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hanlasse's review
4.0
It's a good book with a lot of great advice. I think my issue with it is that I've followed their blog https://medium.com/time-dorks for quite some time, so I didn't necessarily feel that I got a lot of new value from this. The benefit of their blog is that a lot of their advice is also there, only more compressed and to the point. Having written that, it shouldn't hold back on the quality of the book.
tessakris's review
4.0
This is probably 4.5 stars for me. A 5 hour listen with lots of good ideas for how to make time for the things that you want to prioritize. I like that they give you a lot of ideas but also remind you that you don't need to do them all, and that you might not even like them all.
Some things I've done based on my listening: changed the "main focus" part of my daily journal to "highlight." I also made the first screen of my home screen on my phone blank with a reminder to consider why I'm getting on my phone so I can meet my purpose and not waste away tons of time browsing.
Some things I'm interested in doing: #84 changing my phone to night mode at a certain time every night. #18 Log myself out of time distracting websites so that when I try to get in, I'll have to log in and it'll make me consider if I want to spend my time that way. Adjusting my to-do lists so they're not a jumble of different level tasks (some of which are easy and I can do them to procrastinate doing the others). #19 Turning off more of my notifications. #34/35 Checking my email at certain points in the day instead of constantly cleaning them out. #51 Play a laser soundtrack: play a specific song only when I'm starting a specific task I want to focus on. #80 Take real breaks: go outside or talk to someone instead of going on social media.
Some things I've done based on my listening: changed the "main focus" part of my daily journal to "highlight." I also made the first screen of my home screen on my phone blank with a reminder to consider why I'm getting on my phone so I can meet my purpose and not waste away tons of time browsing.
Some things I'm interested in doing: #84 changing my phone to night mode at a certain time every night. #18 Log myself out of time distracting websites so that when I try to get in, I'll have to log in and it'll make me consider if I want to spend my time that way. Adjusting my to-do lists so they're not a jumble of different level tasks (some of which are easy and I can do them to procrastinate doing the others). #19 Turning off more of my notifications. #34/35 Checking my email at certain points in the day instead of constantly cleaning them out. #51 Play a laser soundtrack: play a specific song only when I'm starting a specific task I want to focus on. #80 Take real breaks: go outside or talk to someone instead of going on social media.
weirdorchid's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
3.75
Lots of tactics, nothing absolutely new, but it's a clear, practice-oriented book, which is appreciated. The "live like a caveman" passages are rather annoying, as is the slightly too familiar or humorous tone the authors sometimes employ. But all in all, it's an easy read that I hope will be profitable (we'll see about that in the coming weeks).
reba_reads_books's review against another edition
Switched to book format from audiobook because I wasn't retaining much without the ability to skim things and take longhand notes. If you're a productivity nerd, this is required reading.
This book's concept of the busy bandwagon stuck with me, hard. I have always been that person who answers, "Busy." to the question of, "How's life?", and instead of that state of being improving as I've gotten older, it's worsened by, like, a hell of a lot. If there's only one message I could choose to summarize from this book, it would be that we are not failures for removing ourselves from the hive of busy bees. We are not losing anything but stress when we ditch the mentality that productive = busy and, therefore, relaxed = lazy. In fact, it is by approaching our days (and, therefore, our lives) with intentionality, that we discover flow and peace.
I've also read Cal Newport's [b:Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World|25744928|Deep Work Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World|Cal Newport|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1447957962l/25744928._SY75_.jpg|45502249], and [b:Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day|37880811|Make Time How to Focus on What Matters Every Day|Jake Knapp|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1524067121l/37880811._SY75_.jpg|59586061] mirrors Deep Work's message of respecting the tools of the modern world while setting strict boundaries around your use of them. You should be in control of your devices, not the other way around, and there's a lot of practical advice in here as to how exactly to do that everyday.
I appreciated the simplicity of this book's methodology. Deciding one singular highlight for each day based on urgency (short-term goals), satisfaction (long-term goals), or joy (exactly what it sounds like; happiness is just as important as productivity [monumental concept in a productivity guide, I know]); committing to achieving laser mode (flow) in pursuit of that highlight; committing to energizing your body and mind rather than running it ragged on the busy bandwagon; and committing to reflecting on your journey, so as to forgive yourself for being imperfect and to use the scientific method to fine tune which tactics work best for your specific lifeworld.
I also appreciated the flexibility of this book's methodology. If your highlight to laser mode into a work project fails, you're not a failure if you switch your highlight to joyfully engaging in family time when you get home. In many ways, this book helped me see that it is possible to find peace without giving up modern society to become a monk. Self-love, self-actualization, and gratitude...in bite-sized daily doses.
Here are some tactics I'd like to try:
- Making specific goals and boundaries around social media so as not to use it like an infinity pool
- Removing any app from my phone that functions purely as an infinity pool
- "To become a morning person, start with light, coffee, and something to do."
- Buying an analog (stealing Austin Kleon's phrasing here) wristwatch, timer, and alarm clock
- Turning off email notifications to break the habit of "instant response insanity" and instead scheduling time to check my inboxes
- Reflecting on which news is important to me and what is the best way to go about being informed rather than distracted and distraught
- Looking into [b:The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business|12609433|The Power of Habit Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business|Charles Duhigg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545854312l/12609433._SY75_.jpg|17624817]'s Habit Loop concept for the most difficult life changes
- Committing to waking up at the same time, daily; to a short exercise and writing/gratitude prompt every morning; and to no caffeine past 2:30pm
- Appreciating nature in at least some small way, daily
- Eating dinner with loved ones without TV, at least a few times weekly
I'm not going to make all of these changes overnight and not all of these changes will stick, but if I pick one highlight for each day, then I have the capacity for growth and peace over time. That's all anyone can hope for.
