something magic happens when you start the day with one high-priority goal. (Location 448)
Tags: pink
The first step is choosing a single highlight to prioritize in your day. Next, you’ll employ specific tactics to stay laser-focused on that highlight—we’ll offer a menu of tricks to beat distraction in an always-connected world. Throughout the day, you’ll build energy so you can stay in control of your time and attention. Finally, you’ll reflect on the day with a few simple notes. (Location 500)
The first step in Make Time is deciding what you want to make time for. Every day, you’ll choose a single activity to prioritize and protect in your calendar. (Location 506)
To achieve focus and make time for what matters, your brain needs energy, and that energy comes from taking care of your body. That’s why the third component of Make Time is to charge your battery with exercise, food, sleep, quiet, and face-to-face time. (Location 527)
Perfection is a distraction—another shiny object taking your attention away from your real priorities. (Location 559)
We believe that focusing on these in-between activities—in the space between goals and tasks—is the key to slowing down, bringing satisfaction to your daily life, and helping you make time. (Location 650)
Urgency The first strategy is all about urgency: What’s the most pressing thing I have to do today? (Location 678)
Satisfaction The second Highlight strategy is to think about satisfaction: At the end of the day, which Highlight will bring me the most satisfaction? (Location 690)
The third strategy focuses on joy: When I reflect on today, what will bring me the most joy? (Location 704)
A good rule of thumb is to choose a Highlight that takes sixty to ninety minutes. If you spend less than sixty minutes, you might not have time to get in the zone, but after ninety minutes of focused attention, most people need a break. Sixty to ninety minutes is a sweet spot. It’s enough time to do something meaningful, and it’s a reasonable amount of time to create in your schedule. With the tactics in this chapter and throughout the book, we’re confident you can make sixty to ninety minutes for your Highlight. (Location 717)
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 “always on” default and step away from their own Infinity Pools. You aren’t just making time for yourself and your own Highlight; you’re also setting a good example for the people around you. (Location 1393)
Stare at the blank screen, or switch to paper, or walk around, but keep your focus on the project at hand. (Location 2205)
Choosing a Highlight and getting into Laser mode are the core of Make Time. But the secret sauce is Energize. Our thesis is simple: If you have energy, it’s easier to maintain your focus and priorities and avoid reacting to distractions and demands. (Location 2314)
mean. If you want energy for your brain, you need to take care of your body. (Location 2330)
We’re not saying you should give up on headphones altogether. That would be pretty hypocritical, because we use them ourselves almost every day. But an occasional headphone vacation for a day or just an hour is an easy way to put some quiet in your day and give your brain a moment to recharge. (Location 2890)
People with strong relationships are more likely to live long, healthy, fulfilling lives. (Location 2932)
Spending time with interesting, high-energy people is one of the best—and most enjoyable—ways to recharge your battery. (Location 2946)
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. (Location 3111)