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The Free-Time Formula Lib/E: Finding Happiness, Focus, and Productivity No Matter How Busy You Are
Find the time, clarity, and mental space to achieve your goals. The Free-Time Formula helps you slow down time and get the important things done.
We're all overworked, stressed, and always being asked to do more, and do it better; the days aren't getting any longer, so something has to give—don't let it be your sanity.
This book provides a real-world framework for more effective time management that helps you prioritize, focus, clarify, and go.
You'll begin with a time audit to assess your current stress, strategies, and output—and the results may shock you. From there, you'll work step-by-step toward a new daily routine that will help you become the focused, efficient achiever you've been trying to be for so long.
It's not about cramming more into your precious 24 hours, it's about figuring out what really matters to you, and getting the most important things done first.
Every day. Never miss another big deadline, never flake on an important meeting, never be late to an appointment again. It is possible with great planning, and this book is your personal guide.
Focused on action, not filler, this book is an excellent resource for those who want to achieve more, but do less. With a few simple changes, you'll find the time you've been missing and put it to more productive use.
Define and prioritize your personal and professional goals and responsibilities
Cut the distractions and clarify your daily objectives.
Adapt your workplace tools and environment to facilitate actual work
Periodically self-assess, course–correct when needed, and plan for the future.
Rather than rush through another day leaving things un-done and roses un-sniffed, take a beat and a breath, and take back your day with The Free-Time Formula.
We're all overworked, stressed, and always being asked to do more, and do it better; the days aren't getting any longer, so something has to give—don't let it be your sanity.
This book provides a real-world framework for more effective time management that helps you prioritize, focus, clarify, and go.
You'll begin with a time audit to assess your current stress, strategies, and output—and the results may shock you. From there, you'll work step-by-step toward a new daily routine that will help you become the focused, efficient achiever you've been trying to be for so long.
It's not about cramming more into your precious 24 hours, it's about figuring out what really matters to you, and getting the most important things done first.
Every day. Never miss another big deadline, never flake on an important meeting, never be late to an appointment again. It is possible with great planning, and this book is your personal guide.
Focused on action, not filler, this book is an excellent resource for those who want to achieve more, but do less. With a few simple changes, you'll find the time you've been missing and put it to more productive use.
Define and prioritize your personal and professional goals and responsibilities
Cut the distractions and clarify your daily objectives.
Adapt your workplace tools and environment to facilitate actual work
Periodically self-assess, course–correct when needed, and plan for the future.
Rather than rush through another day leaving things un-done and roses un-sniffed, take a beat and a breath, and take back your day with The Free-Time Formula.
Audio CD
First published February 20, 2018
21 people are currently reading
258 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Sanders
4 books59 followersJeff Sanders is the host of The 5 AM Miracle Podcast, which has ranked #1 in Apple Podcasts in the Self-Improvement and Business categories, been nominated for 6 Podcast Awards, and exceeded 9 million downloads.
Jeff is a 10-time marathon runner, personal development junkie, and passionate raw vegan. He is also a productivity author and coach, specializing in helping others dominate their day before breakfast. Jeff blogs every week at JeffSanders.com and you can find him on Twitter @JeffSandersTV.
Jeff has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Psychology from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. He and is wife Tessa live in Nashville, Tennessee with their daughter Maisie, and their quirky pug, Benny.
Jeff is a 10-time marathon runner, personal development junkie, and passionate raw vegan. He is also a productivity author and coach, specializing in helping others dominate their day before breakfast. Jeff blogs every week at JeffSanders.com and you can find him on Twitter @JeffSandersTV.
Jeff has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Psychology from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. He and is wife Tessa live in Nashville, Tennessee with their daughter Maisie, and their quirky pug, Benny.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 30, 2022
HIGHLIGHTS:
1. If we identify what works well, and duplicate that to the extreme, we get extremely powerful results.
2. To guarantee more free time, we need to guarantee that the bulk of your time is to optimize with the fewest number of activities that bring the best results.
3. Our busyness is an epidemic and letting go of just about everything is the cure.
4. Batching improves efficiency, reduces time and activities between tasks, and leads to higher quality and quantity of work produced.
** “Ready to Work” Checklist:
preparation checklist reduces physical distractions (eg get a snack, water, silence phone, go to the bathroom, etc).**
5. “Good Enough” policy – most projects, tasks, priorities, and expectations will reach a point of “good enough” and then you must stop.
- Any effort exerted past good enough is wasted effort.
6. My upcoming projects will wait.
- They will wait until it is their turn.
