What is *Not Today: The 9 Habits of Extreme Productivity* about?

*Not Today* by Erica and Mike Schultz blends a personal crisis narrative with actionable productivity strategies. After their son’s life-threatening heart condition, the authors developed 9 habits to maintain business operations while managing hospital stays. The book emphasizes hyper-focused work sessions, boundary-setting, and systemic solutions to burnout, offering tools like time-tracking and prioritization frameworks.

Who should read *Not Today: The 9 Habits of Extreme Productivity*?

This book targets professionals facing burnout, entrepreneurs balancing work-life crises, and anyone seeking productivity methods grounded in real adversity. Its mix of personal storytelling and tactical advice (e.g., 90-minute focus blocks, habit audits) resonates with readers navigating high-stress environments or health challenges.

Is *Not Today* worth reading?

Yes—*Not Today* stands out by linking extreme productivity to emotional resilience. Unlike generic advice, it provides metrics-driven frameworks tested during family trauma, such as the “Rule of 3” for daily priorities and strategies to avoid decision fatigue. Readers praise its relatable crisis-to-productivity angle.

What are the 9 habits of extreme productivity in *Not Today*?

While specifics vary, key habits include: - **Time blocking** (90-minute focused sessions). - **Energy management** via circadian rhythm alignment. - **Boundary-setting** to protect focus. - **Habit stacking** to replace unproductive routines. The habits stress adaptability, self-assessment tools, and aligning tasks with long-term goals.

How does *Not Today* address burnout?

The book frames burnout as a systemic issue requiring organizational change, not just individual fixes. It advocates for transparent workload discussions, flexible scheduling, and leadership accountability, alongside personal strategies like mindfulness breaks and “stress inoculation” practices.

What time management techniques does *Not Today* recommend?

Key techniques include: - **The “Two-Minute Rule”** for quick tasks. - **Priority triaging** using the Eisenhower Matrix. - **Time audits** to eliminate low-value activities. These methods aim to reduce decision fatigue and create buffer time for unexpected crises.

How does *Not Today* differ from *Atomic Habits* or *Deep Work*?

While *Atomic Habits* focuses on incremental behavior change and *Deep Work* on distraction-free focus, *Not Today* integrates crisis management into productivity. It emphasizes adaptability during upheaval, offering frameworks tested in life-or-death scenarios rather than optimized environments.

What are common criticisms of *Not Today*?

Some reviewers note the 9 habits overlap with established productivity literature. Others find the dual focus on memoir and strategy occasionally disjointed. However, most praise its raw, real-world applicability compared to theoretical guides.

Not Today

The 9 Habits of Extreme Productivity

Erica Schultz and Mike Schultz

3.71(224 Reviews)

Overview of Not Today

"Not Today" reveals 9 habits of extreme productivity born from the Schultzes' dual challenge: running a business while their son battled a heart defect. Their TIME formula has become a beacon for professionals seeking balance amid chaos. Can productivity actually flourish in life's darkest moments?

Choose how it's told

One book. Many ways to hear it.

Same ideas from Not Today. Pick the voice, depth, and pace that fits you. Switch anytime.

Chapter 1

When Time Becomes Your Most Precious Asset

In the fall of 2011, Mike and Erica Schultz's lives changed forever. During what should have been a routine eighteen-week ultrasound, they discovered their unborn son had a serious heart defect that could prove fatal. This devastating news catapulted them into a world of experimental in-utero surgeries, countless hospital stays, and an impossible balancing act between caring for their critically ill child and maintaining their business to keep essential health insurance. Their son Ari would eventually spend 430 nights in the hospital over his short five-and-a-half-year life, teaching his parents profound lessons about time, priorities, and productivity. Their journey caught national attention when a viral video showed Ari's pure joy upon learning doctors had found him a heart after 211 days of waiting. Though Ari ultimately passed away in 2017, his legacy lives on through the productivity system his parents developed during those hospital stays - a system that has since transformed businesses worldwide and forms the foundation of "Not Today," a book that's been embraced by productivity experts and business leaders alike for its unique blend of heart-wrenching personal narrative and practical wisdom.

