Make Time by Jake Knapp
by Parker · 38 things on Twos
- "There is more to life than increasing its speed." - Mahatma Gandhi
- Two forces competing for your time: the Busy Bandwagon is our culture of constant busyness. If you want to meet the demands of the modern workplace and function in modern society, you must fill every minute with productivity. If you slow down, you'll fall behind and never catch up. The second is Infinity Pools. Apps and other sources of endlessly replenishing content. Always available, always new entertainment is your reward for the exhaustion of constant busyness.
- If you don't do something to change it, the default is what you get.
- Make Time is a framework for choosing what you want to focus on, building the energy to do it, and breaking the default cycle so that you can start being more intentional about the way you live your life.
- Even if you don't control your own schedule, you can control your attention.
- We need to change our defaults to make distractions harder to access instead of relying on willpower to constantly fight them.
- Switch your default setting from "distracted" to "focused."
- Start the day with one high-priority goal.
- Sprint: create a map of the problem, sketch one solution, decide which solution is best, build a prototype, test it.
- Ban devices.
- Change comes from resetting defaults, creating barriers, and beginning to redesign the way you spend your time.
- Choose a single highlight to prioritize your day, employ specific tactics to stay laser-focused on that highlight, build energy so you can stay in control of your time and attention, and reflect on the day with a few simple notes.
- Your highlight might be something you don't necessarily have to do but want to do.
- What is going to be the highlight of your day?
- Charge your batteries with exercise, food, sleep, quiet, and face-to-face time.
- Decide which tactics you want to continue and which ones you want to refine or drop. Think back on your energy level, whether you made time for your highlight, and what brought you joy in the day.
- Positive results compound as you go to be able to tackle bigger and bigger goals.
- "We do not remember days, we remember moments." - Cesare Pavese
- You create your own reality by choosing what you pay attention to.
- What's the most pressing thing you have to do today?
- At the end of the day, which highlight will bring you the most satisfaction?
- When you reflect on today, what will bring you the most joy?
- You only waste time if you're not intentional about how you spend it.
- There's a magical power to writing down your plans: The things you write down are more likely to happen.
- Most to-dos are just reactions to other people's priorities, not yours.
- The best way to get out of low-priority obligations is never to accept them in the first place.
- Be nice but honest.
- "To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work." - Mary Oliver
- The best way to defeat distraction is to make it harder to react. When distraction is hard to access, you don't have to worry about will power.
- It's like compound interest. The longer you remain focused on your highlight, the more engaging you'll find it and the better work you'll do.
- Your actions show others what's important to you. When your friends, your coworkers, and your kids and family see you being intentional with your time, you'll give them permission to question their own defaults.
- Set a good example for the people around you.
- "Your real life begins after putting your house in order." - Marie Kondo
- Reacting to what is in front of you is always easier than doing what you intend.
- “The antidote to exhaustion is not necessarily rest... the antidote to exhaustion is wholeheartedness.” - David Steindl-Rast
- Wholeheartedness is complete commitment, holding nothing back. It’s letting go of caution and allowing yourself to care about your work, a relationship, a project, anything.
- If you have energy, it’s easier to maintain your focus and priorities and avoid reacting to distractions and demands. With a full battery, you have the power to be present, think clearly, and spend your time on what matters, not default to what’s right in front of you.
- “Do not ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” - Howard Thurman