Laura VanderkamReseñas

An older book, so the links/anecdotes can be a bit dated; but the concept is still sound. Unfortunately, it seems to be more stories and anecdotes than concepts most of the time. I found myself skimming chapters because I didn't care so much HOW somebody else applied a concept as wanting more information/data to back up a concept. I read "Off The Clock" last year and remember thinking the same thing. My guess is that because Vanderkam is/was a journalist first and then an author that that style carries over? It's not bad, just wasn't for me. Many people will find the stories more helpful than I did, which is why this gets three stars.

Book title and author reviewed 2/17/2024: 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam

Why I picked this book up: This was the next book on the Ad for headway. I have never read it so chose to read it.

Thoughts: 
Full Book Name: 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think
* Author Name: Laura Vanderkam
* Book Genre: Business, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Productivity, Self Help
* ISBN # 9781591843313
* Date of Publication: 2010-5-26
Vanderkam wrote this after establishing a blog about using her time efficiently. It starts an exercise: List 100 things you want to do with your time. I often have the list that goes on and on and on. The second exercise keep a time log. It helps me be aware of my thoughts and what I do. Sometimes my mind runs-jumping from one thing to the next. I get distracted at times.

Why I finished this read: I finished it because I enjoyed what she was saying. For me it was not a demand, it was about developing an awareness of what I fill my 168 hour of my week with. Time is highly elastic and time stretches to accommodate what we choose to put into it.” Everything I do is my choice.” What I learned is I can look at the whole of time I have and I can put the important things I want to into the time I have. In the end it is about being mindful of the time I have and put into it what I want.

Stars rating: 5 of 5 stars.

I really enjoyed the book and found some helpful strategies for time management m. However, I feel that the pool she researched was limited and may have lacked generalizability to the majority of the female population. The female executives she chose to include in her pool of data all have expendable income to spend on outsourcing a variety of daily tasks that consume a large chunk of the lay female’s time, such as laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc. it would be interesting for her to do another Mosaic project study on females with low SES, as I am sure they would be very grateful to hear her analysis of their time logs and give them feedback.

Excellent read if for no other reason than to remind us to be mindful and intentional with our time. I stopped multi-tasking simply to make it easier to keep a time log, and I'm getting more done because I'm not allowing myself to be distracted. I highly recommend this book for everyone who needs 30 hours in every day.

Importantly, the four star rating is for the content, NOT the mode of delivery. If you do not need to listen to this as an audio book, I would highly recommend buying it in hard copy for several reasons. Each chapter is very formulaic in structure, but the "Your Turn" sections will be more effective if in a workbook mode (hard to do with an audiobook). Vanderkam has a pleasant voice, but one can only emote so much when reading numbered listicles and anecdotes. There probably is a more engaging way to convey the material, and at times the delivery sounded like AI generated text to voice, and the enthusiasm behind the directives started to sound mechanical as well.

All of that aside, there is some really good advice and the participant responses are helpful to a point. The book looks at each of Vanderkam's 9 rules (outlined on her website but given in brief here):
Give yourself a bedtime
Plan on Fridays
Move by 3pm
Three times a week is a habit
Create a back-up slot
One big adventure, one little adventure
Take one night for you
Batch the little things
Effortful before Effortless

One of the overarching points that seems to be at the root of all the suggestions is to have increased awareness of one's own energy, and let it be the guide when determining what commitments we make. This was particularly useful in Rule 8: Batch the Little Things. Initially it feels like the opposite of a GTD (Getting Things Done (TM)) approach in some sense although really more of a recontextualization of an Inbox review. The emphasis here is on the "capture" mechanism that GTDers will recognize, rather than doing the little thing right at that moment. A good way to think about it is if doing an inbox review, the little actionable things go to a "Batch List" rather than a "Do it" if less than 2 minutes. I appreciated this because it acknowledges who hopping into email to answer something quickly can easily derail the bigger more important thing you are doing/about to do. Vanderkam says a two minute task can easily turn into: a "task hydra", a rabbit hole, or a procrastination cycle wherein you start doing a bunch of small tasks because now you are at the computer. Immediate reward supplants the longer term gain, in other words. She provides further guidance: Don't batch during your most productive hours, but set time aside maybe in the dip of the afternoon when your mental faculties aren't as energized and fresh.

