Great tool for getting work done in half the time

[TheRestaurantMarketer]

Hi Guys

This is a technique I've read about and having been using a while to do (desk) work in half the time. It sounds so simple but it works.

Parkinson's Law states that if you have more time to do something, you will take longer to finish the job. This is why deadlines are useful as it kicks your brain into gear to get the job done.

Distractions are a real killer though (email, skype, phone etc). Here's what to do.

1) Switch your phone to silent, close your email, browser skype etc.
2) Go to this site www.online-stopwatch.com , click on Count Down and set it to 50 minutes
3) For those 50 minutes, work as hard and concentrated as you can on the task you want to complete. Do it in a way that you only have 50 minutes to finish it otherwise you will be screwed!
4) After 50 minutes, if you haven't finished, take a 10 minute break (this is very important), and make sure you do ZERO work or thinking during this time. It could be playing a game, checking some emails, or just giving your eyes a rest.
5) Then set the clock to 50 minutes again and do the second burst as before. After this, you would need to take take a full lunch break if doing more intensive work in the afternoon.

In short, by doing this, I've found I can do what used to take me a day, in just half a day.

Give it a try. Have you got any time saving or productive tips, I'd love to hear them!!

Cheers
Phil

 

[patientlady]

I clicked on the stopwatch and the first thing I saw was the sickening cigarette advert. I now cannot get it out of my head!
Not your fault I know, so thanks for the post anyway

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Phil,I take it you are self employed?

 

[TheRestaurantMarketer]

I clicked on the stopwatch and the first thing I saw was the sickening cigarette advert. I now cannot get it out of my head!
Not your fault I know, so thanks for the post anyway

That's weird, I don't get any adverts on mine at all? Or maybe you only get an advert on the first visit or something? If you did, then sorry about that. Once the stop watch is started, then you can flip back to Word, or whichever application you are using.

Thanks
Phil

 

[TheRestaurantMarketer]

Phil,I take it you are self employed?

I am but I have used this tool in office life as well, I used to get distracted a lot by things going on in the office. Of course, it's a bit of a challenge ignoring your phone and email at work, but actually, a lot of the time, it is things that can wait....unless you work in a hospital of course! ;-)

 

[DavidWH]

Try the full screen version here:

http://www.online-stopwatch.com/full-screen-stopwatch/

No Adverts.

 

[TheRestaurantMarketer]

Try the full screen version here:

http://www.online-stopwatch.com/full-screen-stopwatch/

No Adverts.

Haha, wow, that one literally smacked me in the face!! Like you said, no adverts, much better!!

Cheers
Phil

 

[Colin Smith CBP]

Hi Guys

This is a technique I've read about and having been using a while to do (desk) work in half the time. It sounds so simple but it works.

Parkinson's Law states that if you have more time to do something, you will take longer to finish the job. This is why deadlines are useful as it kicks your brain into gear to get the job done.

Distractions are a real killer though (email, skype, phone etc). Here's what to do.

1) Switch your phone to silent, close your email, browser skype etc.
2) Go to this site www.online-stopwatch.com , click on Count Down and set it to 50 minutes
3) For those 50 minutes, work as hard and concentrated as you can on the task you want to complete. Do it in a way that you only have 50 minutes to finish it otherwise you will be screwed!
4) After 50 minutes, if you haven't finished, take a 10 minute break (this is very important), and make sure you do ZERO work or thinking during this time. It could be playing a game, checking some emails, or just giving your eyes a rest.
5) Then set the clock to 50 minutes again and do the second burst as before. After this, you would need to take take a full lunch break if doing more intensive work in the afternoon.

In short, by doing this, I've found I can do what used to take me a day, in just half a day.

Give it a try. Have you got any time saving or productive tips, I'd love to hear them!!

Cheers
Phil

I've picked up lots of productivity tips and techniques over the years, but none have had the instant impact this technique had when I first tried it a few years ago. The technique as described by the OP is a variant of the classic Pomodoro technique. They advocate shorter "bursts" of activity with shorter breaks (25 mins with 5 mins break) than does the OP but the principle is the same.

There is really nothing like it for keeping you focused and productive when in the office. I've had a cooking timer on my office desk for a few years now and it has prompted a few interesting conversations over the years with clients. It might be a bit annoying to your colleagues if you work in a busy office, but as I have my own office it works well for me.

The only thing I would add is that if you have a prioritised list of goals for the day and you break those goals down into chunks that match the chosen length of a burst of work, then that spurs you on that little bit more. I would definitely recommend these techniques to anyone who works in a suitable environment.

 

[Lentinus]

Take a look at the Pomodoro Technique, like the OP but provides a method to deal with the distractions and keep you focused.
http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/

Edit - just noticed that Colin also mentions this above, hope the link is useful!

 

[beasty]

Hi Guys

This is a technique I've read about and having been using a while to do (desk) work in half the time. It sounds so simple but it works.

Parkinson's Law states that if you have more time to do something, you will take longer to finish the job. This is why deadlines are useful as it kicks your brain into gear to get the job done.

Distractions are a real killer though (email, skype, phone etc). Here's what to do.

1) Switch your phone to silent, close your email, browser skype etc.
2) Go to this site www.online-stopwatch.com , click on Count Down and set it to 50 minutes
3) For those 50 minutes, work as hard and concentrated as you can on the task you want to complete. Do it in a way that you only have 50 minutes to finish it otherwise you will be screwed!
4) After 50 minutes, if you haven't finished, take a 10 minute break (this is very important), and make sure you do ZERO work or thinking during this time. It could be playing a game, checking some emails, or just giving your eyes a rest.
5) Then set the clock to 50 minutes again and do the second burst as before. After this, you would need to take take a full lunch break if doing more intensive work in the afternoon.

In short, by doing this, I've found I can do what used to take me a day, in just half a day.

Give it a try. Have you got any time saving or productive tips, I'd love to hear them!!

Cheers
Phil

Hey thanks for that!

I have for a long time done 30 or 40 minute bursts and then taken a break...

This is useful if you have a lot of tasks to do in the day,

big thumbs up for this, it really focuses you

I alter the time dependant on task but you can figure out what works best pretty fast...

 

[serendipitybusiness]

Time cult is a good free time logging tool that you can download if you want to avoid adverts and also keep a record of what you have done, it is count up rather than count down but still does the job.