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Tranquility by Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters
“An indispensable manual...Tranquility by Tuesday offers plenty of inspiration for a more serene life, and down-to-earth and evidence-backed advice for actually making it happen."
--Oliver Burkeman, New York Times bestselling author of Four Thousand Weeks
For anyone who’s sick of letting to-do lists dictate their time, Laura Vanderkam, the bestselling author of What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, shares nine strategies for reclaiming your hours
Do you find yourself hoping that someday, life will be less hectic? One day, you say, you’ll finally have time for the activities that you love – writing that book, completing that triathlon, traveling with friends. But if the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that life is unpredictable. If we’re not careful, dull, unfulfilling tasks can quickly occupy our precious hours, derail our best-laid plans, and make life feel like a slog.
In Tranquility by Tuesday, Laura Vanderkam explains that if you want something to happen, you need to design your life to make it happen. Work crises, childcare emergencies, and home repairs are inevitable, and the mundane tasks of life – cooking, cleaning, laundry – aren’t going anywhere. To make time for what matters, you need a resilient schedule, not a perfect schedule. Based on a time diary study of over 150 people, Vanderkam shares nine strategies for building opportunities for joy, nourishment, and fulfillment into your week, such
Three times a week is a habitOne big adventure, one little adventureEffortful before effortless
This is more than a time management book about “how to do it all.” It’s a look at how real people changed their lives using Vanderkam’s nine rules, and how you can do the same. It’s about intentionally living the life that you want to live, and becoming an autonomous steward of life’s possibilities.
--Oliver Burkeman, New York Times bestselling author of Four Thousand Weeks
For anyone who’s sick of letting to-do lists dictate their time, Laura Vanderkam, the bestselling author of What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, shares nine strategies for reclaiming your hours
Do you find yourself hoping that someday, life will be less hectic? One day, you say, you’ll finally have time for the activities that you love – writing that book, completing that triathlon, traveling with friends. But if the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that life is unpredictable. If we’re not careful, dull, unfulfilling tasks can quickly occupy our precious hours, derail our best-laid plans, and make life feel like a slog.
In Tranquility by Tuesday, Laura Vanderkam explains that if you want something to happen, you need to design your life to make it happen. Work crises, childcare emergencies, and home repairs are inevitable, and the mundane tasks of life – cooking, cleaning, laundry – aren’t going anywhere. To make time for what matters, you need a resilient schedule, not a perfect schedule. Based on a time diary study of over 150 people, Vanderkam shares nine strategies for building opportunities for joy, nourishment, and fulfillment into your week, such
Three times a week is a habitOne big adventure, one little adventureEffortful before effortless
This is more than a time management book about “how to do it all.” It’s a look at how real people changed their lives using Vanderkam’s nine rules, and how you can do the same. It’s about intentionally living the life that you want to live, and becoming an autonomous steward of life’s possibilities.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2022
647 people are currently reading
5845 people want to read
About the author
Laura Vanderkam
25 books1,161 followersLaura 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 420 reviews
October 14, 2022
Laura didn't even ask me to endorse this but I loved the galley SO MUCH I whipped up this blurb:
In a niche already overflowing with guidance, Laura Vanderkam stands out as one of the field's most astute writers. She continues to offer surprising and valuable insights about making the most of our precious and limited time.
Seriously, when it comes to linking the theoretical with practical and the data with then what? Laura kills it. I read this early, which means I've had the opportunity to put her guidance into practice for many months now. I've grown pretty good at managing my time over the years, but her specific framework—especially her tips and stories on big and little adventures—are now top of mind every time I sit down to plan out my week.
This may be her best book yet. Highly recommended.
In a niche already overflowing with guidance, Laura Vanderkam stands out as one of the field's most astute writers. She continues to offer surprising and valuable insights about making the most of our precious and limited time.
Seriously, when it comes to linking the theoretical with practical and the data with then what? Laura kills it. I read this early, which means I've had the opportunity to put her guidance into practice for many months now. I've grown pretty good at managing my time over the years, but her specific framework—especially her tips and stories on big and little adventures—are now top of mind every time I sit down to plan out my week.
This may be her best book yet. Highly recommended.
December 20, 2023
HIGHLIGHTS:
1. BED TIME:
- “Sleeping in” as an adult means going to bed early.
2. MORNING ROUTINE:
- Set a mini-morning routine.
- Give yourself small things, pick 3 to do.
- Be flexible for the expected interruptions.
3. PLAN ON FRIDAYS:
- 20 min: Think about what you want to do Monday- Sunday
- Help out “future-you”.
- Divide into: career, relationships, self
3. MOVE BEFORE 3pm:
- Push-ups
- Daily dose is better.
- Go outside for 20 min a day
4. 3x a week = a “habit”.
5. Create a backup slot.
6. CREATE MEMORIES EVERY WEEK:
- one big adventure (half day)
- one little adventure (an hour)
- something to look forward to.
- Awareness of time going by
- Make life more exciting
- Look at lists of possibilities
- Focus on what is doable.
- Mild discomfort to push through to the fun.
- Inject novelty into the mundane.
- Add whimsey - silly or out of the ordinary
7. TAKE ONE NIGHT FOR YOU:
- Weekly fun commitment that is not work or parenting.
- Work late on other nights that are not your “fun night”
8. BATCH THE LITTLE THINGS:
- Life Admin day to get all the errands and tasks accomplished.
- Stop interrupting work flow with small tasks that derail.
9. EFFORTFUL BEFORE EFFORTLESS:
- Be conscious of leisure time.
- Small doses of reading (vs. unconscious passive leisure of social media scrolling or binge watching shows).
- Effortful fun. Aware of leisure time. Do first.
1. BED TIME:
- “Sleeping in” as an adult means going to bed early.
2. MORNING ROUTINE:
- Set a mini-morning routine.
- Give yourself small things, pick 3 to do.
- Be flexible for the expected interruptions.
3. PLAN ON FRIDAYS:
- 20 min: Think about what you want to do Monday- Sunday
- Help out “future-you”.
- Divide into: career, relationships, self
3. MOVE BEFORE 3pm:
- Push-ups
- Daily dose is better.
- Go outside for 20 min a day
4. 3x a week = a “habit”.
5. Create a backup slot.
6. CREATE MEMORIES EVERY WEEK:
- one big adventure (half day)
- one little adventure (an hour)
- something to look forward to.
- Awareness of time going by
- Make life more exciting
- Look at lists of possibilities
- Focus on what is doable.
- Mild discomfort to push through to the fun.
- Inject novelty into the mundane.
- Add whimsey - silly or out of the ordinary
7. TAKE ONE NIGHT FOR YOU:
- Weekly fun commitment that is not work or parenting.
- Work late on other nights that are not your “fun night”
8. BATCH THE LITTLE THINGS:
- Life Admin day to get all the errands and tasks accomplished.
- Stop interrupting work flow with small tasks that derail.
9. EFFORTFUL BEFORE EFFORTLESS:
- Be conscious of leisure time.
- Small doses of reading (vs. unconscious passive leisure of social media scrolling or binge watching shows).
- Effortful fun. Aware of leisure time. Do first.
January 14, 2023
I feel like I have been saying this a lot lately, but this is a hard book to rate. I've been reading it along with the Sorta' Tranquil group. I used the Libby app to get the audio version, but I'm still on the hold list for the Libby e-reader version.
I think a lot of these tips/ways are valid. In fact, I think at this stage of the game, I use a lot of them naturally. Regular bedtime? Check. Make time for my own pursuits? Check.
The book is likely geared more toward younger readers, specifically working moms of young kids. And I'm past that phase. And I think I "discovered" a lot of these ideas as I struggled during those phases.
What I didn't like (and has been an issue for me in the past with Laura Vanderkam) is the position of privilege that she comes to this topic from. She did not write this for all readers. She frequently says in this book something along the lines of, "If you're reading this book, you can probably afford a once or twice a week babysitter." Well, that isn't always the case. And definitely wasn't the case when my son was little.
She also has a certain point of view about things and really cannot seem to see that it's her style/her personality/her unique make up that affects some of it. For example, one tip is to move by 3pm and she highly recommends doing it in the morning before starting work. Well, some of us are not morning people. I have tried exercising in the morning and I've come to resent it and it made me tired and miserable all day. Not the traditional view of morning exercise (you'll feel energized and alive), but that's how it is and always has been for me.
She also works for herself from home. She encourages readers to nix meetings that aren't productive, to go for walks during the workday, and not to read emails first thing - but save them for the afternoon when she assumes everyone is less productive. For starters, workplaces don't always view these habits kindly. I can't tell my boss or colleagues that their meeting isn't productive. I can walk during the workday, but I know plenty of folks who realistically cannot. And while I try to some degree to batch my email viewing, in most cases folks in my workplace want, expect, and often need a relatively speedy reply. It's not all junk that will take care of itself.
Laura can just be so smug. And it didn't help that I was listening to the audiobook because I couldn't get a kindle version right away.
