The Make Time Newsletter
Written by Connor Swenson, with occasional interludes from Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky.
The warm-up
Hey Time Dorks! Welcome to the July edition. Before we dive in, a couple of quick updates. On the work front: I've been trying something new over the last month: making YouTube videos. It's been a lot of fun — and honestly, pretty humbling. Turns out talking to a camera is a very different skill than talking to a room full of people. I'm trying to enjoy being a beginner again. Any advice is welcome. On the home front: We're about eight weeks away from welcoming our second baby, so life...
The September Reset
Hey Time Dorks! Welcome to the September edition of the Make Time newsletter. I've always felt like September is a mini-January. As summer winds down, schools start back, and work picks up speed, a lot of us start thinking about new goals, intentions, and plans for the fall. There's something energizing about getting back into a rhythm after the summer. But one of the traps I've fallen into many times is jumping straight back onto the Busy Bandwagon. Before I know it, my calendar is full, my...
Working together, alone
Hey there, A couple of small updates: this newsletter is going monthly and we're simplifying the name to The Make Time Newsletter. I'll always consider us all Time Dorks at heart. 🤓 Also, the next application window for The Inner Operating System opens today, June 25th. It's my program for driven professionals who feel stressed, scattered, and stretched thin, and are ready to feel more focused, present, and in control. More on that at the end. Now, onto something I've been meaning to write...
One thing at a time
Hey Time Dorks, I just got back from a 10-day wilderness survival trip on a desert island in Panama. We spent the first five days learning bushcraft from two seasoned instructors — fishing, building shelter, fashioning tools from natural materials, making fire. Then came the survival phase: three days where we had to put our new skills to the test. Despite catching almost no fish, sleeping on beds fashioned from slats made of bamboo, and enduring some pesky sandflies, we made it to the finish...
Why your beliefs might be holding you back
Hey Time Dorks, Connor here. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Nir Eyal — investor, bestselling author of Indistractable and Hooked, and someone whose work has genuinely influenced how I think about focus, attention, and distraction. Nir's new book is called Beyond Belief, and the question at the heart of it is one I hear from Time Dorks constantly: "I know what I'm supposed to do. So why don't I do it?" Whether it’s getting fit, writing your novel, or limiting the time you...
Monthly reviews: A simple practice for clarity
Hey Time Dorks, Connor here. Back in December, we hosted a free workshop on annual reviews. If you missed it, I've put the recording back up. It's not too late to reflect on 2025 and gain clarity for 2026! I first got into the habit of reflection through practicing the fourth step of the Make Time framework, "Reflect." The Make Time Framework Taking daily notes helped me understand which tactics were working and which weren't, so I could fine-tune my approach along the way. We like to say you...
Ways we can work together in 2026
Hey everyone, I hope you had a great Christmas season and are feeling energized as we settle into 2026. I wanted to share a quick update on our focus this year and a short overview of the ways we can work together, whether you’re leading a team or working on yourself. As many of you know, I’ve been working with Make Time for the past five years, after leaving Google and founding Forgewell. During that time, I’ve had the privilege of sharing the Make Time framework with thousands of people...
Let’s kickstart your 2025 Annual Review (free workshop!)
Hey Time Dorks! Connor here with a reflection on…reflection, and a special invite to a free workshop that I think you’ll love. December is one of my favorite months of the year, not just because it’s my birthday, but because it’s when I start making time for one of my favorite rituals: the Annual Review. I first picked up this ritual from my friend Tyler, who would email his friends and family a simple Google Doc capturing the highlights of his year, lessons learned, and his goals for the...
An honest plug (and a better investment than a TV)
Hey friends, Connor here with an honest plug for something I'm really proud of. In the lead up to Black Friday, when everyone is scrambling to buy last-minute items they don't actually need, why not choose to invest in yourself instead? Allow me to share one great way to do just that: apply for the second cohort of The Inner Operating System! The program starts January 20th. If you're feeling the end-of-year burnout creeping in, this might be the reset you need to start the new year with...
A gentle reset for calmer, more intentional choices
Hey Time Dorks, In my last dispatch, I wrote about the power of pausing and how taking a beat can give you more space to choose a thoughtful response. Today, I want to share a simple body-based tool that makes that pause even more powerful. Something to Try — The 4-6 Breath The other afternoon, I was wrapping up my workday when an email from a client arrived with some unfortunate news: they needed to postpone a workshop we had scheduled for later in the week. Instantly, I was annoyed. My mind...
Written by Connor Swenson, with occasional interludes from Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky.