
Make Time: How to focus on what matters every day

Collecting the data is super easy. Every day you’ll reflect on whether you made time for your Highlight and how well you were able to focus on it. You’ll note how much energy you had. You’ll review the tactics you used, jot down some observations on what worked and what didn’t, and make a plan for which tactics you’ll try tomorrow.
John Zeratsky • Make Time: How to focus on what matters every day
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
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priorities, deal with email at the end of the day. That way, you can use your prime hours for your Highlight and other important work.
John Zeratsky • Make Time: How to focus on what matters every day
Perfection is a distraction—another shiny object taking your attention away from your real priorities. We’d like you to forget the idea of perfection when it comes to Make Time. Don’t even try to do it perfectly—there’s no such thing! But there’s also no way to screw it up. And you won’t have to start over if you “fall off the wagon,” because each
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The second Highlight strategy is to think about…
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John Zeratsky • Make Time: How to focus on what matters every day
Highlight: Start Each Day by Choosing a Focal Point 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. It might be an important goal at work, like finishing a presentation. You might choose something at home, like cooking dinner or planting y
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Rather than summarizing the most important events of the day, most TV news offers up anxiety-provoking stories handpicked to keep you agitated and tuned in. Instead, make a habit of reading the news once per day or even once per week
John Zeratsky • Make Time: How to focus on what matters every day
Whereas the first strategy is all about what needs to get done, this strategy encourages you to focus on…
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John Zeratsky • Make Time: How to focus on what matters every day
even if lots of things didn’t go your way, your hard work of making time still paid off with a moment you’re grateful for.