I think this is a good book, with good ideas, especially for early/mid-career moms, but as to approach, I much prefer Gretchen Rubin who really leans into knowing yourself better so you can figure out what works for you. Laura's 9 ways work for her and some of them will work for many of us. But the 9 ways are not a panacea for all.
I think a lot of these tips/ways are valid. In fact, I think at this stage of the game, I use a lot of them naturally. Regular bedtime? Check. Make time for my own pursuits? Check.
The book is likely geared more toward younger readers, specifically working moms of young kids. And I'm past that phase. And I think I "discovered" a lot of these ideas as I struggled during those phases.
What I didn't like (and has been an issue for me in the past with Laura Vanderkam) is the position of privilege that she comes to this topic from. She did not write this for all readers. She frequently says in this book something along the lines of, "If you're reading this book, you can probably afford a once or twice a week babysitter." Well, that isn't always the case. And definitely wasn't the case when my son was little.
She also has a certain point of view about things and really cannot seem to see that it's her style/her personality/her unique make up that affects some of it. For example, one tip is to move by 3pm and she highly recommends doing it in the morning before starting work. Well, some of us are not morning people. I have tried exercising in the morning and I've come to resent it and it made me tired and miserable all day. Not the traditional view of morning exercise (you'll feel energized and alive), but that's how it is and always has been for me.
She also works for herself from home. She encourages readers to nix meetings that aren't productive, to go for walks during the workday, and not to read emails first thing - but save them for the afternoon when she assumes everyone is less productive. For starters, workplaces don't always view these habits kindly. I can't tell my boss or colleagues that their meeting isn't productive. I can walk during the workday, but I know plenty of folks who realistically cannot. And while I try to some degree to batch my email viewing, in most cases folks in my workplace want, expect, and often need a relatively speedy reply. It's not all junk that will take care of itself.
Laura can just be so smug. And it didn't help that I was listening to the audiobook because I couldn't get a kindle version right away.
I think this is a good book, with good ideas, especially for early/mid-career moms, but as to approach, I much prefer Gretchen Rubin who really leans into knowing yourself better so you can figure out what works for you. Laura's 9 ways work for her and some of them will work for many of us. But the 9 ways are not a panacea for all.
September 12, 2022
I’m a regular reader of time management and productivity books, and I love Laura Vanderkam’s work in general. This book, though? It’s my favorite by far. It’s super practical but not with the same old tips you’ve heard a million times. It really pushed my thinking on some key ways I’m spending my time. I’ve shared some of the ideas from the book with friends and they have loved them too. An excellent contribution to the world, this book is, and one I’ll be gifting this holiday season to many friends.
April 20, 2024
3.5 Stars
I have read all of this author's productivity books and regularly listen to their podcast. This one had some obvious recommendations (like getting enough sleep etc) but also some more inspiring ideas (like planning big and small adventures). I am not a fan of the “workbook” sections in self help books but that could have been an editing choice so I just won't reread those sections. I found some helpful sections so I would generally recommend this one
I have read all of this author's productivity books and regularly listen to their podcast. This one had some obvious recommendations (like getting enough sleep etc) but also some more inspiring ideas (like planning big and small adventures). I am not a fan of the “workbook” sections in self help books but that could have been an editing choice so I just won't reread those sections. I found some helpful sections so I would generally recommend this one
June 29, 2023
*buys book immediately upon finishing library copy to reference again and again*
October 24, 2023
I surprisingly quite enjoyed this book. It's full of practical ways to calm the chaos in life. Life is so busy and we have a tough time trying to fit everything in. Here's ways to fit things in you really value and that bring happiness for the whole family. If you want something to happen, you need to design your life to make it happen.
One of the first things Laura said that hit me was “Sleeping in” as an adult means going to bed early. This is so true haha and the sooner I implement it, the better my sleep will be!
Plan out something fun with the hubby on Fridays. Give yourself 20min to plan it out each week.
If you want to learn an instrument, play a sport, write a book, learn a language etc. then implement it straight into your schedule 3 times a week. Heck book it in for 3-5 times so that if something comes up a couple times you still do it at least 3 times a week. And then it becomes a habit and everyone around you expect it and respect it.
Create Memories Every Week
- one big adventure (half day)
- one little adventure (an hour)
It's something to look forward to. Awareness of time going by. Makes life more exciting. Look at lists of possibilities on Pinterest. Focus on what is doable and realistic. Mild discomfort to push through to the fun. Inject novelty into the mundane. Changing up the routine slightly can bring happiness. Add whimsey - silly or out of the ordinary
Take One Night for You. Do some self care. Get a massage, a facial, watch a movie on your own, etc.
Batch the Little Things. Create a Life Admin day to get all the errands and tasks accomplished. Stop interrupting deep work flow with small menial tasks that derail.
