MAKE TIME by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky | Core Message

Summary

In 'Make Time' by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky, the authors challenge the cultural belief of being constantly busy and instead advocate for intentional living. They introduce the concept of 'daily highlights' to create meaningful days and avoid a blur of activity. The book provides strategies to focus on what truly matters, such as defining a daily highlight, using 'send-only email' to reduce distractions, employing 'near impossible logins' to combat the pull of infinity pools like social media, and setting up an 'internet kill switch' to protect evening time. By implementing these tactics, readers can optimize their day and make the most of their time.

Takeaways

• 🕵️‍♂️ The 'Busy Bandwagon' is a cultural belief that equates busyness with productivity, leading to a constant state of busyness without necessarily meaningful activity.
• 🎢 'Infinity Pools' are apps and online sources that provide endless content, which can distract from meaningful tasks and contribute to a blur of unproductive time.
• 🌟 The importance of identifying a 'Daily Highlight' to make each day meaningful and memorable, rather than just being busy.
• 📅 Defining a 'Daily Highlight' involves imagining what you would say if asked about the best part of your day before it even begins.
• 🔍 Three categories to find a daily highlight are urgency, significance, and joy, which help in identifying tasks or experiences that will make the day feel worthwhile.
• 📝 Create a 'Might Do List' to write down potential highlights that are more significant than simple tasks but less than major projects.
• 🖊️ Prioritize your 'Might Do List' by circling the one highlight you want to focus on and placing it somewhere visible, like on a post-it note on your phone.
• ⏰ Block out time in your calendar specifically for your daily highlight to ensure you dedicate time to it amidst other daily responsibilities.
• 📧 'Send Only Email' tactic suggests removing the primary email account from your phone to reduce the urge to check emails constantly, which can distract from your highlight.
• 🔑 'Near Impossible Logins' is a strategy to add friction to accessing distracting apps by removing them from your phone, resetting passwords, and saving them only in a password manager.
• 🛑 The 'Internet Kill Switch' tactic involves using a device to cut off internet access during certain hours to prevent evening distractions and encourage focus on personal highlights.

Q & A

What is the main idea of the book 'Make Time' by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky?

The main idea of 'Make Time' is to help individuals avoid the 'busy bandwagon' and 'infinity pools' by living more intentionally and focusing on daily highlights to make each day meaningful and memorable.

What is the 'busy bandwagon' as described in the book?

The 'busy bandwagon' refers to the cultural belief that being constantly busy is a sign of productivity and success. It leads people to spend their days in a whirlwind of activities like responding to emails and attending meetings without focusing on what truly matters.

What are 'infinity pools' in the context of the book?

'Infinity pools' are metaphors for apps and other sources of endlessly replenishing content that can consume our time and attention, like social media platforms and streaming services, preventing us from focusing on meaningful tasks.

Why is it important to define a daily highlight according to the authors?

Defining a daily highlight is important because it helps to create memorable moments in our day. Without a significant achievement or peak moment, our days can blend together, making our weeks and months seem like a blur of unproductive activity.

How can one identify their daily highlight?

To identify a daily highlight, one can consider three categories: urgency, significance, and joy. By asking what is most pressing, what would bring the most satisfaction, and what would bring the most joy, one can determine an activity that will make their day memorable.

What is the recommended time frame for a daily highlight?

The recommended time frame for a daily highlight is between 60 to 90 minutes. This allows enough time to focus on and accomplish something meaningful without being too overwhelming.

What is the 'send-only email' tactic and how does it help in focusing on the daily highlight?

The 'send-only email' tactic involves removing the primary email account from your phone or setting up a secondary account that can only be used to send emails. This reduces the temptation to check emails constantly, allowing for better focus on the daily highlight.

What are 'near impossible logins' and how do they work to prevent distraction?

'Near impossible logins' is a tactic where one resets their passwords to complex combinations and saves them in a password manager. This adds friction to accessing distracting apps and services, giving the user a chance to reconsider their actions before logging in.

What is the purpose of using a vacation timer or an internet kill switch?

A vacation timer or an internet kill switch is used to automatically cut off internet access at specific times, preventing evening distractions and allowing for more quality time, focus on personal projects, and better sleep.

How can one ensure that they stay focused on their daily highlight?

One can stay focused on their daily highlight by using tactics like 'send-only email', 'near impossible logins', and setting up an internet kill switch. Additionally, blocking out a specific time in their calendar for the highlight and placing a visual reminder, like a post-it note, can help maintain focus.