Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day

A practical daily framework for protecting your time and attention, from the creators of the Design Sprint. Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky offer over eighty tested tactics for choosing a daily highlight, beating distraction, managing energy, and reflecting on what worked.

Why Start Here

Make Time takes a different approach from most productivity books. Instead of building elaborate systems, Knapp and Zeratsky propose a simple four-step loop you repeat every day: choose a Highlight (the one thing you want to make time for), build a Laser focus (by redesigning your relationship with technology), Energize (through exercise, food, sleep, and social connection), and Reflect (to learn what works for you).

The book grew out of the authors’ experience at Google and Google Ventures, where they saw firsthand how “infinity pools” like email, social media, and news feeds devour attention. Their solution is not to quit technology but to make deliberate choices about when and how you engage with it.

What makes the book stand out is its experimental spirit. Knapp and Zeratsky present their tactics as a menu, not a prescription. You try a few, see what fits your life, and adjust. The tone is friendly and low-pressure, which makes it easy to start and easy to stick with.

What to Expect

A fast, illustrated read organized around the four-step framework. Each tactic gets a short, standalone explanation you can try immediately. The book is designed for browsing rather than cover-to-cover reading. Best for anyone who wants simple, concrete changes they can start today.