One of the first things Laura said that hit me was “Sleeping in” as an adult means going to bed early. This is so true haha and the sooner I implement it, the better my sleep will be!
Plan out something fun with the hubby on Fridays. Give yourself 20min to plan it out each week.
If you want to learn an instrument, play a sport, write a book, learn a language etc. then implement it straight into your schedule 3 times a week. Heck book it in for 3-5 times so that if something comes up a couple times you still do it at least 3 times a week. And then it becomes a habit and everyone around you expect it and respect it.
Create Memories Every Week
- one big adventure (half day)
- one little adventure (an hour)
It's something to look forward to. Awareness of time going by. Makes life more exciting. Look at lists of possibilities on Pinterest. Focus on what is doable and realistic. Mild discomfort to push through to the fun. Inject novelty into the mundane. Changing up the routine slightly can bring happiness. Add whimsey - silly or out of the ordinary
Take One Night for You. Do some self care. Get a massage, a facial, watch a movie on your own, etc.
Batch the Little Things. Create a Life Admin day to get all the errands and tasks accomplished. Stop interrupting deep work flow with small menial tasks that derail.
November 21, 2022
This wasn't as good as 168 Hours but still a nice listen going into the holidays.
May 16, 2023
Not your typical time management book. I loved it.
Calm the chaos:
1. Give yourself a bedtime.
2. Plan on Friday
3. Move by three. Make good things happen:
4. Three times a week is a habit
5. Create a back up slot (like try to keep Fridays open or actually schedule a third session of Pilates, knowing that one of the others might not work out). Resilient schedules help us be time millionaires because we see it as abundant, not scarce.
6. One little adventure, one big adventure. Waste less time:
7. Take one night for you
8. Batch the little things
9. Effortful before effort less
Make a list of 100 dreams Like regular bucket, list items but beyond that, more offbeat things. Split it into categories like Friday planning: career, relationship, self. It’s not a to do list so don’t edit your ideas.
A big adventure mean something that requires a few hours like half a weekend day.
A little adventure could just take an hour and fit on a lunch break or a weekday evening as long as it is out of the ordinary. They should be some thing you genuinely want to do or at least want to have done. To plan adventures, we have to plan our weeks. It builds regular doses of anticipation, and we start to see that even small bits of time can make memories.
There is the anticipating self who looks forward to it, the remembering self, who looks back fondly on it, and the experiencing self who sometimes needs to be convinced. Picture yourself on the other side.
Adventure ideas:
A certain puzzle or craft
Picking flowers
Taking a bunch of pictures of a particular thing or at an art museum
Going to the farmers market
A competition at grocery store w/ Scott
A bike ride, especially to check out a new place
Surprise take out
Plant flowers
Clean out car
Dream up some great idea
See the peonies
Go out for IC opening day
Moonlight walk
Nighttime walk to see Christmas lights
Sunrise walk
Sculpture Park
Start a book club without books (wine)
Celebrate minor holidays for whimsy
(Search food holidays)
Get matching T-shirts for an occasion or excursion
Adult coloring book
Paint toenails an offbeat color
Draw on driveway with chalk
Blow bubbles
Volunteer as reading tutor
25 mile bike ride with a friend
Ebike
Play piano
Learn cello
Hit golf balls
Lost in Yonkers or other shows
Comedy
Game nights
Live music
Try new yoga
Take a day for you to ask yourself big questions about what you want your life to look like.
Batching small things. When a small task occurs to you or pops up don’t just do it. Put it on your list for the batch processing time and tackle them all then. It forces prioritization and keeps little tasks from always being an option. you can even have a physical basket, maybe your Sunday basket, which you toss things into from library books to notes to yourself of things to do.
Never do those little things first thing in the morning. Batch it in the afternoon when energy dips or maybe even a bigger, batching on a Friday, instead of doing the two minute rule (if it can be done in two minutes or less, do it now ) which can be an easier way to procrastinate doing more difficult stuff.
Instead do the three hour rule, maybe taking from 9 to 12 without notifications or interruptions to focus on deeper work.
Effortful before effortless: pockets you find in the day can be called time confetti, and they add up
Calm the chaos:
1. Give yourself a bedtime.
2. Plan on Friday
3. Move by three. Make good things happen:
4. Three times a week is a habit
5. Create a back up slot (like try to keep Fridays open or actually schedule a third session of Pilates, knowing that one of the others might not work out). Resilient schedules help us be time millionaires because we see it as abundant, not scarce.