Along similar lines, Rule 9 (Effortful vs. Effortless). Vanderkam encourages using pockets of leisure time (or even time confetti, a term coined by Brigid Schulte) for something more engaging like reading, rather than mindless social media scrolling. It isn't that she is suggesting one always read in lieu of social media, but to consider the more "effortful fun" first for a larger reward--working toward completing a book, for example. You will never reach the end of Instagram, she reminds us.

The narration of the study occupies too much space, and would have been more interesting if something had failed. While the narrative incorporates participant struggles, it starts to get tedious having the same structure applied to every chapter. While the book could have been shorter, it is still a worthwhile read, especially if you are skeptical in reading the list above. She does include anecdotes from participants who were initially reluctant or were immediate naysayers, and that did address my own reaction from time to time.

I am getting ready to read her 168 Hours book so this was kind of a warm up. I love her writing style... just wanted a bit more to chew on in this little book. Good info for the length of the book, though.

3,5 stars.

There are some great ideas in this book. However, sometimes it is a bit chaotic and over-detailed with data from the American Time Survey. I listened to it on Audible so a lot of data can make it very confusing, maybe that is less the case if you read it.

There is also a focus on more "rich people" possibilities to increase the time you have to focus on what you want, which can be hit or miss for some people. For me, mostly a miss 'cause I just don't have the financial room to hire a fulltime cleaning service or personal chef.

Nevertheless, it helped me realise how much time you actually have and how you can be more mindful about it. All by all, quite a decent read and even though I will not use all of the concepts there are some ideas of Laura Vanderkam that I can incorporate into my own life.

more guilt-inducing than helpful, aimed at affluent accomplished individuals

An interesting look at the relationship between money and happiness.
1) experiences often bring more pleasure than material goods
2) don't try to keep up with the neighbors, find your own path
3) embrace the selfish joy of giving

Short, quick read.

This book has the potential to be life-changing. It's a must-read.

Matter-of-fact and well-thought-out. Thankfully, and un-ironically, I didn't feel like she was wasting my time. And I had a light-bulb moment. I like [a:L. M. Montgomery|18798161|L. M. Montgomery|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s books because she has mastered the art of savoring.

Along with personal anecdotes, and references and examples from other's lives, the author has turned this book into a valuable resource for time management.

Yes, you have more time than you think.

The tips and strategies might not work for everyone, but the book will still be beneficial, even if a little bit.

Remember, every small improvement counts. :)

I have been looking forward to Juliet’s School of Possibilities since I first heard Laura Vanderkam mention it on the Best of Both Worlds Podcast last year. I love Vanderkam's books about time management and this is her first novella. She incorporates her knowledge and expertise into a short fable about a woman named Riley who is spread too thin. ⁣⁣⁣
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In a society where “busy” reigns supreme, Vanderkam’s books are a wonderful reminder about how we get to choose how we spend our time and energy and this book is such a fun spin-off. We meet Juliet who shares wisdom and helps Riley rethink this balance. “Expectations are infinite. Time is finite. You are always choosing. Choose well.”

A big thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

- Back in the day as I was SAP R/3 team leader I found out that in any reasonable sized group of technical people, there was always at least one keyboard-hipster. Always having new keyboard parts delivered. Always talking about them. Always explaining how the enormous fucking noise is necessary in some way. Basically almost anything except actually doing work with them. Having two of them is worse -- they compete for everyone else's attention. They actually have whole ranges of specially-made, extra-noisy keyboards to consume and the degree of sociopathy that that requires is boggling. When I was conducting interviews I kept thinking of adding discussions of keyboard geekery into those interviews in order to be able to veto hiring them...with WFH no more; no keyboard clatterers; that’s a win;

- No commuting. That's a win. No money spent on lunches; that's a win;

- No inane office banter… that's a win. No money spent on overpriced takeaway coffees; that's a win;

- No office politics, no fellow employees turning a small personal drama into a crisis, no loud phone users nearby, no enforced jollity just because it's someone's birthday, no company enforced team lunches. All wins;

- I'm certainly not the light of joy in my department as I turn up to work, do what I have to do, and fuck off as soon as possible to do what I want to do and not what I'm pressured into doing. No woefully inefficient air conditioning, no darkened windows preventing the daylight entering the office; both wins;

- Having a lie in, avoiding a stressful commute, making your own lunch, spending most of your days communicating with people in different locations anyway, having time to concentrate uninterrupted on a challenging task, flexibility to pop out to that dentist appointment or put the washing on;

- Quite a lot of many people’s usual working life can be improved by avoiding the need to travel to a building and be in room with others everyday;

- No more office gossip. Another win.

