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Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done
"I well recall a conversation with an executive I hoped to interview about her astonishing productivity. I began our call with an assurance that I would not take much of her time. She laughed. 'Oh, I have all the time in the world,' she said."Most of us feel constantly behind, unsure how to escape feeling oppressed by busyness. Laura Vanderkam, unlike other time-management gurus, believes that in order to get more done, we must first feel like we have all the time in the world. Think about why haven't you trained for that 5K or read War and Peace? Probably because you feel beaten down by all the time you don't seem to have.In this book, Vanderkam reveals the seven counterintuitive principles the most time-free people have adopted. She teaches mindset shifts to help you feel calm on the busiest days and tools to help you get more done without feeling overwhelmed. You'll meet people such as... â™� An elementary school principal who figured out how to spend more time mentoring teachers, and less time supervising the cafeteria â™� An executive who builds lots of meeting-free space into his calendar, despite managing teams across multiple continents ♦ÌýA CEO who does focused work in a Waffle House early in the morning, so he can keep an open door and a relaxed mindset all day ♦ÌýAn artist who overcame a creative block, and reached new heights of productivity, by being more gentle with herself, rather than more demandingThe strategies in this book can help if your life feels out of control, but they can also help if you want to take your career, your relationships, and your personal happiness to the next level. Vanderkam has packed this book with insights from busy yet relaxed professionals, including "time makeovers" of people who are learning how to use these tools. Off the Clock can inspire the rest of us to create lives that are not only productive, but enjoyable in the moment.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 29, 2018
654 people are currently reading
11.5k people want to read
About the author
Laura Vanderkam
24Ìýbooks1,145ÌýfollowersLaura Vanderkam is the author of several time management and productivity books, including:
The New Corner Office
Off the Clock
I Know How She Does It
What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast
168 Hours
Laura is also the author of a time management fable, Juliet’s School of Possibilities and another novel, The Cortlandt Boys, which is available as an ebook.
Her 2016 TED talk, "How to Gain Control of Your Free Time," has been viewed more than 5 million times.
She regularly appears in publications including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and Fortune.
She is the host of two weekly podcasts, Before Breakfast and The New Corner Office and she is the co-host, with Sarah Hart-Unger, of the weekly podcast Best of Both Worlds.
She lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and five children, and blogs at LauraVanderkam.com.
The New Corner Office
Off the Clock
I Know How She Does It
What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast
168 Hours
Laura is also the author of a time management fable, Juliet’s School of Possibilities and another novel, The Cortlandt Boys, which is available as an ebook.
Her 2016 TED talk, "How to Gain Control of Your Free Time," has been viewed more than 5 million times.
She regularly appears in publications including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and Fortune.
She is the host of two weekly podcasts, Before Breakfast and The New Corner Office and she is the co-host, with Sarah Hart-Unger, of the weekly podcast Best of Both Worlds.
She lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and five children, and blogs at LauraVanderkam.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 588 reviews
December 30, 2021
This is more of a philosophical book from the author's own life rather than a concrete guide to feel less busy. It’s decent and put me in the headspace to try to be more mindful of the way I spend my time, but not something I would find super helpful long-term.
August 19, 2018
This isn't a bad book by any means and I basically agree with what Vanderkam is trying to say with this and her other books.
However.
The main fault with this book, her writing in general, and most books about time management that are based on what "successful" people do with their time is that the assumption of privilege. They assume a basic level of control over one's work schedule and a level of economic affluence that affords significant amounts of paid childcare and household help. Many working parents, both men and women, simply do not have the resources of control of their work situation that Vanderkam and the people she interviews possess. While I do not criticize Vanderkam for her level of privelege, especially since I'm a semi-upper middle class white female with a flexible job and ample financial resources, the fault is that she fails to acknowledge this privilege and how it impacts her world view and writing. I wouldn't expect her to be able to write from the perspective of those who are less fortunate in their financial and career status but I would like a bit more understanding of how others may have different circumstances.
However.
The main fault with this book, her writing in general, and most books about time management that are based on what "successful" people do with their time is that the assumption of privilege. They assume a basic level of control over one's work schedule and a level of economic affluence that affords significant amounts of paid childcare and household help. Many working parents, both men and women, simply do not have the resources of control of their work situation that Vanderkam and the people she interviews possess. While I do not criticize Vanderkam for her level of privelege, especially since I'm a semi-upper middle class white female with a flexible job and ample financial resources, the fault is that she fails to acknowledge this privilege and how it impacts her world view and writing. I wouldn't expect her to be able to write from the perspective of those who are less fortunate in their financial and career status but I would like a bit more understanding of how others may have different circumstances.
June 21, 2018
This is an excellent book--especially for anyone who read the novel "I Don't Know How She Does It" hoping for an answer: Vanderkam, with a career and four kids under the age of ten, provides more answers in this sequel to her first book, "I Know How She Does It." Readers who are 24/7 parents of young children or who have other family responsibilities at that level of full-time intensity will especially welcome these helpful, reassuring sets of suggestions about saving time and improving its quality.
BTW, Amazon should welcome the mention in this book of Kindle. And fellow Goodreaders will appreciate what Vanderkam has to say about reading reviews to find good books.
BTW, Amazon should welcome the mention in this book of Kindle. And fellow Goodreaders will appreciate what Vanderkam has to say about reading reviews to find good books.
December 4, 2018
I never would have thought to pick this book up, had I not heard it recommended by The Modern Mrs. Darcy-- and in that recommendation, she mentioned that this is not so much as a time-management/ business building book as it is a self-help/ memoir of sorts. At any rate, I thought it sounded interesting and checked it out from the library.
The book is exactly what is says-- ways to feel less busy while getting more done. The author has done extensive research on time management and how people spend their time. As a result, she's able to pull numbers on people who feel they have a lot of time versus those who do not-- and what differs between the two groups of people.
