Timeboxing: The Power of Doing One Thing at a Time

The gloriously simple practice of choosing one thing to do, when to do it, and getting it done.

Every day, a billion knowledge workers wake up, gravitate towards a pixelated screen and process information for eight hours or more, facing an endless and bewildering array of work and life choices. We’re confronted with countless always-on options; untimely, unsolicited notifications; and a constant competition for our attention. This depletes our faculty for choosing the right things to do, leading millions to become perplexed, frazzled, anxious, or depressed.

Timeboxing by Marc Zao-Sanders is a comprehensive guide to carefully and intentionally selecting what to do, specifying start and finish times, focusing solely on that single activity, and getting it done to an acceptable standard within that timeframe. This is the fundamental, transcendent time-management practice; countless luminaries, from Carl Jung and Albert Einstein to Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, have employed some form of it in their daily lives. Zao-Sanders provides an informative and accessible look at every aspect of this revolutionary method– how to do it consistently, and how to do it well.

Timeboxing offers guidance on what you can, should, and will do at any given moment. This pragmatic and life-changing practice of intentional daily activity has been proven to yield what almost every human being wants most: a chosen, cherished life.

ISBN: 9781250340153
Format: Paperback
Pages: 320
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: March 19, 2024

“A masterclass in intentional living. This book on timeboxing is essential for anyone seeking focus in a distracted world. I've long championed the benefits of timeboxing, and Marc’s book brings it to life."

—Nir Eyal, bestselling author of Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life

“Timeboxing can help you get things done, but more importantly, it can help you do more of what you love and less of what you hate. Zao-Sanders will explain to you how timeboxing the stuff you have to do but don't want to do as well as the things you do want to do will help you get more pleasure and less tedium out of life. As you internalize the lessons of this exceptionally wise book, you’ll begin to feel the presence of a coach who’s there with you every step of the way.”

—Kim Scott, author of Radical Candor

“Timeboxing is a delight. The book is interesting and practical. Each chapter serves a purpose. Best of all, the method really works. For over 30 years I’ve sought to optimize my work and my life. I thought I had things pretty much figured out. But then I read Timeboxing. The impact was immediate and dramatic. My new habit of timeboxing each morning has lifted me to a new level of focus, calm, and productivity. We all can benefit from more focus and more impact. That’s exactly what Timeboxing offers. The short chapters are well organized and easy to read. You can use the techniques immediately to boost productivity with less stress each day. If my Stanford students could read only one book this year, I’d want it to be Timeboxing by Marc Zao-Sanders.”