This book's concept of the busy bandwagon stuck with me, hard. I have always been that person who answers, "Busy." to the question of, "How's life?", and instead of that state of being improving as I've gotten older, it's worsened by, like, a hell of a lot. If there's only one message I could choose to summarize from this book, it would be that we are not failures for removing ourselves from the hive of busy bees. We are not losing anything but stress when we ditch the mentality that productive = busy and, therefore, relaxed = lazy. In fact, it is by approaching our days (and, therefore, our lives) with intentionality, that we discover flow and peace.
I've also read Cal Newport's [b:Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World|25744928|Deep Work Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World|Cal Newport|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1447957962l/25744928._SY75_.jpg|45502249], and [b:Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day|37880811|Make Time How to Focus on What Matters Every Day|Jake Knapp|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1524067121l/37880811._SY75_.jpg|59586061] mirrors Deep Work's message of respecting the tools of the modern world while setting strict boundaries around your use of them. You should be in control of your devices, not the other way around, and there's a lot of practical advice in here as to how exactly to do that everyday.
I appreciated the simplicity of this book's methodology. Deciding one singular highlight for each day based on urgency (short-term goals), satisfaction (long-term goals), or joy (exactly what it sounds like; happiness is just as important as productivity [monumental concept in a productivity guide, I know]); committing to achieving laser mode (flow) in pursuit of that highlight; committing to energizing your body and mind rather than running it ragged on the busy bandwagon; and committing to reflecting on your journey, so as to forgive yourself for being imperfect and to use the scientific method to fine tune which tactics work best for your specific lifeworld.
I also appreciated the flexibility of this book's methodology. If your highlight to laser mode into a work project fails, you're not a failure if you switch your highlight to joyfully engaging in family time when you get home. In many ways, this book helped me see that it is possible to find peace without giving up modern society to become a monk. Self-love, self-actualization, and gratitude...in bite-sized daily doses.
Here are some tactics I'd like to try:
- Making specific goals and boundaries around social media so as not to use it like an infinity pool
- Removing any app from my phone that functions purely as an infinity pool
- "To become a morning person, start with light, coffee, and something to do."
- Buying an analog (stealing Austin Kleon's phrasing here) wristwatch, timer, and alarm clock
- Turning off email notifications to break the habit of "instant response insanity" and instead scheduling time to check my inboxes
- Reflecting on which news is important to me and what is the best way to go about being informed rather than distracted and distraught
- Looking into [b:The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business|12609433|The Power of Habit Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business|Charles Duhigg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545854312l/12609433._SY75_.jpg|17624817]'s Habit Loop concept for the most difficult life changes
- Committing to waking up at the same time, daily; to a short exercise and writing/gratitude prompt every morning; and to no caffeine past 2:30pm
- Appreciating nature in at least some small way, daily
- Eating dinner with loved ones without TV, at least a few times weekly
I'm not going to make all of these changes overnight and not all of these changes will stick, but if I pick one highlight for each day, then I have the capacity for growth and peace over time. That's all anyone can hope for.
mvanhar's review
4.0
When I first finished the book, my gut was a 3-star review for 'good' but not really adding to the conversation from other treatise on productivity and focus - then, I started to experiment and implement some of the suggestions. I tried removing email and Safari from my iphone, setting an intention outside my normal routines, and planning more of my day outside of work - and decided to up the book to 4 stars. I don't think Make Time breaks new ground, but it does take a lot of strong concepts and ideas - and turns them into actionable plans to try. While I tend to be on top of organization, the suggestions are helping me carve out time for things from the 'Someday/Maybe' to actually getting done in a normal week.
tensy's review
2.0
I sometimes wonder if readers of these types of project management books are already pretty good at managing their time and read the books to find self-affirmation. "Yeah, I do that, aren't I great?" While some of the tips could be useful for those who are easily distracted, and who isn't these days with email notifications, groovy apps and Netflix at the touch of a button, this is a very simplistic overview, with funky graphics and story bubbles, of how to say "no" to time sucks and schedule time each day to focus on what you want to accomplish. In a nutshell, highlight, laser, exersize, eat well, spend time with your family/community and reflect. Basically, listen to your mother!
ashleyholstrom's review
4.0
These are the guys behind one of my favorite guides on how to make your phone less inviting and addicting. They cover that, of course, and also the ways to change your mindset about time and tasks and living better. It’s a good, quick listen for a pep talk.
My favorite tidbits:
• If it won't fit on your to-do list, it won't fit in your life.
• Choose a highlight task for every day; make it your goal to accomplish at least that thing, if nothing else.
• The Distraction-Free Phone. I've read this blog post so many times. I've tried it a few times. It's scary.
⚡️From the September 2020 edition of Crooked Reads, my monthly(ish) newsletter.
My favorite tidbits:
• If it won't fit on your to-do list, it won't fit in your life.
• Choose a highlight task for every day; make it your goal to accomplish at least that thing, if nothing else.
• The Distraction-Free Phone. I've read this blog post so many times. I've tried it a few times. It's scary.
⚡️From the September 2020 edition of Crooked Reads, my monthly(ish) newsletter.