She breaks the book down into 7 chapters as follows:
1. Tend your garden-- you must know your plot, think about what you want it to look like, and then take daily steps to achieve that garden
2. Make life memorable--the brain tends to remember and place importance on meaningful memories
3. Don't fill time-- open it up!
4. Linger-- Enjoy the enjoyable moments
5. Invest in your happiness-- What are your favorite treats? Could you put these into your life more frequently?
6. Let it go-- Notice which topics take up a lot of mental space and what can you let go of?
7. People are a good use of time--Who would you like to invest more time in? And what activities would enhance the time you spend together?
For the most part, I feel like I fall into the camp of people who believe I have enough time. Of course time goes fast and children grow up quickly, but each day, I feel like I have time to do things that i want to do. Friends of mine often ask me how I find time to exercise, read, knit, and try new recipes-- in addition to my regularly scheduled life. (Of course, now I'm staying home with my daughter so it is assumed that I have 8 extra leisure hours to spend!) And usually, that question is followed up by some form of the statement "I'd love to do that but I'm just so busy!" Well duh, we are all busy! I think the thing that makes me different from many of my peers is that I prioritize these things. I try to walk every day. I read before bed. I love knitting, and fixing puzzles, and cooking so I do these things in the evening. It's funny because we never seem to question how people can possibly have 90 minutes to devote to social media-- but you know they do!!
Ultimately, this book helped me feel like I'm doing things right-- and gave several suggestions for ways to even improve the feeling of having more time in your day. If you're one of those busy people who would love to "have more time", I'd highly recommend reading this!
Favorite Pages:
p.44 . Carve out a few minutes to look at the next week and make a 3 category priority list involving career, relationships, and self.
p.62 If you think of each discrete event that happens to you as a memory unit, in an environment with a lot of variety and change, you're forming far more memory units than in an environment with very little change. it's these units, the number of these units that determine our estimates of time later on. More units, more to remember, and time expands.
p.64 . One might inquire this of any 24 hour period: Why is today different from all other days?
p.72 . Anticipatory/ Remembering/ Experiencing Self-- and how they differ (Anticipatory self thought it would be fun to go out, remembering self remembers a fun evening and meeting a new friend, experiencing self was tired after work and the kids were cranky.)
p.84 . It's a mind-set. Do I have all the time in the world? Well, I've got the same amount of time as everyone else, I think it's how you approach time.
p.85 . People like having meetings just because it makes them feel like they're busy, and useful, and productive.
p. 97 Sometimes we do things because we have always done them. If there is no reason that satisfies . you, then the activity may fall under the "toss" category, even if that little voice in your head is telling you that everybody does it.
p110. People with the highest time-perception scores were about half as likely to surf the web or check social media as people with the lowest scores. They were far more likely to read or spend time with friends and family that they knew in real life, not via Instagram posts.
p. 113 Doing something is not always better than doing nothing. Don't fill time. Open it up-- and though we may all die at last anyway, at least the time we have before then will feel as plentiful as summer light.
p. 114 . Late is you not taking into account the thing you know they're (kids) going to do.
p. 122 People who feel rushed and harried are, by definition, more likely to feel like time is moving too fast. The best way to avoid this frantic feeling is to stop being late.
p. 132 Clear the calendar of things you don't want to do so that you can linger if you're having a good time with the things you do want to do.
p.133 Each day, for one week, plan to do something you find enjoyable for ten to twenty minutes.
p. 151 When people don't pause to reflect on their lives, they just move from thing to thing and don't notice how much time they have.
p. 174 Being able to let go of unrealistic expectations can make us feel more relaxed about time.
p. 177 Good enough is almost always good enough. While the "best" house no longer makes you happy when someone else's house is better, a house chosen because it is close to work, has four bedrooms, and sports front yard landscaping that makes you smile when you pull in the driveway will still do all these things regardless of what a friends' house is like.
p. 178 It is better to focus on process goals, which are habits by a different name. These are within your control, and whend one regularly tend to lead toward the desired outcome over time.
p. 188 (On letting go of expectations) . You will spend big bucks to go to Disney World and your child will refuse to leave the hotel pool.
p. 193 Let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
p. 195 Spending time with people doesn't just pass the time, it helps the hours come alive.
p. 199 Set quarterly goals, which are much more productive than New Year's Resolutions.
p. 203-4 People rarely show up at work at 8:00 AM with no idea about what they will do until 1:00 PM, and yet people will come home at 6:00 PM having no idea what they will do until they go to bed at 11:00 PM. It takes effort and thought to pull out a sketchbook, whereas turning on the TV or scrolling social media does not.
p. 211 Every Friday, plan your week and make a list of five people you'd like to reach out to.
The book is exactly what is says-- ways to feel less busy while getting more done. The author has done extensive research on time management and how people spend their time. As a result, she's able to pull numbers on people who feel they have a lot of time versus those who do not-- and what differs between the two groups of people.
She breaks the book down into 7 chapters as follows:
1. Tend your garden-- you must know your plot, think about what you want it to look like, and then take daily steps to achieve that garden
2. Make life memorable--the brain tends to remember and place importance on meaningful memories
3. Don't fill time-- open it up!
4. Linger-- Enjoy the enjoyable moments
5. Invest in your happiness-- What are your favorite treats? Could you put these into your life more frequently?
6. Let it go-- Notice which topics take up a lot of mental space and what can you let go of?
7. People are a good use of time--Who would you like to invest more time in? And what activities would enhance the time you spend together?
For the most part, I feel like I fall into the camp of people who believe I have enough time. Of course time goes fast and children grow up quickly, but each day, I feel like I have time to do things that i want to do. Friends of mine often ask me how I find time to exercise, read, knit, and try new recipes-- in addition to my regularly scheduled life. (Of course, now I'm staying home with my daughter so it is assumed that I have 8 extra leisure hours to spend!) And usually, that question is followed up by some form of the statement "I'd love to do that but I'm just so busy!" Well duh, we are all busy! I think the thing that makes me different from many of my peers is that I prioritize these things. I try to walk every day. I read before bed. I love knitting, and fixing puzzles, and cooking so I do these things in the evening. It's funny because we never seem to question how people can possibly have 90 minutes to devote to social media-- but you know they do!!
Ultimately, this book helped me feel like I'm doing things right-- and gave several suggestions for ways to even improve the feeling of having more time in your day. If you're one of those busy people who would love to "have more time", I'd highly recommend reading this!