6. One little adventure, one big adventure. Waste less time:
7. Take one night for you
8. Batch the little things
9. Effortful before effort less
Make a list of 100 dreams Like regular bucket, list items but beyond that, more offbeat things. Split it into categories like Friday planning: career, relationship, self. It’s not a to do list so don’t edit your ideas.
A big adventure mean something that requires a few hours like half a weekend day.
A little adventure could just take an hour and fit on a lunch break or a weekday evening as long as it is out of the ordinary. They should be some thing you genuinely want to do or at least want to have done. To plan adventures, we have to plan our weeks. It builds regular doses of anticipation, and we start to see that even small bits of time can make memories.
There is the anticipating self who looks forward to it, the remembering self, who looks back fondly on it, and the experiencing self who sometimes needs to be convinced. Picture yourself on the other side.
Adventure ideas:
A certain puzzle or craft
Picking flowers
Taking a bunch of pictures of a particular thing or at an art museum
Going to the farmers market
A competition at grocery store w/ Scott
A bike ride, especially to check out a new place
Surprise take out
Plant flowers
Clean out car
Dream up some great idea
See the peonies
Go out for IC opening day
Moonlight walk
Nighttime walk to see Christmas lights
Sunrise walk
Sculpture Park
Start a book club without books (wine)
Celebrate minor holidays for whimsy
(Search food holidays)
Get matching T-shirts for an occasion or excursion
Adult coloring book
Paint toenails an offbeat color
Draw on driveway with chalk
Blow bubbles
Volunteer as reading tutor
25 mile bike ride with a friend
Ebike
Play piano
Learn cello
Hit golf balls
Lost in Yonkers or other shows
Comedy
Game nights
Live music
Try new yoga
Take a day for you to ask yourself big questions about what you want your life to look like.
Batching small things. When a small task occurs to you or pops up don’t just do it. Put it on your list for the batch processing time and tackle them all then. It forces prioritization and keeps little tasks from always being an option. you can even have a physical basket, maybe your Sunday basket, which you toss things into from library books to notes to yourself of things to do.
Never do those little things first thing in the morning. Batch it in the afternoon when energy dips or maybe even a bigger, batching on a Friday, instead of doing the two minute rule (if it can be done in two minutes or less, do it now ) which can be an easier way to procrastinate doing more difficult stuff.
Instead do the three hour rule, maybe taking from 9 to 12 without notifications or interruptions to focus on deeper work.
Effortful before effortless: pockets you find in the day can be called time confetti, and they add up
February 1, 2025
LVK always has great insights and key ideas in her books and Tranquility by Tuesday is no different. But this book felt like one that could have been a Medium article and chapters felt really drawn out and repetitive. I’ll certainly take the insights and apply them.
*I was gifted this book as an advanced reader copy by the publisher.
*I was gifted this book as an advanced reader copy by the publisher.
October 30, 2023
Super practical tips, several of which I am already doing so of course I though she was brilliant!
Give yourself a bedtime
Plan on Fridays
Move by 3pm
3 Times a Week is a Habit - this was a great reminder!
Create a Back up Slot
One Big Adventure, One Little Adventure - anticipating self, Experiencing Self, and Remembering self. Picture yourself on the other side
Take One Night For You - yeah for sailing! I was reminded of Aggressively Happy, make yourself the most interesting person in the world. Also taking a day to plan and think keeps you from just doing the next thing just because it is in front of you.
Batch the Little Things - clearing the decks may feel productive first thing in the morning but it saps energy from the big tasks. Batch them for later
Effortful before Effortless - do effortful fun for a few minutes before phone or tv. Take your fun seriously (buy the book) and use time confetti. Effortless fun lacks the element of progress because you will never reach the end of Instagram. Consciously choosing to do “nothing” on a world with constant digital access does require a fair amount of effort
Give yourself a bedtime
Plan on Fridays
Move by 3pm
3 Times a Week is a Habit - this was a great reminder!
Create a Back up Slot
One Big Adventure, One Little Adventure - anticipating self, Experiencing Self, and Remembering self. Picture yourself on the other side
Take One Night For You - yeah for sailing! I was reminded of Aggressively Happy, make yourself the most interesting person in the world. Also taking a day to plan and think keeps you from just doing the next thing just because it is in front of you.
