Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day

by Jake Knapp

The faster you run on the hamster wheel, the faster it spins.

you absolutely can control your attention.

Being more productive didn’t mean I was doing the most important work; it only meant I was reacting to other people’s priorities faster.

making distractions harder to access instead of relying on willpower to constantly fight them.

something magic happens when you start the day with one high-priority goal.

Each day’s goal is ambitious, but it’s just one thing.

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.

“What’s going to be the highlight of my day?”

What do I want to be the highlight of my day?

The first strategy is all about urgency: What’s the most pressing thing I have to do today?

choose a Highlight that takes sixty to ninety minutes.

Most to-dos are just reactions to other people’s priorities, not yours. And no matter how many tasks you finish, you’re never done—more to-dos are always waiting to take their place.

Distracted has become the new default.

Wear a Wristwatch