Genre: Nonfiction
Length: 256 pages
Audiobook Length: 6 hours and 23 minutes
First Published: 2018
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Publisher’s Description
Most of us feel constantly behind, unsure how to escape feeling oppressed by busyness. Laura Vanderkam, unlike other time-management gurus, believes that in order to get more done, we must first feel like we have all the time in the world. Think about it: why haven’t you trained for that 5K or read War and Peace? Probably because you feel beaten down by all the time you don’t seem to have.
In this book, Vanderkam reveals the seven counterintuitive principles the most time-free people have adopted. She teaches mindset shifts to help you feel calm on the busiest days and tools to help you get more done without feeling overwhelmed. You’ll meet people such as…
♦ An elementary school principal who figured out how to spend more time mentoring teachers, and less time supervising the cafeteria
♦ An executive who builds lots of meeting-free space into his calendar, despite managing teams across multiple continents
♦ A CEO who does focused work in a Waffle House early in the morning, so he can keep an open door and a relaxed mindset all day
♦ An artist who overcame a creative block, and reached new heights of productivity, by being more gentle with herself, rather than more demanding
The strategies in this book can help if your life feels out of control, but they can also help if you want to take your career, your relationships, and your personal happiness to the next level. Vanderkam has packed this book with insights from busy yet relaxed professionals, including “time makeovers” of people who are learning how to use these tools. Off the Clock can inspire the rest of us to create lives that are not only productive, but enjoyable in the moment.
Quotes from Off the Clock
Being off the clock implies time freedom, yet time freedom stems from time discipline. You must know where the time goes in order to transcend the ceaseless ticking.
I believe that consciously choosing to create such memories will stretch the experience of time.
Time is elastic. It stretches to accommodate what we choose to put into it.
Happiness requires effort. It is not just bestowed; it is the earned interest on what you choose to pay in.
About Laura Vanderkam
Laura Vanderkam is the author of several time management and productivity books, including Juliet’s School of Possibilities, Off the Clock, I Know How She Does It, What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, and 168 Hours. She is the host of the podcast Before Breakfast and the co-host of the podcast Best of Both Worlds. She currently lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Visit the author’s website →
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