168 Hours

1. There are 168 hours in a week - use them wisely

"168 Hours is the story of how some people manage to be fully engaged in their professional and personal lives."

Time abundance mindset. Most people underestimate how much time they have available. By adopting a 168-hour perspective, we can see that there is ample time for work, sleep, family, and personal pursuits. This shift in mindset allows us to move from a scarcity mentality to one of abundance and possibility.

Conscious time allocation. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by daily demands, we can strategically allocate our hours to align with our priorities. This involves:

• Tracking time use to identify inefficiencies
• Setting clear goals for personal and professional life
• Deliberately scheduling important activities
• Eliminating or minimizing time-wasters

By viewing time as a precious resource and making intentional choices about how we spend it, we can create a more fulfilling and balanced life.

2. Focus on your core competencies at work and home

"Just as you have core competencies at work, you have core competencies in your personal life."

Identify your strengths. Core competencies are the activities you excel at and find most fulfilling. At work, these are tasks that leverage your unique skills and contribute most to your success. At home, they might include nurturing relationships, pursuing hobbies, or maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Maximize impact. By focusing on core competencies:

• At work: Increase productivity and job satisfaction
• At home: Strengthen relationships and personal well-being
• Overall: Achieve greater success and fulfillment in all areas of life

Prioritize activities that align with your core competencies and delegate or minimize those that don't. This approach ensures that you're spending your time on high-value tasks that bring the most satisfaction and results.

3. Seize control of your schedule and create time blocks

"If you want to use your 168 hours effectively, once you make a commitment to yourself to spend a certain number of hours on a task, keep it."

Proactive scheduling. Take charge of your time by actively planning your week. Create dedicated blocks for:

• Work tasks
• Family time
• Personal activities
• Exercise
• Leisure pursuits

Honor commitments. Treat scheduled activities as non-negotiable appointments. This approach:

• Increases productivity
• Reduces procrastination
• Ensures important tasks are completed
• Creates a sense of accomplishment

By consciously structuring your time and sticking to your commitments, you can achieve a better balance between various life domains and make progress towards your goals.

4. Minimize, outsource, or eliminate non-essential tasks

"Freed from unnecessary domestic burdens, we become better parents and people."

Identify time-wasters. Analyze your daily activities to find tasks that don't contribute significantly to your goals or well-being. Common culprits include:

• Excessive housework
• Inefficient errands
• Mindless TV watching
• Overcommitment to non-essential activities

Strategic outsourcing. Consider delegating or outsourcing tasks that don't require your personal attention:

• Hire a cleaning service
• Use meal delivery or grocery services
• Delegate work tasks to team members
• Automate bill payments and routine administrative tasks

By reducing time spent on low-value activities, you free up more time for high-impact pursuits and create space for relaxation and personal growth.

5. Nurture relationships and align activities for efficiency

"A good marriage gives you great energy for achieving success in all parts of life."

Prioritize relationships. Invest time in nurturing connections with family, friends, and colleagues. Strong relationships contribute to overall well-being and can enhance productivity in other areas of life.

Activity alignment. Look for opportunities to combine activities:

• Exercise with friends or family
• Schedule "walking meetings" at work
• Combine errands with quality time (e.g., grocery shopping with a spouse)
• Use commute time for personal calls or learning

By aligning activities, you can maintain important relationships while accomplishing necessary tasks, making efficient use of your time and enhancing your overall quality of life.

6. Make time for exercise and meaningful leisure pursuits

"Doing three to five hours a week consistently will massively change your health."

Prioritize physical health. Regular exercise is crucial for overall well-being and productivity. Schedule workout time as a non-negotiable part of your week.

Engage in purposeful leisure. Choose activities that:

• Align with personal interests and values
• Provide relaxation and stress relief
• Offer opportunities for personal growth
• Foster creativity or learning

Examples of meaningful leisure pursuits:

• Reading for pleasure or education
• Practicing a musical instrument
• Volunteering for a cause you care about
• Engaging in a creative hobby

By making time for exercise and engaging leisure activities, you enhance your physical and mental health, leading to increased energy and productivity in other areas of life.

7. Regularly evaluate and adjust your time allocation

"Check in with yourself regularly—maybe once every 168 hours—to see if your weeks look like they should."

Continuous improvement. Regularly assess how you're spending your time and whether it aligns with your goals and priorities. This process involves:

• Reviewing your time logs
• Identifying areas for improvement
• Adjusting your schedule as needed
• Setting new goals or priorities

Adapt to changes. Life circumstances and priorities evolve over time. Be prepared to:

• Reassess your core competencies
• Adjust time allocation based on new responsibilities
• Explore new interests or pursuits
• Let go of activities that no longer serve you

By consistently evaluating and fine-tuning your approach to time management, you can ensure that your 168 hours are always being used in the most effective and fulfilling way possible.

8. Achieve work-life balance through strategic planning

"If you want to get more out of your 168 hours in the future, it helps to know how you're spending them now."

Holistic approach. Work-life balance isn't about equal time distribution, but rather about feeling fulfilled in all areas of life. Achieve this through:

• Clear goal-setting for both personal and professional domains
• Strategic time allocation based on priorities
• Regular reassessment and adjustment of commitments
• Creating boundaries between work and personal time

Flexibility and integration. Recognize that balance can look different for everyone and may vary over time. Consider:

• Flexible work arrangements when possible
• Integrating personal tasks into work breaks (e.g., quick workouts)
• Using technology to increase efficiency and flexibility
• Embracing seasons of life where certain areas may require more focus

By taking a strategic and flexible approach to planning your time, you can create a sense of balance that allows you to thrive in both your personal and professional life.

9. Use small pockets of time for personal growth

"If you spend 15 minutes a day, five times per week, honestly practicing French conversation with the intention of getting better, you will do just fine in Paris in a year."

Maximize micro-moments. Identify and utilize small pockets of time throughout your day for personal development or enjoyment. Examples include:

• Learning a language during your commute
• Reading articles or books while waiting in line
• Practicing mindfulness during breaks
• Doing quick stretches between tasks

Cumulative impact. Remember that small, consistent efforts add up over time:

• 15 minutes daily = 1.75 hours per week
• 1.75 hours weekly = 91 hours per year

By making use of these often-overlooked moments, you can make significant progress towards personal goals without dramatically altering your schedule. This approach allows you to continually grow and learn, even during busy periods of life.

Last updated: September 11, 2024