I feel like this book would be a great book for those of us with ADHD to try out a new way to (hopefully) get things done. The life philosophy things were not to my taste and I didn't get much out of them, but that didn't mean that I didn't learn something from the timeboxing information and I definitely took a lot away from that for myself.

Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Marc Zao-Sanders provides a productivity tool which was easy to understand and good in concept. Time Boxing is focusing on one thing at a time and putting away specific amounts a time for tasks to get completed.

I liked the way it was presented and the concept was easy to grasp, however I think translating this tool into doing is very individual. I believe it would work very well for some but for others, like myself who don’t like to be “boxed in” to commitments then I feel it is quite constricting.

A worthwhile read, regardless of your personal preference to getting things done. I took lots away and have improvised this system to make it work best for me.

Timeboxing is a new concept to help readers to focus on one day at a time. He explained that he wrote this book because he struggled with managing his time. He realized that he wasn’t in control and he would do what he was told. He kept a to do list but didn’t prioritize it. After several admits, he learned how to create a spreadsheet and spend a certain amount of time on tasks. He shared how he grew it into a concept called timeboxing. He used Google calendar to log down how long he would spend on things. This helped him to get organize and get better managing his time. He encouraged readers to begin each day by brainstorming and writing down what all you will be trying to accomplish that day. This should take about 15-30 minutes max. You can either do it the night before or the day of. He revealed the process and the benefits throughout the book if we would take the time to plan our days out. Each book chapter contained a keyword section, word count, and read time. This book has the power to assist readers in making better use of their time.

I always appreciate different approaches to organization and time management. I had heard the term Timeboxing before and looked into this preview copy. Unfortunately, the author’s writing style and content did not resonate with me. The ideas seemed general and I didn’t see a clear concept for implementation laid out.

I love a good self-help book and this came at the right time for me. I've been reading books from Cal Newport about living slow, less digital filled lives. This guide helps to intentionally select what to do and how to prioritize that one single activity.

Thanks for the copy!

Pre-Read:

This is a self help book offering a system that the author suggests will increase your productivity by using your time in a more intentional way. I like to see what people come up with for this, though I find very few methods to work for me on even make much sense.

Having just started this book, I'm already skeptical of the author because of his approach to the writing. He uses and incredibly huge amount of hyperbole and exaggeration to make his point, now matter how small. The tone of the writing is mechanical and impersonal. I feel like I'm reading an extra long inter-office memo. I also don't like the author's repeated insistence that I trust him. That's not really how writing works; it's literally his job to earn my trust.

I don't know how long I'll stick with this one. I don't think I'm the right personality for this book or the author's method.

*edit Well, I made it to the end. But I was right about everything else.

Final Review:

"We are constantly faced with many choices. That choice brings an unpleasant pressure to choose well. And most of what we have to choose from is crap; the abundance of choice stems from an abundance of crap." p18

Review summary and recommendations:

I admire this author's optimism. By the two-thirds point, I'm half convinced to try this system. While I'm chowing on crow, I'll be sure to update this review if I make progress.

*edit Good thing none of this is necessary, including my crow feast.

Late last night, something about this text clicked with me. So I started to play along with the author's suggestions, like the point at which he starts asking the reader to timebox the next chapter, and such. I was close to bedtime, so I tried timeboxing my last few activities, like brushing and flossing. These tasks all went well and I fell asleep feeling like I'd done something good. But....I forgot to take my bedtime meds, which is something I do right before bed every night. It's practically instinctual after so many years. I was too busy thinking about my stupid *schedule* to consider my *needs* and now my next three days will be off while my body adjusts back to the right levels of medication. And this is how scheduling systems get it wrong– when you only do things you've thought about, it leaves no room for all those needs you have that *you never think about*.

This book isn't for me, but I know other readers will find it useful. I recommend this book for people who are looking to get more organized, for people for whom scheduling their days and tasks is already a thing, and for readers seeking possible coping mechanisms for anxiety.

"Unshared work is like a bird in a gilded cage. So, do something good enough, and get it out there." p202

Reading Notes:

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. Deciding how you are going to spend your day is a personal activity. p109 I agree, to the extent that I've tried 20 different systems and only one has worked even a little. I don't think there is one right system, as the author suggests, but a right system for each person.

2. I think this book is best read without timeboxing the first time. Rather, mine the text for the helpful nuggets, like this one: "Start with a verb, because a verb is a doing word." p123

3. I thought learning about this system would feel overwhelming, but it didn't. In fact, some of it makes sense to combine with my own existing system, which is encouraging, but doesn't really organize my days.

4. I like the author's idea to keep a constantly updating chapter on his website because, as he put it, it wouldn't age well.


Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. The author suggests that his approach to time management can and has relieved the mental illness experienced by some users. While this may be true, I find it grossly ableist when an unqualified author claims to have some secret cure for mental illness. It happens so much in self-help. Let's be clear– there is no magic cure for mental illness. Timeboxing may become an effective coping strategy for all kinds of people, some if whom will inevitably be mentally ill. But neither this book nor this scheduling method is a solution for mental illness.

2. This author and his narrative voice are a bit arrogant for my taste. I think it comes off like this because of all the hyperbole.

Rating: 📊📊📊 / 5 time boxes
Recommend? Yes, some readers will like this system
Finished: Dec 21 '24
Format: digital arc, NetGalley; digital (accessible), Libby
Read this book if you like:
👥️ self-help
📅 scheduling
😮‍💨 stress coping mechanisms
💻 authors with other professions

Thank you to the author Mark Zao-Sanders publishers St. Martin's Essentials, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of TIMEBOXING. I found an accessible digital copy on Libby. All views are mine.
---------------

Timeboxing was interesting enough, but it felt repetitive at times. Overall not a bad book, but not a super great one, either.