Batch the Little Things - clearing the decks may feel productive first thing in the morning but it saps energy from the big tasks. Batch them for later
Effortful before Effortless - do effortful fun for a few minutes before phone or tv. Take your fun seriously (buy the book) and use time confetti. Effortless fun lacks the element of progress because you will never reach the end of Instagram. Consciously choosing to do “nothing” on a world with constant digital access does require a fair amount of effort
January 24, 2023
I really enjoyed this book and took a lot from it, despite feeling that I have a very good handle on time management. I found I was already implementing many of the principles (I have a consistent bedtime, I plan the following week on Fridays, exercise regularly, and make time for things that matter several times a week). I was pleased to discover a few principles that I would find value in implementing (move daily, get outside daily, get in the habit of creating back up slots and back up plans, and schedule more adventures). I always find it interesting how simple principles can stand out when looked at practically. A few quotes that struck me include:
"Going to bed earlier is how grown-ups sleep in."
"Anyone can make a perfect schedule. Time-management masters make resilient schedules."
"No one can actually accumulate time in the same way that you can accumulate capital, but having space in a schedule is the psychological equivalent of sitting on a large emergency fund."
"Accepting that a first choice might not happen nudges you to really think through other options, ultimately creating a sense of tranquility. When you know you'll be OK, and sometimes might be a lot better than ok, you can become less attached to any set of events. You maintain your sense of autonomy, whatever happens. Life is ultimately unknowable. But we can make the most of it in any case."
"A regular Tuesday can be transformed without transforming out whole lives. This combination of one big adventures and one little adventure will make the weeks feel interesting, but isn't going to exhaust or bankrupt anyone, or unsettle the good routines that do exist."
"Adventure is more of a state of mind than an objective standard of measure."
"When when life is limited for one reason or another, be that because of pandemic rules, or health reasons, or a lack of funds for childcare, we can simply focus on adventures that are possible, rather than those that aren't."
"Going to bed earlier is how grown-ups sleep in."
"Anyone can make a perfect schedule. Time-management masters make resilient schedules."
"No one can actually accumulate time in the same way that you can accumulate capital, but having space in a schedule is the psychological equivalent of sitting on a large emergency fund."
"Accepting that a first choice might not happen nudges you to really think through other options, ultimately creating a sense of tranquility. When you know you'll be OK, and sometimes might be a lot better than ok, you can become less attached to any set of events. You maintain your sense of autonomy, whatever happens. Life is ultimately unknowable. But we can make the most of it in any case."
"A regular Tuesday can be transformed without transforming out whole lives. This combination of one big adventures and one little adventure will make the weeks feel interesting, but isn't going to exhaust or bankrupt anyone, or unsettle the good routines that do exist."
"Adventure is more of a state of mind than an objective standard of measure."
"When when life is limited for one reason or another, be that because of pandemic rules, or health reasons, or a lack of funds for childcare, we can simply focus on adventures that are possible, rather than those that aren't."
December 28, 2023
I wish I could give this 3 1/2 stars as it is a useful guide for time management but I already do many of the tips listed: a great morning and sleep routine. But I loved her "plan on Fridays tip" and it is already making a big difference. As another reviewer said, this would be good for those who are newer to time management as there are many excellent tips.
November 20, 2024
I think this would be a great book for me to refer back to when we have a family. I would consider time management a strength of mine right now so while many tips and tricks were great to hear, I realized they were things I was doing to some degree. Plus I currently don’t have children that I am balancing my time with - mainly my career, hobbies, relationships, etc. I know my time management skills will ebb and flow as life goes on, so this will be a great resource to look back on.
Be mindful. Not mindless.
Schedule a time to do the things that can happen whenever. Otherwise they will happen when-never.
Be mindful. Not mindless.
Schedule a time to do the things that can happen whenever. Otherwise they will happen when-never.
February 13, 2023
I found Laura Vanderkam’s latest time management advice to be timely and beneficial. I’m working on putting some of her rules (or my adaptations of them) into practice in my own life.
June 25, 2023
4.5 stars. I'm a huge fan of Vanderkam's 168 Hours, and I liked that this follow-up is specifically for people who are working a full-time job and raising kids. Her examples still tend toward knowledge workers, especially those working from home (as many in her study were still doing in early 2021), but I think she's right that there are ways to apply her general principles in a broad range of situations, even if you might need to be more creative. I especially liked that she had had a group of people test out these nine strategies and she included their examples and feedback throughout the book, as well as the statistical changes on the surveys she had them fill out. I already do most of her strategies so there weren't any huge takeaways for me, but I can definitely think of some folks I'd recommend this to.
Before reading any of Vanderkam's books, I think Oliver Burkeman's Four Thousand Weeks is a must-read. Once you have grappled with the idea that there isn't a morally superior way to spend your time, and you're never going to time-manage your way out of the abundance of tasks that life requires, then I think it's easier to approach Vanderkam's books with the right spirit. Although it may seem like it (especially if you're cynical), she's not trying to tell you how to spend your time, she's trying to give you strategies to feel more satisfied yourself with how you've spent your time.
