Reclaim Your Time Now
Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day
by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky
Self-Improvement
TL;DR
This book is all about hacking your day so you can actually do the stuff that matters instead of getting sucked into the internet's black hole. It's got a bunch of simple, no-BS tactics to help you find your 'Highlight' (the one big thing you wanna do), laser-focus on it, recharge your brain, and tweak your system until it works for your chaotic life. Basically, it's about taking back control from the digital overlords and making time for your actual life goals, not just endless notifications.
Action Items
Before you even check your phone, decide on ONE thing you absolutely want to get done today. Write it down. Stare at it. Make it happen.
For your next 30 minutes of focused work, put your phone on airplane mode and chuck it across the room. See what happens.
Instead of scrolling during your next break, go outside for 10 minutes and just breathe. Seriously, try it.
Before bed, spend 2 minutes thinking: 'What was my biggest win today?' and 'What totally screwed me over?'
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Key Chapter
Chapter - Picking Your Daily Boss Battle (aka The Highlight)
Alright, so imagine your day is like a video game, right? And instead of just wandering around doing side quests, this book tells you to pick one epic boss battle for the day – that's your 'Highlight.' It's not about doing everything, it's about picking one thing that truly matters to you, something that makes you feel like you actually accomplished something worthwhile. Could be finishing that annoying assignment, finally hitting the gym, or even just chilling with your bestie without your phone glued to your hand. The idea is to intentionally choose what you want to prioritize, so you're not just reacting to whatever pops up. It's about being the main character of your own damn day, not just a background extra.
Key Methods and Approaches
Your Daily Main Quest
(AKA: The Highlight)
Description:
Pick ONE big thing to focus on today.
Explanation:
Think of your day like a chaotic TikTok feed. Without a 'Highlight,' you're just scrolling endlessly, getting nothing done. This method is like saying, 'Nope, today I'm watching this specific cat video on repeat, and everything else is background noise.' It's about choosing your one non-negotiable win for the day, so you don't end up feeling like a total loser at bedtime.
Examples:
Finishing that one slide for your presentation instead of just opening PowerPoint.
Actually calling your grandma instead of just thinking about it.
Spending an hour on your passion project instead of doomscrolling.
Today's Action:
Before you even check your phone, decide on ONE thing you absolutely want to get done today. Write it down. Stare at it. Make it happen.
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