Favorite Pages:
p.44 . Carve out a few minutes to look at the next week and make a 3 category priority list involving career, relationships, and self.
p.62 If you think of each discrete event that happens to you as a memory unit, in an environment with a lot of variety and change, you're forming far more memory units than in an environment with very little change. it's these units, the number of these units that determine our estimates of time later on. More units, more to remember, and time expands.
p.64 . One might inquire this of any 24 hour period: Why is today different from all other days?
p.72 . Anticipatory/ Remembering/ Experiencing Self-- and how they differ (Anticipatory self thought it would be fun to go out, remembering self remembers a fun evening and meeting a new friend, experiencing self was tired after work and the kids were cranky.)
p.84 . It's a mind-set. Do I have all the time in the world? Well, I've got the same amount of time as everyone else, I think it's how you approach time.
p.85 . People like having meetings just because it makes them feel like they're busy, and useful, and productive.
p. 97 Sometimes we do things because we have always done them. If there is no reason that satisfies . you, then the activity may fall under the "toss" category, even if that little voice in your head is telling you that everybody does it.
p110. People with the highest time-perception scores were about half as likely to surf the web or check social media as people with the lowest scores. They were far more likely to read or spend time with friends and family that they knew in real life, not via Instagram posts.
p. 113 Doing something is not always better than doing nothing. Don't fill time. Open it up-- and though we may all die at last anyway, at least the time we have before then will feel as plentiful as summer light.
p. 114 . Late is you not taking into account the thing you know they're (kids) going to do.
p. 122 People who feel rushed and harried are, by definition, more likely to feel like time is moving too fast. The best way to avoid this frantic feeling is to stop being late.
p. 132 Clear the calendar of things you don't want to do so that you can linger if you're having a good time with the things you do want to do.
p.133 Each day, for one week, plan to do something you find enjoyable for ten to twenty minutes.
p. 151 When people don't pause to reflect on their lives, they just move from thing to thing and don't notice how much time they have.
p. 174 Being able to let go of unrealistic expectations can make us feel more relaxed about time.
p. 177 Good enough is almost always good enough. While the "best" house no longer makes you happy when someone else's house is better, a house chosen because it is close to work, has four bedrooms, and sports front yard landscaping that makes you smile when you pull in the driveway will still do all these things regardless of what a friends' house is like.
p. 178 It is better to focus on process goals, which are habits by a different name. These are within your control, and whend one regularly tend to lead toward the desired outcome over time.
p. 188 (On letting go of expectations) . You will spend big bucks to go to Disney World and your child will refuse to leave the hotel pool.
p. 193 Let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
p. 195 Spending time with people doesn't just pass the time, it helps the hours come alive.
p. 199 Set quarterly goals, which are much more productive than New Year's Resolutions.
p. 203-4 People rarely show up at work at 8:00 AM with no idea about what they will do until 1:00 PM, and yet people will come home at 6:00 PM having no idea what they will do until they go to bed at 11:00 PM. It takes effort and thought to pull out a sketchbook, whereas turning on the TV or scrolling social media does not.
p. 211 Every Friday, plan your week and make a list of five people you'd like to reach out to.
May 29, 2018
It's no exaggeration to say that Laura Vanderkam's writing has changed my life. Her earlier books forced me to confront my own part in procrastination, avoiding hard tasks and making excuses like "I don't have the time." This book - Off the Clock - crystalizes all her earlier writing into an easy-to-follow (though sometimes counterintuitive) set of principles for making the most of your time. The author is a busy journalist, speaker, wife and mother of four, so I suppose it makes sense that she's figured out the secret to feeling less busy while getting more done -- as the subtitle of this book says. If you only buy one productivity or time management book this year, make it Off the Clock. Highly recommended!
June 16, 2018
I didn't feel like this was as readable as some of her books, but I LOVED it. So thoughtful and I was talking and thinking about it non-stop.
October 21, 2018
An insightful and relateable take on how to make time management more manageable so you have more time for things/people you love and less time to complain about how "busy" or time-consumed you are.
October 18, 2018
I constantly feel extremely busy even though I have relatively a lot of free time, so I was really interested in this book. As I was reading it, it felt like another self-help book full of meaningless filler, but in retrospect, it actually had some useful ideas.
Here's what I learned:
- If you really want to get something done, do it first thing in the morning. This is obviously hard advice to follow, because who wants to get up early, but it was a good reminder.
- Let go of unrealistic expectations of how you spend your time. E.g., if you want to paint, paint when you can/feel like it. Relax if you can't. Don't be too hard on yourself.
- Along the same lines, don't be a maximizer - e.g., let go of feeling like you have to find the "best" restaurant/hotel/cleaning person/etc. This is hard because, the internet. But remember, good enough is good enough and you probably won't know the difference.
- Track your time in half-hour increments for a week or so. I did this and it was really helpful to be present and recognize (1) when I'm productive and when I'm not and (2) which activities make me happy/relaxed/fulfilled and which are a total waste of time because they don't add any value to my life. Try to rearrange your time and minimize/streamline activities that you don't like.
- Do memorable things, like adventures and new things, with people that you like. Like going to Palm Springs!
Here's what I learned:
- If you really want to get something done, do it first thing in the morning. This is obviously hard advice to follow, because who wants to get up early, but it was a good reminder.
- Let go of unrealistic expectations of how you spend your time. E.g., if you want to paint, paint when you can/feel like it. Relax if you can't. Don't be too hard on yourself.
- Along the same lines, don't be a maximizer - e.g., let go of feeling like you have to find the "best" restaurant/hotel/cleaning person/etc. This is hard because, the internet. But remember, good enough is good enough and you probably won't know the difference.
- Track your time in half-hour increments for a week or so. I did this and it was really helpful to be present and recognize (1) when I'm productive and when I'm not and (2) which activities make me happy/relaxed/fulfilled and which are a total waste of time because they don't add any value to my life. Try to rearrange your time and minimize/streamline activities that you don't like.
- Do memorable things, like adventures and new things, with people that you like. Like going to Palm Springs!
Read
March 24, 2019I guess I am a person who reads self-help books now?? And finds them genuinely helpful?? Anyway, my main takeaways from this one were:
-When we say we wish we had more time, often what we mean is we wish we had more memories
-We have three selves: anticipating, experiencing, and remembering; the division of labor feels unfair between the three, which tempts us to be lazy, but if we don't plan for experiences, we will have nothing to anticipate and nothing to remember.
-"Plan it in, do it anyway"--aka make plans to do memorable things, and then do them even if you are tired or don't feel like it becauseeee:
-Doing meaningful activities can be a source of energy
I also felt personally called out when she talked about how we often overestimate how much we work and how little we sleep. We tend to remember the extremes as the norm, but if we took the time to measure it, we'd likely see we've been selectively recalling the times that fit our self-concept.
A lot of this felt like a common-sense reminder of things I already know (e.g. people are a good use of time), but we can all use a reminder now and again to push us into gear. It wasn't groundbreaking, but I still found it helpful.
-When we say we wish we had more time, often what we mean is we wish we had more memories
-We have three selves: anticipating, experiencing, and remembering; the division of labor feels unfair between the three, which tempts us to be lazy, but if we don't plan for experiences, we will have nothing to anticipate and nothing to remember.
-"Plan it in, do it anyway"--aka make plans to do memorable things, and then do them even if you are tired or don't feel like it becauseeee:
-Doing meaningful activities can be a source of energy
I also felt personally called out when she talked about how we often overestimate how much we work and how little we sleep. We tend to remember the extremes as the norm, but if we took the time to measure it, we'd likely see we've been selectively recalling the times that fit our self-concept.
A lot of this felt like a common-sense reminder of things I already know (e.g. people are a good use of time), but we can all use a reminder now and again to push us into gear. It wasn't groundbreaking, but I still found it helpful.
July 28, 2018
Just read the work book at the end or read some of her blog posts. There is a lot of filler with stories and platitudes about time management. Big takeaways:
1. Track all your time
2. So memorable things
3. Prioritize people
1. Track all your time
2. So memorable things
3. Prioritize people
March 19, 2020
I chose Laura Vanderkam's Off the Clock when I was working and the world had not been "shut down" by COVID-19; however, much of what she says I do agree with and practice as much as I can when I am working. I do wonder though about people who have less control over their work schedules and don't work 8-5 Monday through Friday.
I found myself jotting down phrases and comments that I agreed with or want to remember so I will include those here as they may lead to someone else picking up this quick read on time management. I can see some of these statements even becoming posters in my high school English classroom.
Make time memorable.
Strategizing boosts efficiency.
Time discipline leads to time freedom.
When agreeing to something in the future, consider whether or not you would agree to do tomorrow.
How we live our hours is how we live our lives.
Any experience of suffering is worthwhile if you let it change you.
From Richard II--Shakespeare--"I wasted time and now doth time waste me."
I especially like the Mary Oliver poem "The Summer Day." I will see if I can find a way to use this in a future lesson somehow.
When Vanderkam referenced Modern Mrs. Darcy early in the text, I knew that this was going to be a worthwhile read because I get lots of book recommendations from Modern Mrs. Darcy, so we were already similar in that way.
I found myself jotting down phrases and comments that I agreed with or want to remember so I will include those here as they may lead to someone else picking up this quick read on time management. I can see some of these statements even becoming posters in my high school English classroom.
Make time memorable.
Strategizing boosts efficiency.
Time discipline leads to time freedom.
When agreeing to something in the future, consider whether or not you would agree to do tomorrow.
How we live our hours is how we live our lives.
Any experience of suffering is worthwhile if you let it change you.
From Richard II--Shakespeare--"I wasted time and now doth time waste me."
I especially like the Mary Oliver poem "The Summer Day." I will see if I can find a way to use this in a future lesson somehow.
When Vanderkam referenced Modern Mrs. Darcy early in the text, I knew that this was going to be a worthwhile read because I get lots of book recommendations from Modern Mrs. Darcy, so we were already similar in that way.
November 16, 2018
I was in line to get this book from the library for pretty much forever - and when it finally came through I was excited to check it out. That being said - I think this is going to be my last book of hers I read. It's not that it is bad - it just didn't provide anything new that I hadn't heard from her past books and the more I become involved in other issues in the world -I just find myself reading her stuff thinking "oh this incredible white privileged life" - I fully admit I very much have a privileged life but her books aren't helpful to me navigating these things. Anyway - it's fine - but it wasn't anything great.
July 26, 2018
This book gave me so much to think & talk about, and I even went back and re-listened to the chapter on relationships after I was done. Her stuff about the Anticipating/experiencing/memory self (and not letting the lazy or stressed “experiencing self� overrule the other two) especially hit home for me.
April 27, 2019
A good time management book that I got through fairly quickly, mostly with text-to-speech. I think some of the things she says have already made a difference in my life, e.g. choosing to do memorable things to "stretch out" the passing of time, tracking time, and just deciding to leave earlier and never be late again - which I'd recently been working on anyway. I also like her podcast, "Before Breakfast", which is what motivated me to try one of her books. I recommend both the book and the podcast.
Read
June 13, 2018While Vanderkam's discussions center around time and time management, the biggest takeaways in this book aren't about time management: they're about effective energy management. As someone who chooses energy management over time management -- this works for me.
We all have more time than we think, and being "busy" isn't a sign of importance. It's not an award to indicate a level of powerful work. If we looked at our days in thirty minute time chunks, we'd see the holes where "busy" doesn't exist, and it would be far more apparent than we think it is. Of course -- and this is acknowledged -- being able to have the time and luxury to think about time and leisure and work is itself a privilege.