It strikes me that those who are desperate to return to the ‘buzz’ of the office (whatever the hell that is) are the arse-kissing and back-stabbing corporate positioners who don’t actually produce or achieve anything real and those people who love working from home are the real workers who are utterly thankful to not have to listen to these arse-wipes on a daily basis.

My challenge is switching off once I finish my day - I work with clients (as a Service Manager) and colleagues globally so the hours can get very long. The job has never been 9-5 and never will be. After an intense late evening call, my brain finds it difficult to wind down even with a glass of something. Once I log off, I don't go back into my home office to look at work emails and stuff. Nor do I look at my work phone, unless there is something really important. I just go there to unwind and to watch something worth watching.

Work@Home-wise Vanderkam’s book does not contain any gold nuggets of wisdom to impart to us old-hats.

My study at home I affectionately call Antão’s Bat Cave:

(see picture at https://manuelaantao.blogspot.com/2020/11/pron-and-cons-new-corner-office-how.ht...

Juliet's School of Possibilities is a parable designed to help readers consider the choices and priorities they have in their lives, particularly as those choices relate to their careers.

The parable centers around a young woman named Riley who is struggling. She's having trouble meeting her employer's and clients' expectations; her boyfriend is fed up with her not having time for him; her best friend has has enough of the brush-offs.

It's as if Riley is trying to keep 1,000 plates spinning at once, but her priorities are in the minutiae of responding to emails as they come in (rather than delegating to her assistant, or prioritizing the important email). She's so distracted with everything calling for her attention that she succeeds at nothing.

Riley attends a corporate retreat at a mystical place run by a prominent, has-it-all-together woman, Juliet. Juliet takes an interest in Riley and is able to help Riley "see" some possibilities: one a lonely life with nothing to be proud of; another with all of her dreams coming true and then some. This part of the book reminded me a little of The Alchemist, and I see I'm not the only reviewer who had that thought.

The story continues, and I'll stop the plot summary so you can see how it concludes.

At page 117, Laura Vanderkam steps in and speaks directly to the reader. She reminds us something from the parable: expectations are infinite, and time is finite. Vanderkam has questions designed to help the reader look to the future and consider some possibilities with regard to career and personal life. There's blank space to record your responses.

There are additional questions for those reading the book as a group. Reading groups, especially formed among colleagues, might yield interesting conversation and practical ways someone might be able to adjust their own workflow.

I think some readers will appreciate the example within the story and discussing Riley's life and her choices. Maybe they'll see aspects of themselves in Riley; or maybe they can't relate to her.

The parable fell flat for me. I didn't think Riley's situation or the way it was presented was believable.

My favorite part was at the end where Vanderkam asks questions designed to challenge us and how we treat our priorities. These are ideas similar to what she explores in depth in her previous books.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A recount of some classic Vanderkam ideas. Good, but I felt this one had less of a clear point to make than her other works.

A very personal look at how we spend our time. The very personal part is that the author examines her own life and time as the central structure of the book. Simple, but great ideas have a way of hiding just beneath the surface. The author helped me to think and find some of those ideas.

I have a sickness where I inhale productivity books.

But they all have a sickness where they think that capitalism is good. Sigh.

Yes Brenda, "we all have the same number of hours in a week." But allllll this optimization shit is running on the same false premise of individual will, even when it tries to be quaint and talk about family/relationships and not just increasing surplus labor value.

why do I do this to myself?

Time track.
Waste less time.
Assess priorities.
Do important things in the morning.
Because willpower is a gas tank.

This sure as hell did not need to be a book.

