritize. ([Location 1631](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1631)) - JZ has been using the once-a-week news strategy since 2015. He prefers The Economist, a weekly magazine ([Location 1634](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1634)) - Your real life begins after putting your house in order. —MARIE KONDO ([Location 1650](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1650)) - Reacting to what’s in front of you is always easier than doing what you intend. And when they’re staring you right in the face, tasks such as checking email, responding to a chat, and reading the news feel urgent and important—but they rarely are. If you want to get into Laser mode faster, we recommend putting your toys away. ([Location 1661](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1661)) - Canceling your Internet is not quite as extreme as it sounds, because you can still get online by using your phone as a hotspot. But that’s slow-ish and expensive-ish and a big hassle. ([Location 1725](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1725)) - Small distractions create much larger holes in our day. We call these holes “time craters,” ([Location 1735](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1735)) - But it’s not just Infinity Pools that create time craters. There’s also recovery time. A “quick” fifteen-minute burrito lunch might cost an extra three hours of food coma. A late night watching TV might cost you an hour of sleeping in and a whole day of low energy. And there’s anticipation. When you don’t start your Highlight because you’ve got a meeting coming up in thirty minutes, that’s a time crater, too. ([Location 1745](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1745)) - Like time craters, fake wins come in all shapes and sizes. ([Location 1755](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1755)) - When it’s time for Laser mode, remind yourself: Your Highlight is the real win. ([Location 1759](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1759)) - Start by identifying why you use a particular app. Is it purely for entertainment? Is it to keep in touch with friends and family? Is it to stay updated on certain kinds of important news? And if so, is it actually adding value to your life? Next, think about how much time—per day, per week, per month—you want to spend on that activity. And consider whether this app is the best way to accomplish it. For example, you might use Facebook to keep in touch with family, but is it really the best way to do that? Would you be better off calling them? Finally, consider when and how you’d like to use that app to achieve your goal. ([Location 1766](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1766)) - Each game and season has an unpredictable story line, but (unlike real life) they all finish with clear-cut win-or-lose outcomes that we find deeply gratifying. ([Location 1799](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1799)) - LASER TACTICS Slow Your Inbox 34. Deal with Email at the End of the Day 35. Schedule Email Time 36. Empty Your Inbox Once a Week 37. Pretend Messages Are Letters 38. Be Slow to Respond 39. Reset Expectations 40. Set Up Send-Only Email 41. Vacation Off the Grid 42. Lock Yourself Out ([Location 1819](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1819)) - email was the work.11 It was a vicious cycle: The faster we replied, the more replies we got back and the more we strengthened the expectation of immediate responses. ([Location 1836](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1836)) - If you check email less often, research suggests that you’ll be less stressed and just as on top of things. ([Location 1841](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1841)) - “Cutting back on email might reduce stress as much as picturing yourself swimming in the warm waters of a tropical island several times a day.” ([Location 1844](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1844)) - Instead of checking your email first thing in the morning and then getting sucked in and reacting to other people’s priorities, deal with email at the end of the day. That way, you can use your prime hours for your Highlight and other important work. ([Location 1850](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1850)) - You’ll probably have a little less energy at the end of the day, but that is actually a good thing when it comes to email: You’ll be less tempted to overcommit by saying yes to every incoming request and less likely to bang out a multipage manifesto when a simple reply would do. ([Location 1852](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1852)) - Yes, we want you to literally add “email time” to your calendar. When you know you’ve got time set aside later, it’s easier to avoid wasting time on email now. ([Location 1856](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1856)) - As long as he gets to everything by the end of the week, he’s good. Give it a try. You can still skim your inbox for messages that really require a faster response, but respond only to those. ([Location 1862](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1862)) - taking control of your inbox requires a mental shift from “as fast as possible” to “as slow as you can get away with.” ([Location 1872](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1872)) - They have questions about their priorities—not yours—when it’s convenient for them—not you. Every time you check your email or another message service, you’re basically saying, “Does any random person need my time right now?” ([Location 1878](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1878)) - remind yourself that being focused and present will make you more valuable as a colleague and friend, not less. ([Location 1885](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1885)) - You will accomplish more with a singular focus than by ricocheting through your inbox. ([Location 1887](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1887)) - “I’m slow to respond because I need to prioritize some important projects, but if your message is urgent, send me a text.” This message can be conveyed in person, via email, or even as an autoresponse or signature. ([Location 1892](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1892)) - Set