## **Timeboxing: A Practical Guide to Mastering Your Time**

Marc Zao-Sanders' *Timeboxing* offers a refreshing approach to time management, one that's both practical and empowering. The core concept of the book is simple: by allocating specific time blocks for different tasks, you can dramatically improve your focus, productivity, and overall sense of control.

Zao-Sanders does an excellent job of breaking down the timeboxing method into easy-to-follow steps. He begins by explaining the underlying principles of timeboxing, such as the importance of intentional focus and the dangers of multitasking. The author then delves into practical strategies, such as how to create a timeboxing schedule, handle interruptions, and prioritize tasks effectively.

One of the strengths of Timeboxing is its emphasis on flexibility. Zao-Sanders acknowledges that life is unpredictable and that schedules may need to be adjusted. He provides guidance on how to adapt your timeboxing plan to unexpected events without feeling overwhelmed.

The book also includes real-world examples and testimonials from people who have successfully implemented timeboxing in their lives. These stories are inspiring and help to illustrate the potential benefits of this method.

Overall, this is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their time management skills. Whether you're a busy professional, a student, or simply someone who wants to make better use of their time, this book has something to offer. Zao-Sanders' clear and concise writing style makes the concepts easy to understand and apply, making *Timeboxing* a must-read for anyone seeking a more productive and fulfilling life.

I tried to read this self help book and this was interesting but not my cup of tea. The idea of the story just felt like some of the other self helps I have read and did not add anything new.

This book was honestly kinda disappointing. It's one of those self-help books with a distinct lack of psychology backing it, or any real expertise on behalf of the author.

Received a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley.

This book has been enlightening. I’ve been looking into ways to manage my time and projects more efficiently and effectively. I appreciate that the author recognizes that it’s not doable for every job (like those who work in emergency care) and not for every minute of your day forever. I like the recommendation of physical timers like the cubed one. I think I’m going to have to work on my technique of getting realistic times for my work activities before creating the time boxes. Paraphrasing a good piece of advice from the book-“reflect and improve.”

Timeboxing wad a great reminder on how to work more efficiently. I have heard of timeboxing before and do try to apply it throughout my day.

This book gave some tips on how to apply timeboxing. Definitely read it and give it a try!

If you are new to timeboxing this is a fantastic book to get you started. If you are familar to the concepts, this is a great way to remind you. The book itself provides timeboxing references, telling you how long each section should take you to read, allowing you to timebox the timeboxing book. Thanks for the great read.

A step by step guide for creating a more organized schedule by creating time boxes throughout the day and week. Although it felt a little redundant after awhile, it's a great concept to begin practicing for more intentional living.

In the field that I work, being overwhelmed and overworked is common. My association has offered a few workshops on managing time and work and a good amount of those workshops talk about the types of strategies and tools that Timeboxing talks about!
Timeboxing had some great information to help manage your schedule!

In a world of constant distractions, Zao-Sanders introduces the practice of timeboxing. It involves intentionally selecting a task, setting specific start and finish times, and focusing solely on that activity. The goal? Accomplish more while maintaining sanity.

Key Takaway Points:
Intentional Focus: Timeboxing helps combat overwhelm by dedicating blocks of time to specific tasks.

Luminaries’ Choice: Legends like Carl Jung and Steve Jobs have used variations of this method.

Practical Guidance: The book provides actionable steps for consistent implementation.

Overall: A masterclass in intentional living. Whether you’re a knowledge worker or simply seeking focus, “Timeboxing” offers a path to reclaim your time and sanity.

The concept is interesting, but I feel that I'm not the target audience. It's a book on organizing your time and activities to a very detailed level, which includes inputting activities in your calendar in very small blocks of time (hence time blocking), even at a 5 to 15-minute granularity.

It seems to me that I'd spend more time making up this daily calendar than would be justified by any benefits I'd derive. But that's me. I'm pretty sure some puzzled millennial, or whatever generation come after that, who seem to be flummoxed by what bathroom to use, might harvest massive benefits.

This book is for them.

A helpful guide for those who feel overwhelmed with everything on our to-do lists - personally and professionally. A simple way to organize and block time to complete tasks and also be transparent to others on what it takes to accomplish this work. The book is laid out in a clear and practical manner. It's a light book, easy to follow and originally was an article. It does not add a lot more content (some of it is a bit of a stretch to fill the pages I felt) but still a helpful and informative guide.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

Timeboxing seems like a really helpful way to organize your schedule and be extra productive with your day. But I am not entirely sure it will work for me daily and at work given some of the urgent stuff that pops up all day from the higher ups. I think I could try it to structure some of my non meeting time if possible and maybe the weekend. Something to think through.

It wasn't too long ago that multitasking was all the rage. Now studies have shown that focusing on one task at a time is much better. But we are still frequently distracted. I have read before that timeboxing is an effective technique but never knew how to fully implement it.

Here, Zao-Sanders gives detailed information on the importance of it and examples of how it works. He helps readers understand how a to-do list figures in and how to estimate time for tasks. He also includes general leadership, productivity tips, having a good mental state and more. I like the idea of making sure restorative breaks and rest periods are included.

I appreciate the estimated time given to read each chapter and the review of important points as well as reflection questions at chapter end. I do wish there had been more on the specific use of technology for this older non-teach savvy individual.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.