There are seven big tips in this book:
1. Tend your garden
2. Make life memorable
3. Don't fill time
4. Linger
5. Invest in your happiness
6. Let it go
7. People are a good use of time.
They're pretty self-explanatory, but I find "tend to your garden" to be a great one, as well as "don't fill your time," and "let it go." Nothing has to be perfect, especially if perfect is the enemy of doing the thing. Filling your time to look important just steals energy from time you have to pursue your passions. And of course, tending your garden is how you continually prioritize and reprioritize. Vanderkam suggests spending Friday afternoons making your to-do for the upcoming week, setting intentions in the categories of "personal," "career," and "relationships." I appreciate the distinction here, too, between goals (things that can absolutely bog us down and make us forget that the process itself is often worthy of the pursuit) and intentions. If you write those intentions down -- just a couple in each section -- with the seven tips in mind, it's easy to see where you can manage the energy and find the time.
I really appreciated, too, the advice she gave to a woman struggling to create art while also living her life. Vanderkam suggests remembering that your energy and time are better spent accepting that life happens and work takes a backseat than beating yourself up about the few hours you couldn't put in. You will make them up, whether you intentionally recognize you do or not.
There's a reference here to and it's hard not to see that Vanderkam's book is a nice companion to it. Less of the framework and more in terms of how any tendency can work on time/energy challenges they come across.
We all have more time than we think, and being "busy" isn't a sign of importance. It's not an award to indicate a level of powerful work. If we looked at our days in thirty minute time chunks, we'd see the holes where "busy" doesn't exist, and it would be far more apparent than we think it is. Of course -- and this is acknowledged -- being able to have the time and luxury to think about time and leisure and work is itself a privilege.
There are seven big tips in this book:
1. Tend your garden
2. Make life memorable
3. Don't fill time
4. Linger
5. Invest in your happiness
6. Let it go
7. People are a good use of time.
They're pretty self-explanatory, but I find "tend to your garden" to be a great one, as well as "don't fill your time," and "let it go." Nothing has to be perfect, especially if perfect is the enemy of doing the thing. Filling your time to look important just steals energy from time you have to pursue your passions. And of course, tending your garden is how you continually prioritize and reprioritize. Vanderkam suggests spending Friday afternoons making your to-do for the upcoming week, setting intentions in the categories of "personal," "career," and "relationships." I appreciate the distinction here, too, between goals (things that can absolutely bog us down and make us forget that the process itself is often worthy of the pursuit) and intentions. If you write those intentions down -- just a couple in each section -- with the seven tips in mind, it's easy to see where you can manage the energy and find the time.
I really appreciated, too, the advice she gave to a woman struggling to create art while also living her life. Vanderkam suggests remembering that your energy and time are better spent accepting that life happens and work takes a backseat than beating yourself up about the few hours you couldn't put in. You will make them up, whether you intentionally recognize you do or not.
There's a reference here to and it's hard not to see that Vanderkam's book is a nice companion to it. Less of the framework and more in terms of how any tendency can work on time/energy challenges they come across.
December 7, 2018
Lots of good tips on how to make time more plentiful. To be honest, I mostly like how the book goes along with my own philosophy of living life people-first to make the most out of life, so I’m a bit biased. My only complaint would be that a lot of the advice sounds like it’s preaching to upper middle class, making some concepts feel a little out of reach, even though anyone could customize within their own financial means.
August 23, 2018
3.0 Stars
There were some good nuggets in this little book, but it felt too unstructured and oversimplified to offer meaningful time management strategies that I can utilize. I personally recommend the author's first book, 168 Hours, which I felt provided more practical advice for work life balance.
There were some good nuggets in this little book, but it felt too unstructured and oversimplified to offer meaningful time management strategies that I can utilize. I personally recommend the author's first book, 168 Hours, which I felt provided more practical advice for work life balance.
June 25, 2018
Mostly a rehash of ideas she's written about previously, but not as interesting. Lots of content based on a not particularly well explained study with no analysis of uncertainties or whether the results she discussed were significant.
February 25, 2021
Didn't expect to like this as much as I really did.
the talk of how to slow time down and how much we spin these lies about where our times goes for identity... it's so well presented and just feels truthy.
reread... still loved it.
"We say we want more time. But what we really want is more memories." - Lila Davachi
"Why is today different from all other days? Why should my brain bother holding onto the memory of this day as it curates the museum of my memories?"
"Then this time is nothing. It disappears as if it doesn't exist."
"Plan it in. Do it anyway....I'm tired now but I will always be tired. And we draw energy from meaningful things. I also remember this: all time passes. Whether I do anything today or not, eventually I will be on the other side of the next 24 hours. It can be filled with nothing (in this case meaningless somethings) or it can be filled with something more intriguing."
"Conscious fun takes effort. This seeming paradox "why should fun be work?" stops us in our tracks. So we overindulge in effortless fun (scrolling through instagram posts about dinner parties) and under-indulge in effortful fun (throwing a dinner party ourselves).... It is the effortful fun that makes today different and makes the time land in memory. You don't say 'where did the time go?' when you remember where the time went."
"The burdens of your current schedule might be keeping you from seeking out greater things. In this sense your busyness isn't productive; it's counter-productive. Calling something work doesn't make it a more noble use of time than anything else. Work that doesn't advance you toward the life you want is still wasted time. You will never get those hours back and we only get so many."
"The truth is that I was bored. I didn't have the discipline to let myself move through boredom to the thoughts and reflections that arise when given fallow space. I had time and I chose to fill it with the equivalent of gunk on the gears. It seems harmless enough, but the problem is that then we are not aware that the space exists. It is chopped up for no good reason. No I wasn't relaxing on a sunny Saturday afternoon; I was working? reading? maintaining my personal brand? or something. Then we believe the lie that we have no time."
"Thoughtful people naturally construct stories to make sense of their lives. It takes real work to keep one unpleasant aspect of your life from becoming your entire narrative. Many intelligent people can't muster themselves to do this work - hence the tendency to brood....The discipline of joy requires holding in the mind simultaneously that 'this, too. shall pass' and that 'this, too, is good'. This alchemy of mind isn't easy... Happiness requires effort. It is not just bestowed. It is the earned interest on what you choose to pay in."
the talk of how to slow time down and how much we spin these lies about where our times goes for identity... it's so well presented and just feels truthy.
reread... still loved it.
"We say we want more time. But what we really want is more memories." - Lila Davachi
"Why is today different from all other days? Why should my brain bother holding onto the memory of this day as it curates the museum of my memories?"