up email forwarding so that any replies to the new account will instantly go to your normal account, leaving the new account’s inbox perpetually empty. ([Location 1919](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1919)) - “I’m on vacation this week, off the grid without access to email, but I’ll reply to your message when I return.” ([Location 1929](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1929)) - Note: Off the grid - So people won't expect a reply - Make TV a “Sometimes Treat” 43. Don’t Watch the News 44. Put Your TV in the Corner 45. Ditch Your TV for a Projector 46. Go à la Carte Instead of All-You-Can-Eat 47. If You Love Something, Set It Free ([Location 1971](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=1971)) - LASER TACTICS Find Flow 48. Shut the Door 49. Invent a Deadline 50. Explode Your Highlight 51. Play a Laser Sound Track 52. Set a Visible Timer 53. Avoid the Lure of Fancy Tools 54. Start on Paper ([Location 2048](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2048)) - Headphones and closed doors signal to everyone else that you shouldn’t be interrupted, and they send a signal to you, too. ([Location 2064](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2064)) - The trouble is that deadlines are usually for things we dread (like doing taxes), not for things we want to do (like practicing the ukulele). ([Location 2069](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2069)) - Or you can simply tell a friend what your Highlight is today and ask them to hold you accountable for getting it done. ([Location 2076](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2076)) - Note: Say yes before you're ready - In the vocabulary of Make Time, tiny doable to-dos help you build momentum and lock into Laser mode. So if your Highlight feels overwhelming, add a little dynamite. ([Location 2099](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2099)) - If you’re struggling to get into Laser mode, try a cue. A cue is any trigger that causes you to act consciously or unconsciously. ([Location 2102](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2102)) - The cue triggers you to perform a routine behavior without thinking, on autopilot. Finally, you get a reward: ([Location 2104](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2104)) - Try playing the same song or album every time you start your Highlight, or choose a specific song or album for each type of Highlight. ([Location 2109](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2109)) - Once you choose your sound track, make a commitment to yourself that you’ll listen to it only when you want to enter Laser mode. ([Location 2116](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2116)) - it makes time visible. ([Location 2127](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2127)) - choosing the perfect tool is usually a distraction, yet another way to stay busy instead of doing the work you want to be doing. ([Location 2139](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2139)) - Note: Procastinating on tangible and actionable but value-less activities as getting right tools. - researching and messing with fancy tools feels like work. But it usually isn’t. ([Location 2142](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2142)) - Plus, it’s easier to get into Laser mode when you adopt simple tools that are readily available. ([Location 2143](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2143)) - That’s the other problem with fancy tools: they’re fragile. ([Location 2156](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2156)) - Paper improves focus, because you can’t waste time picking the perfect font or searching the Web instead of working on your Highlight. ([Location 2164](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2164)) - paper allows you to find your own way to a cohesive idea. ([Location 2166](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2166)) - Next time you’re struggling to get into Laser mode, put away your computer or tablet and pick up a pen. ([Location 2167](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2167)) - LASER TACTICS Stay in the Zone 55. Make a “Random Question” List 56. Notice One Breath 57. Be Bored 58. Be Stuck 59. Take a Day Off 60. Go All In ([Location 2170](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2170)) - Make a “Random Question” List ([Location 2182](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2182)) - one breath really can be enough to reset your attention. Paying attention to your body shuts up the noise in your brain. ([Location 2192](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2192)) - Being stuck is a tiny bit different from being bored. When you’re bored, you don’t have anything to do, but when you’re stuck, you know exactly what you want to do—your brain just isn’t sure how to proceed. ([Location 2201](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2201)) - Don’t give up. Stare at the blank screen, or switch to paper, or walk around, but keep your focus on the project at hand. Even when your conscious mind feels frustrated, some quiet part of your brain is processing and making progress. ([Location 2205](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2205)) - Try taking real breaks throughout the day (#80) and switching to a joyful Highlight that’ll help you recharge. ([Location 2211](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2211)) - You know the antidote to exhaustion is not necessarily rest….The antidote to exhaustion is wholeheartedness. —BROTHER DAVID STEINDL-RAST ([Location 2215](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2215)) - We believe wholeheartedness is fundamental to everything this book is about: presence, attention, and making time for what matters. ([Location 2219](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2219)) - When your battery is empty, you’re totally exhausted—you feel wrung out and maybe even depressed. This is when you’re most likely to get distracted by Infinity Pools such as Facebook and email. Then you feel worse because you’re tired and you’re annoyed at yourself for wasting time. That’s 0 percent. It sucks. ([Location 2307](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B078QSCM3V&location=2307)) - Note: 0% Tired and annoyed at yourself