If you have a full-time job and are raising kids and you feel like you aren't at peace with where your time goes every week, see if giving these strategies a try makes a difference for you.
Before reading any of Vanderkam's books, I think Oliver Burkeman's Four Thousand Weeks is a must-read. Once you have grappled with the idea that there isn't a morally superior way to spend your time, and you're never going to time-manage your way out of the abundance of tasks that life requires, then I think it's easier to approach Vanderkam's books with the right spirit. Although it may seem like it (especially if you're cynical), she's not trying to tell you how to spend your time, she's trying to give you strategies to feel more satisfied yourself with how you've spent your time.
If you have a full-time job and are raising kids and you feel like you aren't at peace with where your time goes every week, see if giving these strategies a try makes a difference for you.
April 24, 2023
This might be a five-star book for me, but I’ll need to try implementing some of the rules before I give it that. The first four rules and the last one are the best, I think. A quick summary:
*1. Give yourself a bedtime — Setting an end to the day will help your productivity as much as setting a start.
*2. Plan on Friday — Use Friday afternoon to plan for Saturday through the next-next Monday. I’ve done this once so far but it was super helpful.
*3. Move before 3 PM — Vanderkam provides good research on the energy benefits of even ten minutes of movement during the day. I’m freshly motivated to get my daily exercise in, even if I miss my early morning slot for it.
*4. Three times a week is a habit — Don’t fixate on doing things daily. Even three days is worth it.
5. Create a back-up slot — Build margin in your week.
6. One big adventure, one small adventure — Plan some excitement into your week.
7. Take one night for you — Schedule a regularly occurring fun thing just for you: tennis, book club, community choir.
8. Batch the little things — Pick a time daily or weekly to do all the piddly things instead of letting them invade whenever they happen to pop up.
*9. Effortful before effortless — Give at least a little time to leisure that uses brain power (reading, puzzles, crochet, Lego) before leisure that doesn’t (social media, tv, movies).
*1. Give yourself a bedtime — Setting an end to the day will help your productivity as much as setting a start.
*2. Plan on Friday — Use Friday afternoon to plan for Saturday through the next-next Monday. I’ve done this once so far but it was super helpful.
*3. Move before 3 PM — Vanderkam provides good research on the energy benefits of even ten minutes of movement during the day. I’m freshly motivated to get my daily exercise in, even if I miss my early morning slot for it.
*4. Three times a week is a habit — Don’t fixate on doing things daily. Even three days is worth it.
5. Create a back-up slot — Build margin in your week.
6. One big adventure, one small adventure — Plan some excitement into your week.
7. Take one night for you — Schedule a regularly occurring fun thing just for you: tennis, book club, community choir.
8. Batch the little things — Pick a time daily or weekly to do all the piddly things instead of letting them invade whenever they happen to pop up.
*9. Effortful before effortless — Give at least a little time to leisure that uses brain power (reading, puzzles, crochet, Lego) before leisure that doesn’t (social media, tv, movies).
November 15, 2024
As someone who struggles with time management, I absolutely love how Laura Vanderkam broke down these simple steps which made the ideas behind them so digestible. She gives you examples of how others have used them from her crowdsourcing surveys and that made them relatable.
Laura offers such valuable insights to help us in this go, go, go world we live in. Somedays I sit back and think, “what the heck did I do all day” because to be honest, some days are just wasted on crap which is why I am so excited to implement some of these steps into my lifestyle.
I read Laura’s book, 168 Hours, which I also loved but I feel like this one pulled together all those ideas in a relatable way.
If you need some guidance on time management, I highly suggest Laura’s books, newsletter & podcasts. Even if you incorporate ONE of her time saving tips, it will be worth it 100%. I look forward to reading more of her books in 2025!
February 17, 2024
For a time management/personal growth type of book I loved this! I love that Laura's recommendations are always backed by her studies of time management and actual people trying out the strategies. I immediately started implementing some of these habits (move by 3 pm and plan on Fridays) and her other recommendations are also things I'd like to work towards doing.
If you feel "too busy" then I'd highly recommend this book.
If you feel "too busy" then I'd highly recommend this book.
December 27, 2022
A perfect book to start the new year off right. I read through this quicker than I thought I would because it kept me interested and was easy to absorb. Now I’ve got 9 great strategies to make the most of my time each day.
January 25, 2023
I read a lot of productivity books. This one has simple, actionable steps to take to use time better, even when you’ve got a crazy schedule and/or already implement a lot of productivity hacks. The writing is straightforward and provides useful examples without padding.