Chapter 2

The Productivity Crisis We All Face

Nobody wants to be unproductive or watch their dreams fade away. Yet when faced with making real change in our lives, many of us unconsciously respond with "not today." Personal transformation feels overwhelming, especially when we're already exhausted trying to complete endless to-do lists. The conventional approach to productivity that emerged in the 1980s with lean manufacturing often treated humans like machines - focusing too much on "stepping on the gas" without "filling the tank." The problem isn't that we lack productivity systems. We're drowning in them. But most focus exclusively on managing to-do lists and tactics while neglecting the essential "why" behind productivity. True productivity requires three components: the why (purpose), the what (actions), and the how (tactics). Without all three elements, productivity feels empty or becomes unsustainable. This realization came to Mike and Erica during their darkest hours in hospital rooms. While caring for a special needs child and infants, they developed habits that initially helped them survive but unexpectedly made them feel better. They discovered that meaning was the missing ingredient in productivity. To validate their approach, they conducted a global study with over 2,377 respondents across multiple regions. The research identified distinct groups: "The XP" (Extremely Productive), "The Rest," and "XP TIME Champions" (those who waste minimal time). The study introduced the Productivity Quotient (PQ), a score from 36-180 measuring productivity habits. Importantly, the research showed that PQ correlates not just with productivity but also with job performance, satisfaction, and overall happiness. What makes this approach different? It's not about working harder or doing more - it's about working wholeheartedly on meaningful things and setting boundaries to focus on what truly matters. The pursuit of human productivity is noble but has been approached incorrectly. True productivity requires planting seeds and tending to them properly, which produces not just impressive results but sustainable productivity throughout life.

See every word as you hear it

Read along effortlessly as each word of Not Today lights up in real time.

Chapter 3

Reimagining How We View Time

We need to empty our cups of old assumptions about time management and refill them with a new perspective. Drawing from martial arts principles like maximum efficiency and beginner's mind, the authors discovered that existing time management systems focused too much on efficiency but neglected our reason for being. This realization led to developing the TIME framework, which transforms how we view and allocate our hours. TIME stands for: • Treasured: Time with loved ones, self-care, and activities that bring joy • Investment: Activities that yield outsized returns and move you toward goals • Mandatory: Tasks that feel necessary but may not be • Empty: Time that leads nowhere and should be eliminated Unlike most time-management systems that postpone Treasured time for some future date, this approach recognizes we need it in the present. Research shows The XP and XP TIME Champions spend significantly more time on high-return Investment activities (46% and 77% more, respectively) and much less on Mandatory and Empty activities compared to The Rest. Nearly half of all respondents waste significant time during workdays. Everyone has potential to increase Investment time - The XP by about 25%, while the least productive could more than double theirs. The impact is staggering. The XP spend nearly six hours daily on Investment activities versus less than four for The Rest - a difference of nine hours weekly. Imagine redirecting nine more hours weekly toward high-return activities without working extra: nine hours for being proactive, leading, studying, strategizing, or thinking big picture. For team leaders, this multiplies dramatically - 100 team members gaining nine hours each means 900 more Investment hours weekly, equivalent to 46% more output without adding headcount. TIME isn't just an organizing framework but a mindset that's deeply personal and dynamic. Even entertainment like watching a favorite show can be Treasured TIME when used intentionally to recharge, but could become Empty TIME if overindulged. The line between categories is fluid and changes through self-examination. Viewing each moment through the TIME lens allows you to be mindful of how you spend your most precious resource and create space for both work priorities and personal fulfillment.

Chapter 4

Manufacture Your Own Motivation

The first key to extreme productivity challenges the traditional view of motivation as an innate, binary trait. Drawing on psychological research from the 1960s through the 2010s, motivation is a learnable skill rather than an immutable attribute. The common saying that "passion develops" should be reframed as an active process: "Develop passion!" This begins with understanding your "yen" - a blend of feeling-inspired motivation that drives action. Research shows The Extremely Productive (XP) are twice as likely to be very driven compared to others, but importantly, they weren't born this way - they developed habits to cultivate passion. The first habit for manufacturing motivation is recruiting your drive through three key "hacks": 1. Choose Your New Reality: Don't you hate when something feels mandatory rather than chosen? Choice is crucial for motivation. Your New Reality is your desired future state - where you want to be when things change for the better. Writing down goals is transformative - The XP are three times likelier to have written goals than The Rest. Use a three-part framework: Big Picture Goal (ultimate destination), Three-Year Goals (milestones), and Annual Goals (this year's targets). 2. Plan Actions Weekly: When Ari was hospitalized awaiting a heart transplant, Erica had just one hour daily for work. Initially, she wasted this precious time responding to messages rather than doing impactful work. Everything changed when she created a weekly plan aligned with her quarterly priorities. Research confirms this approach - a Harvard Business Review study found that "task clarity" (knowing specifically what to do with your time) was the most motivating factor for salespeople, more than compensation or management style. 3. Track Progress Weekly: Tracking progress is inherently motivating. Research by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer found that "support for making progress" was the most motivating factor for employees - more than incentives, clear goals, or recognition. A Dominican University study showed that people who provided weekly progress reports to friends achieved their goals at twice the rate of those who kept goals private.

Get more out of Not Today

Get daily insights from 100K+ lessons
Words light up in sync with the audio
Your library saved on every device

Chapter 5

Ignite Your Proactivity

The second habit focuses on taking that crucial first step in any journey. Our minds naturally take the path of least resistance - we're cognitive misers who choose fast over good and ease over resistance. Yet the path of resistance often yields the greatest return. The most difficult aspect isn't staying on the journey but taking that first step - being proactive. Procrastination kills productivity, and everyone struggles with it sometimes, with 20% being chronic procrastinators. The Extremely Productive (XP) have figured this out - they start their days focused on their Greatest Impact Activity (GIA), calendar these activities, and resist reacting to others' agendas. Like the activation energy needed to start a chemical reaction, human tasks require initial energy to begin. Just as kindling helps logs catch fire by serving as a catalyst that lowers activation energy, we need catalysts to ignite our proactivity. Three catalysts can help tackle high-impact but easy-to-avoid Investment activities: 1. Calendar Your Investment TIME: During Ari's hospital stay, Mike struggled to get work done despite his father's daily help. The solution came when Mike started calendaring his top priority (GIA) for 8:30 AM daily. Research confirms this approach works: in a study of exercise commitments, those who calendared specific times were 91% likely to follow through, compared to just 35-38% for groups who merely tracked or read about benefits. The XP are 2.7 times more likely to block calendar time for GIAs and nearly four times more likely to maximize time on high-return activities. 2. Talk to Yourself: At the Critical Decision Window - that moment when you choose between easy and challenging tasks - mental toughness is essential. Your self-talk has an outsized impact on your choices. The average person speaks 300-1,000 words to themselves every minute, and this inner voice can either sabotage or empower you. Navy SEALs improved their passing rates by 32% using mental toughness training that included positive self-talk. Research shows that third-person self-talk ("You can do it, Steve!") is more effective than first-person statements. 3. Say '3...2...1...Go!': For all the various researchers and authors who have their own versions of Rapid Activation Talk, the point is universally the same. You have a short amount of time to get started on an activity before your brain tells you, "That's too hard." The Extremely Productive are 3.5 times more likely to immediately begin tasks they know they should be doing. At the moment of truth, saying "3...2...1...Go!" bypasses excuses like "I don't have the right shoes" or "I'll do it tomorrow" that your brain creates to avoid effort.

Chapter 6

Reengineer Your Habits

Habits drive much of our daily behavior, from morning routines to work patterns. The Extremely Productive are five times more likely than others to have work habits that significantly contribute to their productivity. While many experts describe habits as a three-part loop (trigger -> response -> reward), this model misses a crucial element: thought. The complete habit loop consists of four elements: 1) Trigger - something that cues a sequence, like a phone buzzing; 2) Thought - even if subconscious, like "I should check my message"; 3) Response - the action taken; and 4) Reward - the payoff, such as the dopamine release from checking a message. Unproductive habits to break include checking email first thing in the morning, accepting too many meetings, allowing interruptions, not planning in advance, procrastination, and chronic multitasking. Productive habits to develop include implementing a morning routine, starting immediately on important tasks, single-tasking intensely, working on greatest impact activities first, planning and reviewing goals, and reducing environmental distractions. To change habits effectively, you must become a "choice architect" by identifying the habit you want to change, understanding why you want to change it, and creating a blueprint for change. You can intervene at any point in the habit loop - changing the trigger, thought, response, or reward - using various tactics or "hacks" to reshape your behavior patterns. Two key influences drive "automaticity" - the feeling that a habit is automatic: 1) The more often you respond a certain way to a trigger, the easier it becomes, and 2) The more you feel the reward, the more you appreciate it. While habitual behaviors aren't truly automatic, they can feel automatic when repeated consistently. Research by Pippa Lally shows it takes an average of sixty-six days (not the commonly cited twenty-one) for habits to form. Three powerful techniques for reengineering habits include: 1. Say, "When I, Then I." And Ask, "Will I?": The "When I, Then I" technique creates a powerful cognitive wedge between triggers and responses. In one study, epilepsy patients increased medication compliance from 55% to 79% by making statements like "When it's eight o'clock and I've finished brushing my teeth, then I will take my prescribed medication." For even stronger results, transform statements into questions by asking "Will I?" instead of declaring "I will." 2. Change Your Environment: Our environments profoundly influence our behavior. The XP understand this - more than half organize their work environments to maximize productivity, compared to fewer than one in five of The Rest. Simple changes like decluttering your desk, adding plants, optimizing lighting, wearing noise-canceling headphones, or finding a dedicated space for specific tasks can dramatically improve focus and productivity. 3. Make Your Morning Routine Sacred: A consistent morning routine is a keystone habit of highly productive people. More than half of the XP have a morning routine that starts their day productively, compared to just one in four of The Rest. The 5-Step Extreme Productivity Morning Routine includes: 1) Reading your objectives, 2) Checking your mindset and adjusting if needed, 3) Asking "Will I?" for critical tasks, 4) Asking "How will I be better than yesterday?", and 5) Starting with your Greatest Impact Activity before checking email or messages.

See every word as you hear it

Read along effortlessly as each word of Not Today lights up in real time.

Chapter 7

Learn to Say No

Saying no requires setting boundaries that protect your time and priorities, even when it means disappointing others. Not being able to say no guarantees busyness without progress. It's especially painful when you know your purpose and goals but feel stretched too thin to achieve them. Our reluctance to say no stems from our "inner chimp" - the impulsive limbic system that prioritizes immediate gratification. Research from Cornell University shows that over 60% of people will do something unethical rather than say no, finding refusal more uncomfortable than compliance. Brene Brown notes we "wear busyness as a badge of honor," fearing judgment if we're not constantly busy. The fundamental truth is stark: if you don't control your time, others will. Successful people are masters of refusal. Warren Buffett claims "really successful people say no to almost everything," Steve Jobs regularly asked his head of design "How many times did you say no today?", and strategist Michael Porter noted "the essence of strategy is choosing what not to do." The most productive people (The XP) are 5.5 times more likely than others to maintain an active "no list." Three strategies can help you say no more effectively: 1. Keep a To-Don't List: Your to-don't list can include permanent nos, conditional nos, and temporary nos - things that aren't priorities right now but might be later. This approach helps maintain boundaries and provides a ready menu of ideas when you're ready for new priorities. 2. Do Less: If It's Not Gung Ho, It's No: For your Investment activities, if you're not wholly enthusiastic about something and its return, say no. Research shows having too many conflicting goals makes us do less to achieve them while increasing worry. Sometimes priorities need to be put on the "No for Now" list. 3. Practice Saying No: If saying no is challenging for you despite good intentions, you're not alone. Six ways to practice: start with low-stake scenarios like declining to give your email at stores; practice in front of a mirror saying "No, I can't do that right now"; pause to breathe before responding to requests; write down how you want conversations to play out; trust your gut feelings; and analyze the potential fallout (usually nothing bad happens when you say no).

Chapter 8

Shield Yourself from Distractions

In today's world of constant digital distraction, where people check smartphones 47 times daily (spending nearly 3 hours) and face interruptions every 11 minutes, our productivity suffers dramatically. Research shows interruptions make us 20% dumber, even 3-second distractions double workplace errors, and it takes over 23 minutes to refocus after disruptions. Alerts have evolved from helpful notifications to addictive shackles. What started as occasional "You've got mail" has become 7.4 trillion push notifications yearly through Apple alone. These alerts trigger dopamine releases that create seeking behavior and psychological dependency - many can't even use the bathroom without their phones. The Extremely Productive are nearly four times more likely to prevent distraction when concentrating - they deliberately "play hard to get" as a shield against the barrage of attention-seeking interruptions. Three key strategies help protect your focus: 1. Be Free from the Shackles of Alerts: The solution is simple but difficult: turn everything off. When Carnegie Mellon researchers tried finding volunteers to go notification-free for a week, nobody would do it. Yet those who tried it for just one day reported feeling less distracted and more productive, with 43% maintaining changed alert settings two years later. Expect withdrawal symptoms when you disconnect, but freedom awaits on the other side. 2. Signal "Do Not Disturb": Most of us unconsciously signal "disturb me" by answering emails immediately and keeping our doors open. The XP are three times more likely than The Rest to signal "do not disturb." Effective tactics include closing your door, wearing headphones (even if not listening to anything), posting a sign about deadlines, and activating out-of-office messages even while in the office. 3. Be Someplace Else: If people can't find you, they can't interrupt you. Working from an unexpected location - whether a quiet corner of the office, a conference room, or home - creates a powerful shield against distractions. Being someplace else offers a dual benefit: it not only prevents distractions but can also enhance creativity. Great minds from Tesla to Picasso have praised solitude as essential for original thought.

Get more out of Not Today

Get daily insights from 100K+ lessons
Words light up in sync with the audio
Your library saved on every device

Chapter 9

Sprint Into the Zone

Getting "in the zone" - that mental state of complete immersion described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi as "flow" - is one of the most powerful productivity strategies. In this state, time feels suspended yet flies by, you experience extreme focus and clarity, tasks feel effortless, and you feel rewarded simply by engaging in the activity. The XPs are 2.6 times more likely than others to make it a regular practice. The gateway to entering the zone is through TIME Sprinting - dedicating twenty to ninety minutes of obsessed focus on one planned activity while tracking time with a stopwatch. This simple yet powerful technique creates the conditions for deep concentration. Unlike timers that interrupt your flow, a stopwatch allows you to glance at your progress without breaking concentration. The ninety-minute maximum aligns with the basic rest-activity cycle identified by sleep researcher Nathaniel Kleitman, when your natural alertness begins to decline. To enter the zone effectively, you need four controllable factors: task clarity (through weekly planning and calendaring), strong consequences (through goal-setting and accountability), a zone-conducive environment (by changing your surroundings to avoid distractions), and complete focus (by choosing one activity with a stopwatch and quieting your inner voice). Think of relays as interval training for productivity. By doing four sprints in sequence with brief breaks (six minutes or less) between them, you build mental stamina while maintaining focus. Research shows these short breaks actually help you stay focused on your main task. After completing four sprints, take at least a fifteen-minute genuine break to align with your body's natural ultradian rhythms. Our minds constantly generate distracting thoughts that pull us away from focused work. The solution is remarkably simple: keep a distraction capture list nearby and write down any thoughts that threaten to derail your concentration. This technique works because it prevents the mental "itch" of trying to remember something while focusing on your task. When you enter the flow state, your dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (where your inner critic lives) naturally quiets down, as shown by Charles Limb's fMRI research on musicians and rappers in flow states.

Chapter 10

Fuel Your Sustainable Energy

Energy is the fuel that drives productivity, and there's a stunning gap between The XP and The Rest in their ability to sustain it. Over half of The XP agree they "regularly sustain energy for long periods of time" compared to just 15 percent of The Rest. Energy isn't just about productivity - it's a key driver of top performance, job satisfaction, and happiness. The best way to maximize energy is focusing on mind, body, and spirit as three legs of a stool, creating what the authors call the Energy Triad. When all three connect, you achieve productive stamina. Without mind, you become aimless. Without body, you're fatigued. Without spirit, you move like an empty shell - or can't move at all. 1. Mind: Mental energy is highest early in the day, as demonstrated by a study of 1,100 parole board decisions where morning cases received parole 70% of the time versus less than 10% for late-day cases. Each decision depletes mental energy, leading to avoidance or impulsivity. The XP are twice as likely to practice mindfulness than The Rest, with research showing it literally changes brain structure - increasing gray matter in the frontal cortex and hippocampus while reducing the amygdala's size. 2. Body: Physical energy is foundational to productivity. Even with perfect habit implementation, poor sleep will undermine your efforts. Similarly, poor food choices - like carb-heavy meals - can trigger energy crashes that sabotage your afternoon productivity. The research confirms that The XP are twice as likely to be active and physically fit compared to The Rest, and these qualities are key drivers of happiness. 3. Spirit: Spiritual energy comes from deeply personal connections to activities and practices that bring meaning. Six practical actions can help restore spiritual energy: 1) Take Treasured TIME - leisure activities reduce depression and improve wellbeing (The XP do this twice as often as The Rest); 2) Find meaning in your goals; 3) Spend time in nature (just twenty minutes can energize you better than caffeine); 4) Practice relaxed breathing techniques; 5) Try yoga, which research shows increases GABA, controlling fear and anxiety responses; and 6) Discover your personal spiritual path.

See every word as you hear it

Read along effortlessly as each word of Not Today lights up in real time.

Chapter 11

Right the Ship When You Get Off Course

Even with perfect productivity systems in place, everyone experiences moments when they veer off track - procrastinating, getting distracted, or failing to focus when they should be TIME Sprinting. These momentary lapses are a normal part of the productivity journey. The XP are 5.3 times more likely than The Rest to recover quickly when they get derailed. The path to building good habits will involve steps forward and backward - this is simply being human. Three strategies can help you right the ship when you go off course: 1. Practice Free Won't: While we may not have complete "free will" over our impulses, we definitely have "free won't" - the ability to consciously stop behaviors once we notice them. Neurologist Benjamin Libet's experiments showed that while brain activity initiating action occurs before conscious awareness, we retain the power to veto those actions. The simple technique of saying "3...2...1...Stop!" works remarkably well to interrupt unwanted behaviors. 2. Make Micro Change: Small actions over time create massive results. Just as saving $1 daily can compound to nearly $700,000 over fifty years, tiny behavioral changes can transform your productivity. When a task feels overwhelming, make it smaller until it requires minimal activation energy to begin. Can't focus for twenty minutes? Start with five. Finding goal-setting daunting? Begin with just one goal. These micro changes create a sense of progress - which research by Teresa Amabile shows is highly motivating. 3. Make a Commitment Contract: To implement Right the Ship principles: 1) Add one micro change to your weekly Action Plan that could lead to longer-term habit change, and 2) Try making a commitment contract using Stickk (www.stickk.com) with something on the line. Yale economists found this increases success rates by 200% with an accountability partner, and up to 300% when money is at stake.

Chapter 12

The Gift of Not Today

Ari's legacy extends far beyond the productivity system his parents developed during their hospital stays. His short life - five years, five months, and five days - taught them that time is our most precious resource, and how we choose to spend it defines not just our productivity but our lives. The Productivity Code isn't just about getting more done - it's about living with intention and purpose. By manufacturing motivation, controlling your time, and executing in the zone, you can transform not just how much you accomplish but how you feel about your work and life. As Erica reflected after Ari's death, his heart was "larger than life. Because even now that it has stopped, I think it's going to go on and touch so many people." Through their work, Mike and Erica hope that sharing Ari's story will inspire others to value their time and "swing for the fences while you can. Starting Not Today."

★★★★★

You made it to the end of Not Today

Loved by 1M+ learners

“23 days in and I have used it every single day. It is part of my daily habit now.”

jayallen

Key Themes in Not Today

meaningful productivity
time allocation framework
crisis management
purpose-driven work
sustainable performance

Quotes from Not Today

Personal transformation feels overwhelming.
Meaning was the missing ingredient in productivity.
Develop passion!
Choice is crucial for motivation.
Motivation is a learnable skill.

Characters in Not Today

Mike SchultzAuthor and father who developed the TIME system
Erica SchultzAuthor and mother who co-created the framework
Ari SchultzThe authors' son whose illness inspired the book

About the Author

Erica Schultz and Mike Schultz, award-winning sales training experts and co-authors of Not Today: The 9 Habits of Extreme Productivity, are renowned for merging productivity science with heartfelt storytelling.

Their book, a hybrid memoir and professional guide, draws from their harrowing experience balancing entrepreneurship with their son Ari’s congenital heart disease battle, offering strategies for purposeful productivity amid adversity.

As co-founders of RAIN Group, a globally recognized sales training firm, they’ve advised Fortune 500 companies like Toyota and Oracle, earning accolades such as Training Industry’s Top 20 Sales Training Company. Their work has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Business Week, and they’ve appeared on ABC World News Tonight and ESPN.

The couple’s other bestselling books, including Rainmaking Conversations and Professional Services Marketing, establish them as authorities in sales and leadership. Recognized with the American Heart Association’s Heart of Gold Award, their methodologies have impacted tens of thousands through RAIN Group’s programs and their acclaimed Productivity Code framework.

Download Summary of Not Today

Get the Not Today summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.

Users also liked

Someday Is Today

Matthew Dicks

Reality Check

Andy Symonds & Mike Sorrentino

Do It Today

Darius Foroux

Overwhelmed

Brigid Schulte

The Power of Full Engagement

Jim Loehr & Tony Schwartz

Less Doing, More Living

Ari Meisel

Urgent!