"Then this time is nothing. It disappears as if it doesn't exist."
"Plan it in. Do it anyway....I'm tired now but I will always be tired. And we draw energy from meaningful things. I also remember this: all time passes. Whether I do anything today or not, eventually I will be on the other side of the next 24 hours. It can be filled with nothing (in this case meaningless somethings) or it can be filled with something more intriguing."
"Conscious fun takes effort. This seeming paradox "why should fun be work?" stops us in our tracks. So we overindulge in effortless fun (scrolling through instagram posts about dinner parties) and under-indulge in effortful fun (throwing a dinner party ourselves).... It is the effortful fun that makes today different and makes the time land in memory. You don't say 'where did the time go?' when you remember where the time went."
"The burdens of your current schedule might be keeping you from seeking out greater things. In this sense your busyness isn't productive; it's counter-productive. Calling something work doesn't make it a more noble use of time than anything else. Work that doesn't advance you toward the life you want is still wasted time. You will never get those hours back and we only get so many."
"The truth is that I was bored. I didn't have the discipline to let myself move through boredom to the thoughts and reflections that arise when given fallow space. I had time and I chose to fill it with the equivalent of gunk on the gears. It seems harmless enough, but the problem is that then we are not aware that the space exists. It is chopped up for no good reason. No I wasn't relaxing on a sunny Saturday afternoon; I was working? reading? maintaining my personal brand? or something. Then we believe the lie that we have no time."
"Thoughtful people naturally construct stories to make sense of their lives. It takes real work to keep one unpleasant aspect of your life from becoming your entire narrative. Many intelligent people can't muster themselves to do this work - hence the tendency to brood....The discipline of joy requires holding in the mind simultaneously that 'this, too. shall pass' and that 'this, too, is good'. This alchemy of mind isn't easy... Happiness requires effort. It is not just bestowed. It is the earned interest on what you choose to pay in."
July 1, 2018
I tried to read her book about 168 hours in a week, but got frustrated with the time tracking thing. (I'm already obsessive enough without filling in a grid of everything I do.)
But this book had some nice points to ponder, and so I will do that as I go about my life. Thinking about the people in my life and how to reach out to them....not in a networking kind of way, but in a caring way. I'm not looking to achieve success through relationships, but within them. I want to encourage others because I so appreciate it myself.
On my run yesterday morning, I thought about how the author encouraged being in the moment and saving the memory for later enjoyment. The sun, the birds, the path, the sky—all of it went into my mind and heart for future savoring.
And I will also think about what I'm putting into my life for enjoyment. If I take a break from work, maybe I'll go play the piano for a while.
Of course, it's too late to be a good example for my kids.....they've seen me doggedly pursuing productivity for all of their lives. But I can slow down and enjoy things more now. I can be a good example for my granddaughter! :)
But this book had some nice points to ponder, and so I will do that as I go about my life. Thinking about the people in my life and how to reach out to them....not in a networking kind of way, but in a caring way. I'm not looking to achieve success through relationships, but within them. I want to encourage others because I so appreciate it myself.
On my run yesterday morning, I thought about how the author encouraged being in the moment and saving the memory for later enjoyment. The sun, the birds, the path, the sky—all of it went into my mind and heart for future savoring.
And I will also think about what I'm putting into my life for enjoyment. If I take a break from work, maybe I'll go play the piano for a while.
Of course, it's too late to be a good example for my kids.....they've seen me doggedly pursuing productivity for all of their lives. But I can slow down and enjoy things more now. I can be a good example for my granddaughter! :)
June 26, 2018
Although the approach was much different, this book has much in common with The ONE Thing. Keller’s book explained the idea behind the ONE Thing and detailed how it might be implemented. Off the Clock used stories, examples, and research data to make suggestions about how and what to prioritize. Together, the books have provided a lot to think about and, hopefully, act upon.
June 13, 2018
Overly written and way longer than it needs to be
December 30, 2020
Incredibly helpful advice on increasing your happiness by changing how you spend your time. It's not your typical productivity book; the emphasis isn't on efficiently getting more done, but on deliberately prioritizing your time to feel like you have more time; to feel "off the clock" rather than racing against the clock.
The main idea is that when people say they want more time, they often mean they want more memories or more time spent doing things they are happy about. This book explains how to achieve those.
Many books about time management are unrealistic, but this one is refreshingly realistic, as Vanderkam is married with young kids. The book is about personal as well as professional life.
I wish it said something about sacrificing time for others (family, friends, neighbors, nonprofits, etc.). Without that, this approach feels a bit selfish and self-indulgent.
I needed to read this. I spend nearly all my time focused on efficiently completing tasks, and I work hard to fill all my "spare" time ("waste not, want not"). I rarely feel like I'm "off the clock." I'm very glad I read this at the end of the year, as I plan to apply it to my life next year.
Summary
Track Your Time
Track your time for 1 week (or more).
Tend Your Garden
Review your time log and ask yourself 4 questions:
1. What do I like about my schedule?
2. What would I like to spend more time doing?
3. What would I like to spend less time doing?
4. How can I make that happen?
� Define your realistic ideal day and week.
� On Friday afternoons, plan week ahead with 3-category priority list (career, relationships, self).
� Set top 3 goals for each day.
Make Life Memorable
� Make a list of big and small adventures that you like to have.
� Make time to evoke memories by being nostalgic.
Don't Fill Time
� Review your activities and commitments and ask yourself, "If I was starting a blank slate, would I add this?" For those you wouldn't, try to stop or minimize them.
� Make time for things you enjoy.
� Spend smalls bit of time (e.g., waiting) intentionally doing what you enjoy.
Linger
� Before a pleasurable event, plan ways to savor and stretch the moment.
� Try creating a mini daily vacation (a few minutes each day to consciously savor something you enjoy).
Invest In Your Happiness
� Decrease time spent on unpleasant activities and increase time on pleasant ones.
� Treat yourself more often.
� When scheduling, prioritize pleasurable activities over others.
Let It Go
� Lower your standards for low-stakes matters.
� Build good habits.
People Are a Good Use of Time
� Invest time in relationships.
� Plan activities to enhance time you spend with others.