December 17, 2022
This is one of my favorite time-management/productivity books - and I read a lot of them. The author studied time-use diaries to develop general patterns that resulted in less stress and more energy among individuals, and then carried out a study with participants adding each of these 9 habits over a 9-week period. I loved all the tips and will be trying a new one each week, too.
July 8, 2023
Well organized with practical tips that related to my stage of life. Some great habits I will be implementing!
November 27, 2023
I loved this book - I found the data from time logs fascinating and I really appreciated that the emphasis was on feeling good about how we spend our time vs being as productive/successful as possible.
January 4, 2023
What a perfect book to help me kick off 2023! While this book would be an exceptional read any time of the year, it feels really useful as we face down the fresh start of a new year. I have loved all of Laura Vanderkam's books, and this book is no exception. It is definitely going on my favorites list. I highlighted so many passages, and while I hope to implement these practices in my daily life right away, I imagine I'll need a refresher as time goes by. I'll look forward to picking this book up again and again!
October 10, 2022
I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this book. I have read and enjoyed Laura Vanderkam's other books and follow her work. I read A LOT of self-help books.
This one definitely stands out from her previous ones and from other self-help books. It is an easy read that is very practical. The 9 rules are simple and feel doable yet extremely impactful / valuable. I don't want to just fit more things into my day and be more efficient. I want to use my time more meaningfully and memorably which is what this book is all about. I want to make time for what is important AND enjoy my life more. Her research and data indicate it is possible.
She writes about and incorporates some things I have heard before yet it feels new and different. I like the structure of the book and how things are broken down. The strategies build on each other. I am excited to start implementing the strategies.
I like how she tries to help us with prioritizing ourselves and what makes us happy. This book is more about how to add joy to your life instead of just about being more efficient with your time.
My one criticism is that as with most self-help books, it could have been shorter and more concise.
I highly recommend this book and will be talking about it with others. I am already planning on giving it to many people as a gift.
This one definitely stands out from her previous ones and from other self-help books. It is an easy read that is very practical. The 9 rules are simple and feel doable yet extremely impactful / valuable. I don't want to just fit more things into my day and be more efficient. I want to use my time more meaningfully and memorably which is what this book is all about. I want to make time for what is important AND enjoy my life more. Her research and data indicate it is possible.
She writes about and incorporates some things I have heard before yet it feels new and different. I like the structure of the book and how things are broken down. The strategies build on each other. I am excited to start implementing the strategies.
I like how she tries to help us with prioritizing ourselves and what makes us happy. This book is more about how to add joy to your life instead of just about being more efficient with your time.
My one criticism is that as with most self-help books, it could have been shorter and more concise.
I highly recommend this book and will be talking about it with others. I am already planning on giving it to many people as a gift.
January 18, 2023
I agree that 168 Hours is still my favorite LVK book. This book does have great ideas and I love the idea of the report card to keep me on track and accountable. Laura is a great narrator. I recommend this on audio.
January 31, 2023
I found this to be one of the most helpful books I’ve read in a long time! I plan to implement most of her guidelines - what I’ve tried so far has been eye-opening! This book is geared toward the middle-class and discusses a lot of family concerns, and she acknowledges that a bit, but she probably could have gone a touch further with that. She’s a good writer, too, so this is an engaging nonfiction self-help book. Definitely worth reading! 5 stars
December 24, 2022
Saved this for nyrez season and glad I did. Short & sweet & eager to spend more time with the ideas
October 6, 2022
I really liked this book. Although it might feel like the rules are "too simple" ( I mean, we do know sleep is important ..), when implementing them(imperfectly, as one does), it does make a difference to how my days/weeks feel.
I've also really appreciated the "something is better than nothing" and the general anti-perfectionism vibe and advice. The way she explores the feedback from people from the studies she's conducted for the book ( I took part in one of those as well ! ) and especially their "what didn't work and how to fix it" was a great opportunity to see the dynamics of the rules in people's lives and the unexpected positive "ripple" they cause.
I highly recommend this book even if you generally dislike time management literature. I promise that in this one, the author actively encourages you to push some tasks to later, and with a good reason, too!
My thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an early ARC of this book.
I've also really appreciated the "something is better than nothing" and the general anti-perfectionism vibe and advice. The way she explores the feedback from people from the studies she's conducted for the book ( I took part in one of those as well ! ) and especially their "what didn't work and how to fix it" was a great opportunity to see the dynamics of the rules in people's lives and the unexpected positive "ripple" they cause.
I highly recommend this book even if you generally dislike time management literature. I promise that in this one, the author actively encourages you to push some tasks to later, and with a good reason, too!
My thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an early ARC of this book.
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