Time Blocking Secrets from High Performers

Time blocking isn't just another productivity hack—it's a fundamental shift in how you approach your day. In "Make Time" by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky, the authors reveal that the secret to productivity isn't doing more things, but doing the right things with undivided attention.

The Highlight Method

"When you choose a single highlight for your day, you break the default cycle of reacting to other people and invest in the stuff that matters to you." — Jake Knapp

Every day, choose one "Highlight"—the single most important thing you want to accomplish. This isn't about creating endless to-do lists; it's about ruthless prioritization.

With KeyResults, you can identify your daily highlight by looking at your active goals and their key results. The health score feature shows you which objectives need immediate attention, making it easy to choose your daily focus.

Defend Your Time Like a Castle

Once you've identified your highlight, block out dedicated time for it. No meetings, no Slack, no email—just you and your most important work.

The average person checks their phone 80+ times per day, fragmenting their attention into useless shards. This constant context-switching is killing your ability to do deep, meaningful work.

KeyResults helps you track when you're actually making progress on your goals versus when you're just busy. The velocity metrics show you how much meaningful work you're completing, not just how many hours you're logged in.

The Energy Management Factor

Time blocking only works if you match your tasks to your energy levels. Most people have peak cognitive performance 2-3 hours after waking. Schedule your highlight during this golden window.

"Design your day around your highlight, and the rest will follow." — John Zeratsky

Use KeyResults' weekly planning feature to map out your highlight for each day of the week ahead of time. This removes decision fatigue and ensures you're always working on what matters most. The system automatically calculates your momentum score, showing you when you're on a roll versus when you need to adjust your approach.

Making It Stick

The key to successful time blocking is consistency. Start with just one highlight per day for 30 days. Track it in KeyResults as a key result under a broader objective like "Master Deep Work."

You'll be amazed at how much you can accomplish when you give your best hours to your best work. The transformation isn't about working harder—it's about working with intention. ```