Notes
Introduction: The Time Paradox
"Freedom does not mean having zero obligations � There is freedom from things we don't want to do, but there is also freedom to do the things we want to do."
Tend Your Garden
After you complete your 3 most important goals each day, you can feel off the clock.
Take control of how you spend time. Spend it on activities that fill you up rather than deplete you.
Make Life Memorable
When we say we want more time, we mean we want more memories. Have physical and emotional adventures.
Time seems to be faster now than when we were younger because when we were young, more things were new and/or emotionally intense, and that's more memorable.
Pain makes time seem slower.
The brain forgets the routine and remembers novelties, changes, and intense events.
To create more memories and time, spend more time thinking about future than past and present.
Be willing to be inconvenienced or uncomfortable in present for sake of making memories.
Don't Fill Time
When asked to take something on, ask yourself, "Would I rearrange my schedule tomorrow to fit this in?" If not, consider declining.
Instead of filling open time (with social media, web browsing, email, etc.), leave it open for relaxing, thinking, time with friends. You'll feel that you have more free time.
Linger
When you find yourself enjoying something, continue doing it; linger. Remind yourself nothing else requires your attention, and it's OK to linger.
People who feel like time is abundant approach the present in 2 ways: 1) they get where they need to early enough that they can relax, and 2) they savor the time where they currently are.
How to savor a moment so it seems to last longer
� Think about sharing the memory later
� Remind yourself how long you've waited for the event
� Become more alert, take deep breaths, slow down
� Tell someone how much you value the moment and how glad you are that they're there
� Remind yourself the moment won't last, so enjoy it now
� Avoid thinking about other places you could be or other things you could be doing
Do "daily vacation exercises": do something you enjoy for 10-20 minutes/day. Minimize distractions (including phone) and savor the experience.
If you don't have to do something quickly, do it slowly and enjoy it.
Invest In Your Happiness
When people say they want more time, they often mean they want more memories or more time spent doing things they are happy about.
"Because how we live our hours is how we live our lives, being happy with our lives means being happy with our hours."
Items can bring happiness if you use them to have enjoyable experiences.
Small treats (inexpensive or free) can bring great happiness.
Change your thinking to prevent one unpleasant aspect of your life from dominating it.
Let It Go
Don't have unrealistically high expectations; the resulting suffering wastes time and keeps you from enjoying the time you have. Let good enough be good enough.
Instead of setting outcomes as goals (e.g. lose 5 pounds, reach $1 million in revenue), set process goals (habits) (e.g., diet, pursue 5 leads/week).
People Are a Good Use of Time
"People are good use of time." Spending time with close family and friends is one of the best ways to feel off the clock.
Be as intentional about spending time on relationships as you are about spending time on work or other responsibilities.
Create goals in 3 categories: career, relationships, self.
Quarterly goals can be more effective than New Year's resolutions.
Best way to have more pleasant, memorable moments with kids is to have one-to-one time with them.
The main idea is that when people say they want more time, they often mean they want more memories or more time spent doing things they are happy about. This book explains how to achieve those.
Many books about time management are unrealistic, but this one is refreshingly realistic, as Vanderkam is married with young kids. The book is about personal as well as professional life.
I wish it said something about sacrificing time for others (family, friends, neighbors, nonprofits, etc.). Without that, this approach feels a bit selfish and self-indulgent.
I needed to read this. I spend nearly all my time focused on efficiently completing tasks, and I work hard to fill all my "spare" time ("waste not, want not"). I rarely feel like I'm "off the clock." I'm very glad I read this at the end of the year, as I plan to apply it to my life next year.
Summary
Track Your Time
Track your time for 1 week (or more).
Tend Your Garden
Review your time log and ask yourself 4 questions:
1. What do I like about my schedule?
2. What would I like to spend more time doing?
3. What would I like to spend less time doing?
4. How can I make that happen?
� Define your realistic ideal day and week.
� On Friday afternoons, plan week ahead with 3-category priority list (career, relationships, self).
� Set top 3 goals for each day.
Make Life Memorable
� Make a list of big and small adventures that you like to have.
� Make time to evoke memories by being nostalgic.
Don't Fill Time
� Review your activities and commitments and ask yourself, "If I was starting a blank slate, would I add this?" For those you wouldn't, try to stop or minimize them.
� Make time for things you enjoy.
� Spend smalls bit of time (e.g., waiting) intentionally doing what you enjoy.
Linger
� Before a pleasurable event, plan ways to savor and stretch the moment.
� Try creating a mini daily vacation (a few minutes each day to consciously savor something you enjoy).
Invest In Your Happiness
� Decrease time spent on unpleasant activities and increase time on pleasant ones.
� Treat yourself more often.
� When scheduling, prioritize pleasurable activities over others.
Let It Go
� Lower your standards for low-stakes matters.
� Build good habits.
People Are a Good Use of Time
� Invest time in relationships.
� Plan activities to enhance time you spend with others.
Notes
Introduction: The Time Paradox
"Freedom does not mean having zero obligations � There is freedom from things we don't want to do, but there is also freedom to do the things we want to do."
Tend Your Garden
After you complete your 3 most important goals each day, you can feel off the clock.
Take control of how you spend time. Spend it on activities that fill you up rather than deplete you.
Make Life Memorable
When we say we want more time, we mean we want more memories. Have physical and emotional adventures.
Time seems to be faster now than when we were younger because when we were young, more things were new and/or emotionally intense, and that's more memorable.
Pain makes time seem slower.
The brain forgets the routine and remembers novelties, changes, and intense events.
To create more memories and time, spend more time thinking about future than past and present.
Be willing to be inconvenienced or uncomfortable in present for sake of making memories.
Don't Fill Time
When asked to take something on, ask yourself, "Would I rearrange my schedule tomorrow to fit this in?" If not, consider declining.
Instead of filling open time (with social media, web browsing, email, etc.), leave it open for relaxing, thinking, time with friends. You'll feel that you have more free time.
Linger
When you find yourself enjoying something, continue doing it; linger. Remind yourself nothing else requires your attention, and it's OK to linger.
