Make Time Summary
Book Summary #1
“So many people are so busy being busy that they don’t spend time on the foundation of life” Jairek Robbins
Why Are We Always Busy
There is no answer to this question; however, the Make Time book suggests possible solutions and techniques that might help.
When we dig into the forces that compete for our attention, we result with two main forces: Busy Bandwagon and Infinity Pools.
Busy Bandwagon
The Busy Bandwagon is the constant busyness from work, inboxes, to-do lists, etc. A person with this mindset might think of life as just an endless Subway Surfers game, that if you slowed down from filling every minute of your day with productivity, you would fall behind and lose. But sadly, this is the default mindset of most people, so almost everyone is busy. Be more productive. Be more efficient. Get more done. This is what the Busy Bandwagon demands us to do.
Infinity Pools
Infinity Pools are every endlessly-distracting-scrolling app. It may be Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, etc. You might think of it as, “This is my reward, and I deserve to sit and scroll.” It’s your reward, but shouldn’t your reward be something that benefits you, helps you, or even makes your life easier?
So, that said, now you know that we need a framework to balance our schedule, and that’s where Make Time will come in handy. Make Time focuses on a four-part framework: Highlight, Laser, Energize, and Reflect.
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1. Highlight
Setting a daily intention or goal, known as a Highlight, can bring satisfaction, joy, and relief. It doesn't have to be a task but could be an activity you enjoy, like walking, spending time with your pet, or working out. If you're having trouble choosing a Highlight, consider priorities like urgency, satisfaction, and joy. Aim for a Highlight that takes around sixty to ninety minutes to complete. Remember, completing your Highlight daily can lead to a more fulfilling day.
Highlight Tactics
Choose Your Highlight
Write It Down
Groundhog It (or “Do Yesterday Again”)
Stack Rank Your Life
Batch The Little Stuff
The Might-Do List
The Burner List
Run A Personal Sprint
Note!: If you want to explain any tactics later in this post, don’t hesitate to ask me in the comment section so I can make another post explaining them.
Make Time For Your Highlight
Schedule Your Highlight
Block Your Calendar
Bulldoze Your Calendar
Flake It Till You Make It
Just Say No
Design Your Day
Become A Morning Person
Nighttime Is Highlight Time
Quit When You’re Done
2. Laser
Focusing solely on a particular target or highlight is known as lasering. However, with everything interconnected through Infinity Pools, it can be difficult to concentrate on a single objective. This is where the Laser technique can prove useful. This method's key objective is erecting barriers around the bustling Bandwagon and The Infinity Pools, allowing you to concentrate your attention like a laser beam. You can channel your energy into being productive and maximizing your time by eliminating distractions. “When distractions are hard to access, you don’t have to worry about willpower. You can channel your energy into making time instead of wasting it”.
Laser Tactics
Be The Boss of Your Phone
Try a Distraction-Free Phone
Log Out
Nix Notifications
Clear Your Homescreen
Wear a Wristwatch
Leave Devices Behind
Stay Out of Infinity Pools
Skip the Morning Check-In
Block Distraction Kryptonite
Ignore the News
Put Your Toys Away
Fly Without Wi-Fi
Put a Timer on the Internet
Cancel the Internet
Watch Out for Time Craters
Trade Fake Wins for Real Wins
Turn Distractions into Tools
Become a Fair-Weather Fan
Slow Your Inbox
Deal With Email at the End of the Day
Schedule Email Time
Empty Your Inbox Once a Week
Pretend Messages Are Letters
Be Slow to Respond
Reset Expectations
Set Up Send-Only Email
Vacation Off the Grid
Lock Yourself Out
Make TV a “Sometimes Treat”
Don’t Watch the News
Put Your TV in the Corner
Ditch Your TV for a Projector
Go à la Carte Instead of All-You-Can-Eat
If You Love Something, Set It Free
Find Flow
Shut the Door
Invent a Deadline
Explode Your Highlight
Play a Laser Sound Track
Set a Visible Timer
Avoid the Lure of Fancy Tools
Start on Paper
Stay in the Zone
Make a “Random Question” List
Notice One Breath
Be Bored
Be Stuck
Take a Day Off
Go All In
3. Energize
Remembering to energize yourself is crucial, even though it may slip your mind. Adopting a lifestyle similar to that of prehistoric humans can help increase your physical and mental energy levels. Taking care of your body is crucial for nourishing your brain. When you have more energy, staying focused, prioritizing tasks, and avoiding distractions and demands is simpler. Jake and John advise following a caveman-like lifestyle to enhance energy, which involves consuming real food, regulating caffeine consumption, and ensuring you get enough sleep.
Energize Tactics
Keep It Moving
Exercise Every Day(but Don’t Be a Hero)
Pound the Pavement
Inconvenience Yourself
Squeeze in a Super Short Workout
Eat Real Food
Eat Like a Hunter-Gatherer
Central Park Your Plate
Stay Hungry
Snack Like a Toddler
Go on the Dark Chocolate Plan
Optimize Caffeine
Wake Up Before You Caffeinate
Caffeinate Before You Crash
Take a Caffeine Nap
Maintain Altitude with Green Tea
Turbo Your Highlight
Learn Your Last Call
Disconnect Sugar
Go Off the Grid
Get Woodsy
Trick Yourself into Meditating
Leave Your Headphones at Home
Take Real Breaks
Make It Personal
Spend Time with Your Tribe
Eat Without Screens
Sleep in a Cave
Make Your Bedroom a Bed Room
Fake the Sunset
Sneak a Nap
Don’t Jet-Lag Yourself
Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First
Reflect
This Last step might be the most important. If you want to succeed and take the most out of this book, you must reflect on your experiments. You should:
Observe what’s going on.
Guess why things are happening the way they are.
Experiment to test your hypothesis.
Measure the results and decide whether you were right.
The Highlight hypothesis
If you set a single intention at the start of each day, we predict you’ll be more satisfied, joyful, and effective.
The Laser hypothesis
If you create barriers around the Busy Bandwagon and the Infinity Pools, we predict you’ll focus your attention like a laser beam.
The Energize hypothesis
If you live a little more like a prehistoric human, we predict you’ll enhance your mental and physical energy.
“QUICK START” GUIDE TO MAKE TIME
If you’re having a problem finding your best combination of tactics, you can try this recipe:
Highlight: Schedule Your Highlight(#8)
A simple way to be proactive, give form to your day and break the reaction cycle.
Laser: Block Distraction Kryptonite(#24)
Free yourself from one Infinity Pool, and see how your attention changes.
Energize: Pound the Pavement(#62)
A few minutes of walking each day provides a boost for the body and quiet for the mind.
Hope you found this summary helpful. I can’t wait to see your comments. Peace.
Love this ❤️
Absolutely captivated by the book's summary! 📚✨ It's such an intriguing blend of ideas that feel both interesting and incredibly useful. Can't wait to dive into this one!