- They will wait until they become my priority, my next most urgent and important task.
7. Friction is slowing you down.
- Reducing or eliminating friction in your life and work is essential to cutting nonsense and accomplishing your goals faster.
- When you set appropriate time boundaries for your work, you can avoid waiting until the last minute and simultaneously not spend any more precious time.
8. Bad habits are emotional addictions to activities with a low ROI (return on investment).
- We most often tend to find ourselves engaging in mindless behavior due to exhaustion and decision fatigue.
9. Planning gives you the structure and boundaries to thrive.
- Limiting yourself gives you more freedom.
- Setting up boundaries prevents you from wasting your free time on more of the same low-value activities that you always do.
- “Structured Spontaneity” is being proactively reactive, it is an opportunistic time. It means that when free time appears, you are ready with an energetic curiosity and willingness to go with the flow.
- A lot can happen when you focus exclusively on one objective and put your whole self behind it. Structure time off to get the most value out of every day of the week and every hour of the day.
10. Saying “no” is not optional, it is merely a question of where you want to draw the line and how friendly you hold your position.
- Say no by default. Lock the door. Kill off your external distractions.
- You’re in control of your time.
1. If we identify what works well, and duplicate that to the extreme, we get extremely powerful results.
2. To guarantee more free time, we need to guarantee that the bulk of your time is to optimize with the fewest number of activities that bring the best results.
3. Our busyness is an epidemic and letting go of just about everything is the cure.
4. Batching improves efficiency, reduces time and activities between tasks, and leads to higher quality and quantity of work produced.
** “Ready to Work” Checklist:
preparation checklist reduces physical distractions (eg get a snack, water, silence phone, go to the bathroom, etc).**
5. “Good Enough” policy – most projects, tasks, priorities, and expectations will reach a point of “good enough” and then you must stop.
- Any effort exerted past good enough is wasted effort.
6. My upcoming projects will wait.
- They will wait until it is their turn.
- They will wait until they become my priority, my next most urgent and important task.
7. Friction is slowing you down.
- Reducing or eliminating friction in your life and work is essential to cutting nonsense and accomplishing your goals faster.
- When you set appropriate time boundaries for your work, you can avoid waiting until the last minute and simultaneously not spend any more precious time.
8. Bad habits are emotional addictions to activities with a low ROI (return on investment).
- We most often tend to find ourselves engaging in mindless behavior due to exhaustion and decision fatigue.
9. Planning gives you the structure and boundaries to thrive.
- Limiting yourself gives you more freedom.
- Setting up boundaries prevents you from wasting your free time on more of the same low-value activities that you always do.
- “Structured Spontaneity” is being proactively reactive, it is an opportunistic time. It means that when free time appears, you are ready with an energetic curiosity and willingness to go with the flow.
- A lot can happen when you focus exclusively on one objective and put your whole self behind it. Structure time off to get the most value out of every day of the week and every hour of the day.
10. Saying “no” is not optional, it is merely a question of where you want to draw the line and how friendly you hold your position.
- Say no by default. Lock the door. Kill off your external distractions.
- You’re in control of your time.
March 18, 2019
I love Jeff Sanders and first discovered him through periscope a couple of years ago. This is a man that has a lot of integrity, honesty and a lot of energy and gets you excited every time you listen to him. Since that time I have subscribed to his podcast and read several of his books. This is his newest and It did not disappoint. I listened to this through Audible as well as followed it on my Kindle because I tend to want to take notes with this style of books. This book isn’t just about creating free time in your schedule but it’s also about fine-tuning your personal schedule. This book can apply to the homemaker or to the business professional. Full of practical ideas and specific steps to get you started.
One of my favorite chapters was on “flexing your muscles,” helping you to put first things first. He basically says that if these three essential activities are not in your life almost every day then you are too busy and YOU need to repriortize your life. I added in “investing in my relationship with the Lord” to these essentials:)
Other helpful chapters include: doing a time audit on your own life; clarify (figuring out your priorities) ; how to work distraction free alone or in with others nearby; his recommended list of the most productive daily healthy habits; getting rid of the mundane useless activities that clutter your life and more...
One of my favorite chapters was on “flexing your muscles,” helping you to put first things first. He basically says that if these three essential activities are not in your life almost every day then you are too busy and YOU need to repriortize your life. I added in “investing in my relationship with the Lord” to these essentials:)
Other helpful chapters include: doing a time audit on your own life; clarify (figuring out your priorities) ; how to work distraction free alone or in with others nearby; his recommended list of the most productive daily healthy habits; getting rid of the mundane useless activities that clutter your life and more...