People who feel like time is abundant approach the present in 2 ways: 1) they get where they need to early enough that they can relax, and 2) they savor the time where they currently are.
How to savor a moment so it seems to last longer
� Think about sharing the memory later
� Remind yourself how long you've waited for the event
� Become more alert, take deep breaths, slow down
� Tell someone how much you value the moment and how glad you are that they're there
� Remind yourself the moment won't last, so enjoy it now
� Avoid thinking about other places you could be or other things you could be doing
Do "daily vacation exercises": do something you enjoy for 10-20 minutes/day. Minimize distractions (including phone) and savor the experience.
If you don't have to do something quickly, do it slowly and enjoy it.
Invest In Your Happiness
When people say they want more time, they often mean they want more memories or more time spent doing things they are happy about.
"Because how we live our hours is how we live our lives, being happy with our lives means being happy with our hours."
Items can bring happiness if you use them to have enjoyable experiences.
Small treats (inexpensive or free) can bring great happiness.
Change your thinking to prevent one unpleasant aspect of your life from dominating it.
Let It Go
Don't have unrealistically high expectations; the resulting suffering wastes time and keeps you from enjoying the time you have. Let good enough be good enough.
Instead of setting outcomes as goals (e.g. lose 5 pounds, reach $1 million in revenue), set process goals (habits) (e.g., diet, pursue 5 leads/week).
People Are a Good Use of Time
"People are good use of time." Spending time with close family and friends is one of the best ways to feel off the clock.
Be as intentional about spending time on relationships as you are about spending time on work or other responsibilities.
Create goals in 3 categories: career, relationships, self.
Quarterly goals can be more effective than New Year's resolutions.
Best way to have more pleasant, memorable moments with kids is to have one-to-one time with them.
February 14, 2019
I didn't have any expectations going into this book (as I'd kind of decided to read it on the spur of the moment), but it ended up being an extremely useful book for me at this time in my life. Not only did it get me to start tracking all my time (for the first time ever), it also gave several do-able, concrete strategies that I can put into place RIGHT NOW to make it seem like I have more time for the things I really want to be doing. I ended up writing down a whole bunch of questions and quotes from the book to ponder over as I continue to track my time, and this is one I wouldn't mind buying for my personal library, as there were several sections I would have highlighted had I owned my own copy.
All in all, if you're interested in time management and interested especially in finding more time for the more pleasurable things in life, this is a great resource.
All in all, if you're interested in time management and interested especially in finding more time for the more pleasurable things in life, this is a great resource.
January 2, 2019
Self help usually disappoints me (and yet I keep reading it ...), but I quite liked this one. Great tips, relevant anecdotes, and enough science to feel like she's not just making stuff up. I loved that her focus was on making life meaningful, not just on being successful.
Key takeaways: People are never a waste of time, invest in your happiness (work on things you're passionate about first thing in the morning), focus on making memories, give yourself credit for what you're getting done, and track your time if you're not sure where the hours go.
All that being said, this is upper middle class self-help, and some of the author's suggestions would be unrealistic for someone who's really struggling financially. A little more acknowledgement of the author's own privilege wouldn't have been a bad thing.
Key takeaways: People are never a waste of time, invest in your happiness (work on things you're passionate about first thing in the morning), focus on making memories, give yourself credit for what you're getting done, and track your time if you're not sure where the hours go.
All that being said, this is upper middle class self-help, and some of the author's suggestions would be unrealistic for someone who's really struggling financially. A little more acknowledgement of the author's own privilege wouldn't have been a bad thing.
November 27, 2018
Based on surveys and interviews, Vanderkam's main point is that those who perceive that they have more time, are essentially living better lives - filled with connection and productivity than those who feel extremely busy and feel like they don't have time to do the things they really want to do. This short, little book is an easy-going, inspirational, and heartwarming (at least to me) read. I am inspired to track my time for a couple of weeks and analyze it to make sure I am contributing well professionally and connecting well personally. I read this book because Modern Mrs. Darcy said it was one of her favorite books of 2018 and I think it's a book that will resonate with many. I even discussed it with a good friend over a Facetime chat. It gave us much to think about.
October 28, 2018
I absolutely loved Off the Clock, and I’ve been telling everyone about it in hopes that they’ll snag a copy to read, too. This book is about so much more than feeling less busy while getting more done—it’s about cultivating a richer life by being aware of how you spend your time, creating opportunities that leave lasting memories, and knowing when to say yes and when to rest, amongst other thoughtful, practical advice. Not only is the subject matter excellent and compelling but the prose is fantastic, too; Laura Vanderkam is such a good writer. I highly recommend this book! I know I’ll read it over and over again.
April 27, 2019
I listened to the audiobook version of this, eager to learn productivity tips that would help me accomplish more in a day without feeling the weight of it. However, "Off the Clock" felt like it was less about productivity and more about mindfulness. There were still helpful nuggets of information, but it wasn't exactly what I was expecting or particularly wanting. The whole book boils down to three main points that could have been covered in much less time: (1) Know where your time goes, (2) do memorable things daily, and (3) invest in people because they are worth your time.
September 15, 2018
A different take on productivity: changing our perception of time.
Time can seem like a black hole when we are constantly rushing from one thing to the next. Where did that day go?One key to changing that perception is to make memories. Putting the effort and rhythm into life to savor it.
Changing our perception of time can give us a sense of being “off the clock� which makes even a very busy life seem manageable and enjoyable with time to do the things that matter to us most.
Time can seem like a black hole when we are constantly rushing from one thing to the next. Where did that day go?One key to changing that perception is to make memories. Putting the effort and rhythm into life to savor it.
Changing our perception of time can give us a sense of being “off the clock� which makes even a very busy life seem manageable and enjoyable with time to do the things that matter to us most.
June 2, 2019
While nothing groundbreaking here, I need regular reminders and came away with a healthy list. There’s also a handy workbook at the end for easy reference later. I actually love tracking pretty much everything, so my favorite takeaway is feeling like my methodical scheduling is really a good thing, and actually allows for more freedom and leisure time. SEE, DEAR HUSBAND, I’M NOT OVER THE TOP. Heh.
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