What will I learn about: why you actually have more free time than you think, and discover how unexpected daily interruptions create the false illusion of being constantly overworked?

Understand why you actually have more free time than you think, and discover how unexpected daily interruptions create the false illusion of being constantly overworked.

What will I learn about: leverage workplace flexibility by using split shifts and remote work to seamlessly integrate family commitments with your career goals?

Learn how to leverage workplace flexibility by using split shifts and remote work to seamlessly integrate family commitments with your career goals.

What will I learn about: Maximize your daily efficiency by tackling your most difficult and urgent tasks at 8:00 a.m. when your natural energy levels are at their peak?

Maximize your daily efficiency by tackling your most difficult and urgent tasks at 8:00 a.m. when your natural energy levels are at their peak.

What will I learn about: practical strategies to reclaim wasted work hours by auditing your calendar to skip unnecessary meetings and shortening essential ones to 45 minutes?

Discover practical strategies to reclaim wasted work hours by auditing your calendar to skip unnecessary meetings and shortening essential ones to 45 minutes.

What will I learn about: your weekly schedule and avoid the unproductive 'Monday trap' by planning your upcoming tasks and goals on Friday afternoon?

Master your weekly schedule and avoid the unproductive 'Monday trap' by planning your upcoming tasks and goals on Friday afternoon.

I Know How She Does It

How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time

Laura Vanderkam

★ 3.7 / 5(58 ratings)

Start ListeningDownload QR code that opens AudiobookHub on the App Store

Try free on iPhoneScan to start in 5 seconds

Categories:

Management & Leadership Productivity

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡Have you ever wondered why viewing your time in 24-hour blocks might be the biggest mistake you’re making in your quest for work-life balance?
💡Did you know that women with demanding, high-level careers often have more time for sleep and leisure than the cultural narrative leads us to believe?
💡What if you could master the 'mosaic' approach to scheduling that allows you to excel at work while never missing the moments that matter most at home?

Listen to I Know How She Does It — Free Audiobook

Loading player...

Key Takeaways from I Know How She Does It

✓Understand why you actually have more free time than you think, and discover how unexpected daily interruptions create the false illusion of being constantly overworked.
✓Learn how to leverage workplace flexibility by using split shifts and remote work to seamlessly integrate family commitments with your career goals.
✓Maximize your daily efficiency by tackling your most difficult and urgent tasks at 8:00 a.m. when your natural energy levels are at their peak.
✓Discover practical strategies to reclaim wasted work hours by auditing your calendar to skip unnecessary meetings and shortening essential ones to 45 minutes.
✓Master your weekly schedule and avoid the unproductive 'Monday trap' by planning your upcoming tasks and goals on Friday afternoon.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from I Know How She Does It

Mind Map

I Know How She Does It

Time Reality & Perception+

Workplace Flexibility & Efficiency+

Family & Romantic Life+

Home Management & Support+

Personal Time & Well-being+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8

Why do many people, particularly working mothers, feel like workaholics despite having dozens of non-working hours each week?

A. Employers increasingly demand unpaid overtime that goes unrecorded.
B. Commuting and household chores take up the vast majority of their remaining time.
C. Small, unexpected interruptions break up the day and make them feel constantly behind schedule.
D. They tend to overestimate the amount of sleep they actually get each night.

Question 2 of 8

What is an example of working a 'split shift' to increase flexibility?

A. Splitting a single full-time job with another working parent.
B. Working early morning hours, spending time with kids over breakfast, and then returning to work.
C. Working three long days a week and taking two days completely off.
D. Alternating between working from home one week and working in the office the next.

Question 3 of 8

According to a study by Johnson & Johnson, when does a person's energy level generally peak, making it the best time to tackle tough tasks?

A. 8:00 a.m.
B. 10:30 a.m.
C. Immediately after lunch
D. Late in the evening

Question 4 of 8

How does the author suggest avoiding the 'Monday trap' of low productivity?

A. Keep Mondays completely free of all meetings.
B. Work a few hours on Sunday evening to get a head start.
C. Plan the upcoming week's schedule on Friday afternoon.
D. Delegate all administrative tasks to the middle of the week.

Question 5 of 8

What is the author's perspective on sharing a family meal?

A. It is crucial to have a sit-down dinner every night to maintain family bonds.
B. Family meals don't have to be dinners; sharing breakfast or lunch can be just as effective.
C. Families should prioritize weekend dinners if weekday evenings are too busy.
D. Ordering takeout saves time and makes family dinners significantly less stressful.

Question 6 of 8

What is a key rule for couples trying to maintain their romantic life in a busy schedule?

A. Spontaneous dates are always better than planned ones.
B. Romantic time should only happen on weekends when work stress is low.
C. Couples should combine chores with dates to maximize their time efficiency.
D. Administrative time, like grocery shopping, should be scheduled separately from romantic time.

Question 7 of 8

Why does the author advise against skimping on childcare, such as taking a multi-year parental leave?

A. Children develop better social skills when placed in professional daycare environments.
B. Taking at least three years for parental leave can result in a 37 percent loss in earning power over the rest of a career.
C. Relatives often become resentful if they are asked to provide free, full-time childcare.
D. Cheaper childcare options are legally unregulated and often unsafe.

Question 8 of 8

What mental exercise does the author recommend to prove that we can find personal free time for ourselves?

A. Track every minute of your day in a spreadsheet for a week.
B. Wake up an hour earlier every day for a month.
C. Pretend you are addicted to a TV show to see how free time magically appears.
D. Delete all social media apps from your phone for one week.

I Know How She Does It — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
21 — Interruptions make our workdays feel longer and longer.
32 — Take advantage of flexibility wherever you can find it.
43 — Experiment with your work schedule to make it as efficient as possible.
54 — Reflect and plan ahead to keep your work meaningful.
65 — Make sure family time is truly quality time.
76 — Working mothers can and should make room for romance.
87 — Let go of perfectionism and start asking for support.
98 — Create personal space and time with simple methods and daily habit changes.
109 — Final summary

I Know How She Does It Summary & Overview

I Know How She Does It (2015) reveals how career-minded women balance work, family and time for themselves. Based on extensive research covering time logs to interviews, these blinks provide practical advice on time management for the modern working mother.

Who Should Listen to I Know How She Does It?

New mothers seeking advice on how to resume their professional life
Working mothers who want to rebuild their careers
Managers and employees seeking insight into the juggling act required of their female colleagues

About the Author: Laura Vanderkam

Linda Vanderkam lives with her husband and their four young children in the United States. I Know How She Does It is her third book on the issue of time management, after What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, published in 2013, and 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think, published in 2010. In addition to her writing, she has also made numerous appearances on TV programs, including The Today Show, and has published articles in various newspapers.

I Know How She Does It

If You're Curious About These Questions...

Listen to I Know How She Does It — Free Audiobook

Key Takeaways from I Know How She Does It

Learning Tools

Mind Map

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

I Know How She Does It — Full Chapter Overview

I Know How She Does It Summary & Overview

Who Should Listen to I Know How She Does It?

About the Author: Laura Vanderkam

Books Similar to I Know How She Does It