Laura Vanderkam's 168 Hours Method
Author Laura Vanderkam's time management approach emphasizing that everyone has 168 hours per week, advocating for time tracking and audits to understand actual time usage and make intentional choices about priorities.
About this tool
The Concept
Laura Vanderkam, author of "168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think" (2010), argues that everyone has the same 168 hours each week. The question isn't about time—it's about choices.
The Math
168 hours per week =
- Sleep: 56 hours (8 hours × 7 days)
- Work: 50 hours (10 hours × 5 days)
- Remaining: 62 hours
That's 62 hours for everything else—far more than most people think they have.
The Time Tracking Method
Week-Long Audit
Vanderkam recommends:
- Track every 30-minute increment for one week
- Record what you actually do (not what you plan)
- Be honest and comprehensive
- Include everything: work, sleep, leisure, chores
- Analyze patterns after the week
What People Discover
Common findings:
- More "wasted" time than imagined
- Less work time than claimed
- Surprising amount of low-value activities
- Actual vs. perceived time allocation gaps
- Opportunities for reallocation
Key Insights from Research
The I Don't Have Time Myth
Vanderkam's research with high-achieving individuals showed they have time for:
- Exercise
- Hobbies
- Family
- Side projects
- Professional development
The difference is intentionality, not hours available.
Core Competencies
Focus time and money on:
- What you do best
- What you love
- What brings most value
- Activities aligned with priorities
Outsource, eliminate, or minimize everything else.
Ignore the Laundry
Title of another book - small tasks expand to fill available time. Focus on what matters; let some things go.
The Planning Approach
Priority-Based Scheduling
Step 1: Identify 3-5 core priorities
- Career goals
- Relationship priorities
- Health objectives
- Personal development
- Community involvement
Step 2: Schedule priorities FIRST
- Block time for workouts before anything else
- Schedule date nights in advance
- Plan career development time
- Protect family dinners
Step 3: Everything else fits around priorities
- Chores in margins
- TV watching only after priorities
- Social media in leftover time
The Mosaic Principle
Time doesn't have to be perfect blocks. Use "time confetti":
- 15 minutes reading while kids play
- 20 minutes exercise before work
- 10 minutes learning during commute
- Small pieces create meaningful mosaics
Books and Body of Work
- "168 Hours" (2010)
- "What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast" (2012)
- "I Know How She Does It" (2015)
- "Off the Clock" (2018)
- "Tranquility by Tuesday" (2022)
Time Tracking Templates
Vanderkam provides:
- 168-hour spreadsheet templates
- Time log worksheets
- Analysis frameworks
- Planning tools
Podcast and Media
Before Breakfast podcast:
- Daily time management tips
- Short-form practical advice
- Guest interviews
- Research-based insights
Research Foundation
Vanderkam's work is based on:
- Time diary studies
- Surveys of successful people
- American Time Use Survey data
- Her own experiments
- Reader submissions
Key Principles
Build a Life, Not a To-Do List
Prioritize meaningful activities that build the life you want.
Volunteer Hours Are Real Hours
What you volunteer for reveals your real priorities.
Master the Morning
What you do before breakfast sets the day's tone.
Plan in Pencil
Flexibility matters, but so does intention.
Savor Every Day
Being busy isn't the goal; meaningful time use is.
Practical Application
Weekly Planning
- Review upcoming week
- Schedule 3 career priorities
- Block 3 relationship priorities
- Plan 3 self-care priorities
- Fill in everything else
Daily Review
- What went well?
- What didn't?
- Where did time go?
- What to adjust tomorrow?
Modern Relevance
In digital age:
- Phone time is often unaccounted
- Social media steals hours
- Streaming creates time sinks
- "Busy" becomes identity
Vanderkam's 168-hour framework helps:
- See total picture
- Make conscious choices
- Align time with values
- Create abundant mindset
- Focus on what matters
The Abundance Mindset
Unlike scarcity-focused time management, 168 Hours promotes:
- Viewing time as sufficient
- Focusing on possibilities
- Eliminating low-value activities
- Investing in high-return activities
- Building life worth having
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