ONE:
It Keeps You Focused on the tasks at hand, especially if the job is one that you have been putting off because you hate to do it. Things like housework, decluttering, and paperwork.
TWO:
You can bypass distractions because you know you have a time segment you have to complete. If your phone rings or you get a text, you can hold off dealing with it until the timer dings. Often, it is your mind that distracts you. If that happens, and it always does, you just jot down what you need to do after your allotted work block is complete. Say the mind dings that you need to call someone or pay a bill, etc. Instead of stopping, you just write it on a to-do list that you keep very near.
THREE:
You can work much more quickly than you would without a timer because you are very motivated to see how much you can get done during each segment of time. It becomes a fun game instead of a dreaded chore. And messy creative types like me are into fun more than we are into tasks! You will often be surprised at how much you overestimated the time a specific job takes.
- I think how many minutes you set for each segment is a personal decision.
- I like twenty-minute blocks with five-minute breaks in between.
- I keep a tab of each twenty-minute piece on a notepad and check it off as I complete them.
- Sometimes I am so motivated that I can do three twenty-minute segments without any breaks in between.
- I like to schedule one or two-hour time blocks.
- I try to estimate my energy level and how many other things I have going on in the day.
- I like to reserve the last twenty minutes in the work block for cleaning up and putting everything away.
- The unfinished stuff goes into a basket or bin and is saved for a time when I can get to it again. I put it out of sight so that my home remains uncluttered.
- Sometimes I take before and after photos for extra motivation and accountability with myself or someone else!
- I also think it is essential to think about when you want to set your block of time.
- If it requires lots of mental energy, make sure you schedule your time block for a time of day that you are most mentally alert. Otherwise, you set yourself up for failure.
- Write it on your daily schedule and treat it like an appointment.
- Don’t forget to schedule something relaxing or fun to reward for all your hard work.
- Maybe read a book, have some horizontal time surfing social media or take a walk outside in the fresh air. You deserve it!
- Now, go buy a timer and get to work on that project! You may want one for each room in your home. Be sure to keep it in a place you can find it.
