168 Hours
by Laura Vanderkam
Key Concepts
Time Audit
Track every hour for a week to reveal actual time allocation and hidden pockets of time.
168 Hours
Recognize the fixed, abundant nature of weekly time that everyone possesses, regardless of their schedule.
Core Competencies
Dedicate your prime time to high-impact, personally valuable activities that align with your long-term goals.
Strategic Delegation
Offload non-essential tasks or those not requiring your unique skills to free up valuable time.
Time Triage
Ruthlessly prioritize tasks based on their true importance and long-term impact, not just urgency.
Weekend Planning
Intentionally schedule weekends for rest, relationships, and personal growth, not just chores.
Action Items
Conduct a detailed time log for one full week to understand exactly where your hours currently go.
Create a weekly time budget, scheduling your most important priorities and 'big rocks' first.
Identify and eliminate or delegate tasks that do not align with your core goals or values.
Batch similar tasks together to minimize context switching and improve overall efficiency.
Proactively plan your weekends to include meaningful activities, true rest, and quality time with loved ones.
Shift your focus from 'saving time' to intentionally 'spending time' on what truly matters.
Core Thesis
By meticulously tracking and intentionally planning your 168 hours each week, you can create time for your true priorities and live a more fulfilling life.
Mindset Shift
The biggest shift is realizing that time scarcity is often a myth; we have ample time for our priorities if we choose to manage it intentionally and proactively.