Dermot Crowley

Create Space

Derek Draper

FAQs About This Book

Discover more

LEARNING PLAN

Spot hidden habits killing productivity

In an era of constant digital noise, traditional time management is no longer enough to stay effective. This plan is designed for professionals and students who feel busy but unproductive, offering the tools to reclaim focus and master cognitive energy.

3 h 16 m•4 Sections

LEARNING PLAN

Energy First: The Sustainable Productivity System

Traditional time management often ignores the biological reality of human performance, leading to burnout. This system is designed for high-performers and knowledge workers who need to optimize their cognitive output while maintaining long-term health and focus.

2 h•4 Sections

LEARNING PLAN

Unshakable: Stoic Drills for Modern Chaos

In an era of constant digital noise and social volatility, emotional resilience is a survival skill. This plan is designed for high-stress professionals and individuals seeking to regain control over their reactions and mental clarity through practical, ancient wisdom.

2 h 30 m•5 Sections

LEARNING PLAN

The Neurodivergent Time Management Toolkit

This toolkit is designed for neurodivergent individuals who struggle with traditional productivity systems that ignore executive dysfunction. It provides practical, biology-based strategies to overcome task inertia, time blindness, and the mental exhaustion of switching gears.

1 h 30 m•3 Sections

LEARNING PLAN

The Elastic Self: Sustainable Habit Design

In an unpredictable world, rigid routines often lead to burnout and failure. This plan is designed for high-performers and busy professionals who need habit systems that bend without breaking under stress.

2 h•4 Sections

LEARNING PLAN

Beat Procrastination and Build Consistency

In an era of constant distraction, the ability to manage emotional resistance and workload is a critical professional skill. This plan is ideal for high-achievers and creative professionals who struggle with burnout or the 'start-stop' cycle of productivity.

1 h 30 m•3 Sections

LEARNING PLAN

The Architecture of a Fearless Life

This plan is essential for professionals and seekers struggling with burnout, anxiety about the future, or the pressure of high-stakes results. It offers a blueprint for building resilience by integrating ancient wisdom into modern daily routines, making it ideal for anyone looking to find stability in an unpredictable world.

1 h 30 m•3 Sections

LEARNING PLAN

The High-Performance Life Operating System

This plan is designed for professionals and high-achievers who feel overwhelmed by reactive work and morning distractions. It provides a structured framework to shift from willpower-based effort to automated systems that guarantee long-term results.

1 h 30 m•3 Sections

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

LOVED BY

1,000,000+ curious minds.

4.7

avg rating

1M+ learners

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

See more on how BeFreed is discussed

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

LOVED BY

1,000,000+ curious minds.

4.7

avg rating

1M+ learners

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

See more on how BeFreed is discussed

Start your learning journey, now

Chapter 6

Not Today

OverviewOverview of Not Today

One book. Many ways to hear it.

When Time Becomes Your Most Precious Asset

The Productivity Crisis We All Face

See every word as you hear it

Reimagining How We View Time

Manufacture Your Own Motivation

Get more out of Not Today

Ignite Your Proactivity

Reengineer Your Habits

See every word as you hear it

Learn to Say No

Shield Yourself from Distractions

Get more out of Not Today

Sprint Into the Zone

Fuel Your Sustainable Energy

See every word as you hear it

Right the Ship When You Get Off Course

The Gift of Not Today

You made it to the end of Not Today

Key Themes in Not Today

Quotes from Not Today

Characters in Not Today

About the Author

Download Summary of Not Today

Users also liked

FAQs About This Book

What is Not Today: The 9 Habits of Extreme Productivity about?

Who should read Not Today: The 9 Habits of Extreme Productivity?

Is Not Today worth reading?

What are the 9 habits of extreme productivity in Not Today?

Discover more

1,000,000+ curious minds.

1,000,000+ curious minds.

One book. Many ways to hear it.

When Time Becomes Your Most Precious Asset

The Productivity Crisis We All Face

See every word as you hear it

Reimagining How We View Time

Manufacture Your Own Motivation

Get more out of Not Today

Ignite Your Proactivity

Reengineer Your Habits

See every word as you hear it

Learn to Say No

Shield Yourself from Distractions

Get more out of Not Today

Sprint Into the Zone

Fuel Your Sustainable Energy

See every word as you hear it

Right the Ship When You Get Off Course

The Gift of Not Today

You made it to the end of Not Today

Users also liked

Discover more

Overview of Not Today