Tracking time in timesheet is really easy, especially with a smartphone or tablet
The process of carving out quiet time. Can take various shapes and different times of day.
The boss that's approachable yet communicates their needs too, I.e. thinking cap.
Productive meetings so that people are prepared for what is needed during that critical meeting time!
Email…..am I making progress to things that are important to me? Am I solving the problems I want to solve?
List of 100 dreams! I have a version of this but will now developed it into a springboard for my life. Added challenge accomplish one challenge per month.
Bucketlist.org
And the end of the book is a great summarized list to inspire, get you started, or serve as a reminder later on when you feel like you have no ideas.

I really appreciated the content in this, but unfortunately it had a quite slow and boring narrator.

We're all pressed for time and rushing around. At least, that's what a lot of self help books, online articles, and your brain would have you think. But author Laura Vanderkam challenges you to reassess that: even if you work a 50-60 hour week and get enough sleep there are enough hours to fit in what you want to do - we just have to be intentional about how we use them.

Suggesting keeping a time log, writing a list of things you want to do and start working your way through it, and looking at time management from a work and home perspective, Vanderkam perhaps has little new to say, but nonetheless I found it useful as I think intentionally about how I use my time. There aren't a lot of specific time management techniques, so there's ample room for you to decide how it will suit your own life. She's very much coming from the perspective of a working mother which, on the one hand, I liked because I felt assured I could, perhaps, have kids some day and not short myself on sleep. But it also meant that a lot of the "home" section was not applicable as a single woman, because much of her focus was spending time with spouse and kids. Some of her advice is very first-world, for example, if you don't like groceries or housework, outsource more of it. Much like budgeting, time management is about opportunity costs: if I do this, I can't do that. But we don't always think of it that way. As a result, the biggest takeaway from the book is simple: take back control.

Finishing the trilogy.

(Original review, 2013)

This is all grimly self-helpish and there is no common denominator, so there is no top tips take-away. I’m coming from the Rough Guide’s “50 things You Must Do Before You Die” and all that, this is a bit of a double whammy. Are we supposed to squeeze the last drop of productivity out of every second? I spotted a book with the title “What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast” and I just had to buy to see for myself what it was all about. (Make it, presumably - or if they're really successful, have the help make it.) There is no end to it. Can't we just get our Weetabix down us in peace?

A lot of the examples are solitaries who live in their own imaginative world, so can defy the dictates of daily routine more. The old drugs help creativity thing does need to be laid to rest. Although, each probably had some mild stimulant - I believe Erdös said something like: 'A mathematician is a machine for turning caffeine into formulae.' But most of humanity's rhythms are dictated by an employer who sticks them on shifts that will trash their body clock. They won't recognize the delightfully eccentric world portrayed here. Some imaginative souls, though, obviously, welcomed the routine. Wallace Stevens was a life-long insurance salesman and was no doubt coming up with some pretty bizarre imagery and original language while poring over policies, as an antidote to the mundanity of it all. Maybe he and Eliot deliberately went against the romantic cliché of the poet for their own sanity.

I don't know if anyone else feels this, but I have always felt that the basic unit of physiological time - the day - is just too short for me. It's just too itty-bitty and doesn't suit my rhythms but I can't see it being changed under edict of the EU. Maybe if it was a normal-two-days long day, then you could get into stuff more, but it seems before you know it, you're getting undressed and into bed again and then staring at that damned toothbrush again next morning in a very Groundhog Day kind of way. Routine is essential to humans but it is dreadfully double-edged.

And you can imagine a Kafka being driven barmy by noise - he probably was glad of the 'horror' of the office. There may have been some relative serenity there. How can anyone study toward and work at any profession in a working-class area, or anywhere which tends to be unholy bedlam. You need this precious commodity of reasonable quiet more than anything. Without it - if the mind cannot be quietened and focused - what of any seriousness can be achieved? More a class handicap than many others.

So for best results, I should get ready to down coffee (which I don’t drink) and a martini, then fix up, and sniff rotten apples, all in the nude. But where do I get this Bergman Ready-Brek?

This was a fascinating dissection of how successful women use their time and how much our preconceptions of the time we have is mistaken.