While I was on my Stumbling spree, which you will read about in the next couple of days, I discovered a post made almost two years ago by productivity guru Mark Forster. The article was entitled My Favorite Time Management Tool. Mark’s favorite time management tool is a timer.
Mark says:
This sort of structure works best when the timings are exact. Imagine you are back in school. When the bell goes, you all pile out into the playground. The last thing the teacher wants is you hanging around in the classroom during a break. But as soon as the bell goes again, you all troop back in for the next lesson.
It’s brilliantly simple, really. I’ve been reading a lot lately about “time chunking” and “mono-tasking” and all these other great ways to keep focus. When I first started proofreading and transcribing professionally, several months ago, I started using a timer. I started using the timer for billing purposes and I actually thought it would hamper my productivity. Sort of like when someone tells you to be funny – “Go!” – and you draw a complete blank. But I quickly found the exact opposite was true and started using it for non-billable tasks as well. For example, if I time my breaks I find them more refreshing and I don’t feel guilty because I know I haven’t wasted much time.
The best effect using a timer has had for me was helping to remove my bad procrastination habit. I found that by setting a time limit on how long I had to work on something there wasn’t any task that seemed that bad. Anything is bearable for fifteen minutes, right? Well, maybe not anything, but anything I have to do work-wise is. Instead of waiting until the very last minute and then hating every second of the three hours I spend finishing a task, I now work in short bursts throughout several days and have it done before the deadline even. This has the nice residual effect of making a similar task seem less daunting when I’m faced with it because I don’t have terrible memories of the last time.
The hardest part about this practice for me – still – is stopping immediately when the timer goes off. For this to have the full positive effect, that timer should rule your actions. When it rings, you stop. When you press “go” you are focused on whatever task you have appointed. Nothing else. I have the focus part down, but sometimes if I’m in the middle of something I just can’t stop immediately. I’m trying to be better about it, but it’s a struggle when I’m afraid I’ll lose my creative train of thought.
I have found two tools (free!) that help a lot with this time management practice. The first is a super simple to do list tool called Now Do This. YOu don’t have to register and there are no bells and whistles. You simply edit the list and each item pops up. When you finish it you click “Done” and you are given the next item on your list. I was surprised to find that I got a true feeling of accomplishment from planning and executing a short list of tasks.
The second tool is the ANT 4 Pizza Timer. Its name tells the whole story of the reason for its conception. The idea is you might get caught up with something and forget you put your pizza in the oven. So you set the timer on your PC so you remember to take it out. Again, simple but brilliant. It is a simple count-down timer and nothing more. There are built-in intervals, but you can customize to your heart’s content and it’s still all free.
As I have done more research into productivity, I have found that a lot of the tools designed to make you more productive just take up valuable time. There are some things I use faithfully – like my to-do lists – and some things I just can’t seem to make habits (weekly status report). However, the one practice that I started before any of the others – just using a simple timer and to-do list – has stuck. Despite how strange it seems, even to me, I find that I am much more productive with the timer on.
Do you have any special tools or methods you use to be more productive? Are you a procrastinator or do you jump in and just get it done? Share!
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Nice tips to have some acting timetable to work efficiently but things go wring when you will be doing something very favorite and dearest. I have many blogs (my favorite blogs) which took my several hours so I can’t do anything else(Smoking and reading), even by ringing of bells or beats of drums. Perhaps that is the biggest drawback of internet profession. I know only those people are succeeded who have some fix timetables and tasks.
Today getting rid of bad habits is a tough job and spending time for them is very stupid job. However, your article helps me in some ways. Thanks a lot.
Really nice and inspiring. Your tips are really nice to have an efficient time table
thanks for the excellent idea.actually i don’t have any special tools or methods to be more productive.but i think your post gonna help me.waiting for more like this.
I’ve been thinking of looking for a timer for this very reason. Downloading and testing it out now.
I hope that this will help me get over procrastination on some of those not quite pleasant tasks I tend to make last much longer than they need to be.
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I’m going to have to check out the Now Do This software… I’m totally dissatisfied with the Outlook task plane. Of course, if I switch to Thunderbird it’s task plane might be bettter…
I will have to look for a mac compatible timer. I usually have runaways where I work on one task for hours and forget about the rest.
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I actually thought about doing this about a month ago but I couldn’t find a pc timer that I liked. This one is nice so thanks for sharing. Great tips and tools. Thanks.
Will have to definitely put the above into action. Stopping for a pizza timer on the way home tonight.
Indeed this is a good read, but in reality it’s very hard to organise time. I do spend over 18 hours to work but I have to admit that only 25% can be counted as productive. Well it’s all mind game, one need to plan and act..
Thanks for this wonderful article.
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The best application for To-Do lists is in my oppinion Microsoft Onenote. This is probably the most underrated Office application.
This resouce is good for freelancer like me, i do freelance job and can not manage time well. Thank you for sharing this article
hi,
Your article really helped me in better time management, thanks.
Really nice and inspiring. Your tips are really nice to have an efficient time table
Sara, I wanted to share with you my experience with *timers*, since that is one of my sure-fire productivity techniques.
I am complete agreement with Mark and have found that a 1 hour timer to be a God-send for getting things done.
I keep a kitchen timer right beside my telephone. When I have a project I need to work on, I set the timer for 55 minutes. During that 55 minutes, I don’t check email (even if it *dings*), I don’t open any chat windows, in fact, for that 55 minutes, I shut them down. I don’t take potty-breaks (it is important to do this BEFORE you start the timer).
I don’t do ANYTHING that isn’t directly related to the *task* I am working on.
You would be amazed at how much you can get done in a 55 minute chunk with no interruptions.
I highly recommend this technique!
Cenay’
PS: Thanks for sharing. As usual, you bring great topics to light.
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There are quite a few free break reminder programs out there that could be used by those who wince at the idea of buzzing pizza timers.
I started using one when I was having trouble with repetitive stress injuries and needed to remind myself to get up and stretch and wiggle my hands around every 15 minutes or so.
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i agree with your observations. i also try to time my breaks.
usually for 15 minutes (they’re just short ones), and i find that i don’t feel guilty about the break as much, so it’s more relaxing.
i like your observation that anything is bearable if done for only 15 minutes.
true. will keep that in mind the next time i procastinate. 
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Nice post! The article is great and the tips dealing on time management are great and they must be very useful to people.Thanks for providing such a great article.
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Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful and beneficial to your readers
The ANT 4 Pizza Times will definitely be useful. Sometimes when I get going I end up with nine or ten tabs open in my browser and I lose track of what I originally set out to do. If I know I'm on a time limit maybe I'll be more focused and get more done!
I'm going to try it. Great Ideas
oww.. great, i think agree your post