February 27, 2021
This book has some excellent tips and advice for finding the free time in our lives and utilizing it. I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it.
July 18, 2018
I had a really hard time with this. I love books that change my mental models with new perspectives and insights, and I love books that give me actionable strategies to improve my processes. I feel like The Free-Time Formula lands between these two goals without doing either one really well.
Positives:
I did draw some novel concepts from The Free-Time Formula - most notably the Green Pen Strategy. I think there's a lot of value there to be discovered and I've never heard anyone else articulate that before, so as far as I'm concerned the Green Pen Strategy is a Jeff Sanders novelty.
The Time Audit exercise described in The Free-Time Formula is worth doing, and just like logging what you eat, logging what you do with your time will reveal a lot of small decisions that you might not even be aware of making that are working against your goals.
Negatives:
The book offers many great ideas, tips, and advice, but doesn't explore any single thread as deeply as it deserves. What is the single crystal clear, high-fidelity, unforgettable lesson I am supposed to remember and practice? I think The Free-Time Formula lacks this clarity.
The chapters are overstuffed with questions, many of which could lead to profound insights, but draw the reader's attention in too many directions without going deep on what's most important. I feel the book would benefit greatly from focusing intently on a single stated priority and thinning the questions to the vital few that need to be asked and answered.
I found the format of the multi-part thought models and numbered sections confusing and hard to follow.
When I read a book like this, I want concrete, actionable strategies and systems that I can pull from the book and implement in my life, and I don't feel like The Free-Time Formula showed me how.
Positives:
I did draw some novel concepts from The Free-Time Formula - most notably the Green Pen Strategy. I think there's a lot of value there to be discovered and I've never heard anyone else articulate that before, so as far as I'm concerned the Green Pen Strategy is a Jeff Sanders novelty.
The Time Audit exercise described in The Free-Time Formula is worth doing, and just like logging what you eat, logging what you do with your time will reveal a lot of small decisions that you might not even be aware of making that are working against your goals.
Negatives:
The book offers many great ideas, tips, and advice, but doesn't explore any single thread as deeply as it deserves. What is the single crystal clear, high-fidelity, unforgettable lesson I am supposed to remember and practice? I think The Free-Time Formula lacks this clarity.
The chapters are overstuffed with questions, many of which could lead to profound insights, but draw the reader's attention in too many directions without going deep on what's most important. I feel the book would benefit greatly from focusing intently on a single stated priority and thinning the questions to the vital few that need to be asked and answered.
I found the format of the multi-part thought models and numbered sections confusing and hard to follow.
When I read a book like this, I want concrete, actionable strategies and systems that I can pull from the book and implement in my life, and I don't feel like The Free-Time Formula showed me how.
March 12, 2018
Rockin' Productivity abounds! Want to achieve success at a higher level in business and life? Apply Jeff Sanders "free-time" formula and you will soon find that you are rockin' productivity. Karen Briscoe, creator "5 Minute Success" series and podcast host.
March 29, 2018
Important Information
I have followed Jeff for awhile now and have definitely put to use many of his ideas. This book collects them all in one place and puts it into a usable system.
I have followed Jeff for awhile now and have definitely put to use many of his ideas. This book collects them all in one place and puts it into a usable system.
February 6, 2019
Jeff Sanders works as a productivity coach and in this book (read in conjunction with exercises available on Sanders’s website) he provides strategies to work more efficiently and productively. It’s a very American book with a way of looking at life and work that I found difficult to relate to in places and much of the advice is common sense but the use comes from having it in one place and there were tips I found useful.
May 1, 2018
Ningún secreto
Tenia altas expectativas de este libro después de The 5 AM Miracle, pero no me aportó nada que no haya leído en el pasado en otros libros
Tenia altas expectativas de este libro después de The 5 AM Miracle, pero no me aportó nada que no haya leído en el pasado en otros libros
August 2, 2018
Appropriate for those who are trying to juggle everything in their lives.
September 24, 2018
Throws out a plethora of suggestions that other productivity folks have talked about but doesn’t really dig into any of them. Probably good if you’re new to productivity.
December 25, 2020
Dude is like, "Actually, all your time is free time" and you're meant to be like, "Whoa... dude..."
Update: It's true - the book is a bit deeper than just "all your time is free time." It's worth a read/listen if you're feeling overwhelmed and want to get motivated to take control of your time.
Update: It's true - the book is a bit deeper than just "all your time is free time." It's worth a read/listen if you're feeling overwhelmed and want to get motivated to take control of your time.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews