Make Time

1. Choose a daily Highlight to prioritize what matters most

What will be the highlight of your day?

Set a single intention. Each morning, choose one activity to prioritize as your Highlight. This could be an important work task, a personal project, or simply something you want to do. By proactively selecting a focal point, you ensure you spend time on what matters most to you, rather than reacting to other people's priorities.

Use three criteria to choose:

• Urgency: What's the most pressing thing you need to do today?
• Satisfaction: Which task will bring you the most satisfaction when completed?
• Joy: What activity will bring you the most happiness?

Aim for your Highlight to take 60-90 minutes. This provides enough time to get into a flow state without being overwhelming. Write down your Highlight to increase the likelihood of accomplishing it. Remember, perfection isn't required - simply choosing a Highlight helps redirect your focus and energy towards what's truly important to you.

2. Redesign your relationship with technology to beat distractions

Don't wait for technology to give back your time.

Take control of your devices. Modern technology is designed to be addictive and distracting. To regain focus, you must proactively redesign your relationship with devices and apps. Start by creating a "distraction-free" phone:

• Delete social media apps, games, and other Infinity Pools
• Remove email and disable notifications
• Keep only essential, non-distracting apps

Create barriers to distraction:

• Log out of addictive websites and apps
• Use browser extensions to limit time on distracting sites
• Schedule specific times for email and social media

By making distractions harder to access, you reduce the need for constant willpower. This allows you to channel your energy into making time for what truly matters, rather than wasting it on mindless scrolling and reacting to notifications.

3. Boost your energy by adopting hunter-gatherer habits

Act like a caveman to build energy.

Align with your evolutionary roots. Our bodies and brains are still wired for the hunter-gatherer lifestyle of our ancestors. By incorporating elements of this lifestyle into your modern routine, you can significantly boost your energy and focus.

Key hunter-gatherer habits to adopt:

• Move frequently: Walk, stretch, or exercise for at least 20 minutes daily
• Eat real food: Focus on whole, unprocessed foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, and lean meats
• Prioritize face-to-face interactions: Spend time with friends and family in person
• Get outside: Exposure to nature reduces stress and improves cognitive function
• Sleep in a dark, quiet environment: Create a cave-like bedroom for better rest

Remember, you don't need to make drastic changes. Small shifts towards a more "caveman-like" lifestyle can have a big impact on your energy levels and overall well-being.

4. Create barriers to Infinity Pools and the Busy Bandwagon

The best way to defeat distraction is to make it harder to react.

Identify and limit Infinity Pools. Infinity Pools are apps and services with endless, algorithmic content that can suck up hours of your time. Common examples include social media, news sites, and video streaming platforms. To regain control:

• Remove Infinity Pool apps from your phone
• Use website blockers during focused work time
• Set specific time limits for using these services

Resist the Busy Bandwagon. The Busy Bandwagon is the cultural pressure to always be productive and responsive. To avoid getting caught up:

• Schedule your Highlight and protect that time
• Batch process email and small tasks
• Learn to say no to non-essential commitments
• Be slow to respond to non-urgent messages

By creating barriers to both Infinity Pools and the Busy Bandwagon, you make it easier to focus on what truly matters and avoid getting pulled into reactive patterns of behavior.

5. Optimize your environment for focus and productivity

The closed door is your way of telling the world and yourself that you mean business.

Design your space for concentration. Your physical environment plays a crucial role in your ability to focus. Make intentional changes to support deep work:

• Create a dedicated workspace: Even if it's just a corner of a room
• Remove visible distractions: Clear clutter and put away devices
• Use visual cues: A closed door or noise-canceling headphones signal "do not disturb"

Adjust your digital environment:

• Clear your computer desktop
• Close unnecessary browser tabs and applications
• Use focus mode or full-screen features on your devices

Optimize for energy:

• Ensure proper lighting, ideally with access to natural light
• Maintain a comfortable temperature
• Consider using a standing desk or active sitting options

By thoughtfully designing both your physical and digital environments, you create an atmosphere conducive to sustained focus and productivity.

6. Use caffeine strategically to maintain steady energy

Wake up before you caffeinate.

Time your caffeine intake. Caffeine can be a powerful tool for maintaining energy and focus, but it's easy to fall into suboptimal habits. To use caffeine more strategically:

• Delay your first cup: Wait 60-90 minutes after waking to allow natural cortisol levels to peak
• Avoid afternoon crashes: Have your last caffeinated beverage 8-10 hours before bedtime
• Consider lower-dose options: Try green tea for a more balanced energy boost

Experiment with caffeine tactics:

• Caffeine napping: Drink coffee, then take a 15-20 minute nap for a powerful recharge
• Caffeine fasting: Occasionally skip caffeine to reset your tolerance
• Pair with your Highlight: Time your caffeine intake to coincide with your most important task

Remember, everyone's caffeine sensitivity is different. Pay attention to how it affects your energy and sleep, and adjust accordingly. The goal is to use caffeine as a tool to support your focus and productivity, not as a crutch to push through exhaustion.

7. Reflect daily and fine-tune your approach with small experiments

You are a sample size of one, and your results are the only results that really matter.

Track your progress. At the end of each day, take a few minutes to reflect on how well you implemented the Make Time strategies. Ask yourself:

• Did I make time for my Highlight?
• How was my energy level throughout the day?
• Which tactics worked well? Which didn't?
• What am I grateful for today?

Embrace experimentation. Treat Make Time as a series of personal experiments. Not every tactic will work for everyone, so it's crucial to find what works best for you.

• Try one new tactic at a time
• Give each experiment at least a few days
• Be specific in your observations
• Adjust and refine based on your results

By consistently reflecting and experimenting, you'll develop a personalized system that helps you make time for what matters most. Remember, small shifts can create big results over time. The goal isn't perfection, but rather continuous improvement in how you manage your time, energy, and attention.

Last updated: November 7, 2024