Dreaming of the Office: Time, Task and Email Management at Home and Away

Are you constantly juggling deadlines, chasing emails, and trying to stay productive in a workday full of endless distractions — whether you're at home, in the office, or somewhere in between?

Dreaming of the Office is your practical guide to mastering time, task, and email management in today’s hybrid work world.

This fully revised Second Edition builds on the original pandemic-era version with a broader, deeper, and more timeless approach to how we work now. Whether you’re a knowledge worker, freelancer, creative, executive, manager or educator, this book will help you design better days — with less stress and more focus.

You’ll learn how to:

• Take control of your calendar and use time blocks to protect deep focus
• Build a task system you’ll actually stick to — and stop forgetting follow-ups
• Tame your inbox without living in it
• Create a daily shutdown routine to reclaim your evenings
• Lead by example in remote or hybrid teams
• Work well while travelling, commuting, or changing locations
• Use AI tools to support (not replace) your judgement
• Find energy and momentum even when motivation is low
• Build a personal system that fits your role, rhythm, and responsibilities

This is not a generic productivity book. It’s a calm, practical guide for real people doing real work — with meetings, interruptions, obligations, and inboxes that never seem to empty.

With William Spears' warm, direct style, Dreaming of the Office combines personal insight with clear, field-tested systems. It draws on the author’s years of experience helping professionals in complex, high-pressure environments regain clarity and control over their time.

Inside, you’ll also find:

• How to structure your week with realistic priorities
• A complete approach to Inbox Zero (that actually works)
• How to use your calendar as a decision-making tool, not just a diary
• New sections on team dynamics and leadership in hybrid settings
• Tips for working well across time zones, travel days, and changing environments
• Guidance on how to use AI and automation to streamline admin and spark ideas
• A wellness-focused chapter on energy, rest, and sustainable routines

Whether you're managing a team, leading yourself, or just trying to get through the day with more clarity and less chaos, this book will meet you where you are — and help you take the next step.

Stop drifting. Start designing.

Dreaming of the Office will help you take back control of your workday — and build a professional life that works for you.