168 Hours

Outline

168 Hours (2010) challenges the common belief that we are all too busy. Laura Vanderkam points out that everyone has 168 hours each week, and shows that by tracking how we really spend our time, we can find room for what matters most. She explains how to focus on our core strengths, reduce low-value tasks, and plan the week around priorities in work, family, and personal life.

• Everyone has the same 168 hours each week, so feeling too busy is worth questioning rather than simply accepting.
• Tracking how you actually spend your time shows where the hours go and where there is room for what matters.
• Focusing on your core strengths lets you put effort where it counts most in work and life.
• Cutting low-value tasks frees up time without needing a longer week or a different job.
• Planning the week around your priorities in work, family, and personal life keeps those priorities from being squeezed out.

Laura Vanderkam is an American author, speaker, and podcast host who writes about time management and productivity. Her research on how busy people actually use their time has made her a popular voice on balancing work and life. Her books include 168 Hours, I Know How She Does It, and Off the Clock.