168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think

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I might not be the best at all of these skills but nobody else can do them for me seeing as they are things that fulfill me, or that I want to get better at doing (photography and microscopy). Get a real idea of how many hours you have to spare each day: The best (and perhaps worst) part of this time management strategy is that it shows you how much time you actually do have to spare once you’ve taken sleep and work out of the equation. It can be alarming to see how much of that potentially valuable time is spent on things like watching television, or crafting the perfect social media post. Unless you work two jobs, you probably have the time to work and learn something new every single week. hours is a time management strategy designed by Laura Vanderkam, author of 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think. In Vanderkam’s words, “… we spend massive amounts of time on things… that give a slight amount of pleasure or feeling of accomplishment, but do little for our careers, our families, or our personal lives… consequently, we feel overworked and underrated, and tend to believe stories that confirm this view.” You could learn to scuba dive. You could go on a number of long hikes. You could learn to bake macarons or chocolate eclairs. You could have a really long, luxurious nap, you could spend valuable time with your loved ones.

Sleep for 7 hours, max. 8 if you're a real lazy-ass. You can sleep when you're dead. Don't "sleep in" on weekends. Wake up earlier and go to bed earlier since "nothing meaningful" gets done after 10p anyway. Except. Everyone is different. Some people have their best "brain time" at different times. More useful: adjust your sleep schedule around your best hours of the day -- plan to sleep when you know you're likely to have the hardest time staying focused. I could go on and on. She also shared that she ran a lot during both of her pregnancies and could fit into her pre-pregnancy jeans just a couple weeks after having her babies. So helpful. If you can't tell, this book got under my skin a bit. Most people don't have money to spend on a personal chef, and I think it's really shallow to think that the only way to live a successful, happy life is to have an amazing career that gets you lots of money. I kept having to put the book down because I was just too miffed to continue; the only reason I finished it was because it was for my book club. There were also several insulting references to families that chose to have the wife/mom stay at home, which admittedly made continuing to read more difficult for me (I'm a stay-at-home mom). I also felt that, while she's clearly devoted to nurturing her children and advocated that strongly, the references made to nurturing one's spouse/partner were a nod-and-wave at best. I don't think people should read an excessive amount of self-help materials - at some point you just gotta start implementing what you read instead of being caught in the perpetual, never-ending reading cycle, yes? I've become very strict about what I choose to read in this department, but the structure of the book did okay and was fast to read and catch the useful ideas.

Hours should be an eye-opener for every one of us who leads a busy, hectic life. Reading it made me appreciate how much “true” amount of time I really have and how to use it wisely and optimally to boost productivity, efficiency, and joy.” Seize control of your schedule. Determine what you want to do with your life and set a schedule to get there

It’s not a time management book (though it can certainly help you manage your hours). It’s more of a ‘wake up and open your eyes, you twit,’ kind of book. Or, for those who prefer the gentler version, it’s the sort of book that says, ‘Isn’t this interesting? Look at how much time you really have. Now what are you going to do about it?’” I’m planning to try logging my time for a week soon so I can better see how I’m actually spending my time and decide what changes I want to make. Use bits of time for bits of joy. Plan on how to use your time when you are idle or when the unexpected happens. It’s perfect for those who think they face a constant time crunch. Until recently, I was one. Reading the book helped me realize I do have time to write that novel, start that blog, take that dance class, exercise every day — and still have dinner ready for my husband and spend quality time with my kids.”

Do you know how you are using your time now? Or, in an average week of 168 hours, where is that time going? Don't spend time cooking in the kitchen. You can still have a home cooked meal by opening a can of lobster bisque or microwaving a frozen burrito. (My kids thought this one was particularly hilarious.) While you certainly can’t make more time, you can make more intentional decisions about how you spend that time. “Getting the most out of your 168 hours is a process of evaluating where you are and where you want to be.” Says Vanderkam.