How do you keep yourself on task and focused? One thing I use is a digital kitchen timer. I do a lot of project work, which necessitates that I keep meticulous time records. I also like to time various types of tasks so that I can better estimate how I use my time and also to design better, more efficient ways of doing things.
I find that when I use a kitchen timer, I’m much more productive. I know that I’m allocating a set amount of time to dedicate to a task so it makes it easier for me to focus my mind on it. It sets my mind to a place free from distraction. Very focused. Right on target. I’ve been using kitchen timers for about 4 years and it’s made a big difference.
Sometimes I set the timer as a challenge – to see how fast I can get something done. Other times, I use it to measure out the work for a particular project I’m working on. Still, at other times, I use it as a reminder to do something else (very helpful to remember to switch to another task, check on something else in process, or even to end a phone call).
Unfortunately, if we don’t set limits on ourselves, we expand to fill that space. For instance, we all understand the phenomena that when someone is making $50k per year, they live a lifestyle suitable for that level of income. Suddenly, when they’re making $100k per year, their lifestyle is similarly upgraded. You might think they would be savings all sorts of money, but typically, they don’t. They just spend more until they are back in the same place as before. Money habits are just that.
The same thing happens with time. If the CFO gives you one hour to put together several new PowerPoint slides for the Board Meeting, I can assure you it will get done in one hour. If she gives you 5 hours to do it, it will probably take you just that long. It’s amazing how efficient you can be and how your brain will pull processes and strategies to the forefront when placed under the limitations of time. This is why the kitchen timer strategy is so effective.
What would help you to be more productive? Might the kitchen time approach work for you? For less than $10, you can buy one at the store and try it out. Worst case, you can use it in the kitchen when you’re cooking dinner.
Posted on Sep 20th 06 by Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff.
Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff is the creator, producer and host of Michigan Entrepreneur TV, a weekly television talk show featuring business leaders and businesses from start-up to stellar. With over 15 years of experience in corporate finance in the tech sector, she now coaches executives and business professionals on leadership, management, operations, and relationship issues. http://www.tarakachaturoff.com
Other posts on Coachamatic by Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff.
Tara–I love your idea about using a kitchen timer!
What you say is absolutely true–when we give ourselves too much time to complete tasks, or don’t have set boundaries on what hours we work and when we don’t, then it’s too easy to procrastinate and become inefficient.
For those of us small biz owners who only get paid for time spent on active, productive work (as opposed to being paid for total hours spent in an office, like a corporate office worker) it’s crucial that we come up with ways to make ourselves more productive.
I’ve started limiting myself to a 4-hour workday, and I’m finding that by severely limiting my working hours, that my brain adjusts by kicking my productivity into high gear.
I use a program called TraxTime to keep track of how much time I spend on tasks/projects and then I measure my efficiency ratio(efficiency ratio=time spent doing actual work divided by time spent in office.)This is a new experiment that I’ve just started this week, but let me tell you, it’s working!
Thanks for the kitchen timer suggestion. I can add it to my arsenal of low tech ways to manage my time.
Warmly,
Sharon
Sharon, I’ve been using TraxTime for a couple of years for project work and it is fantastic. I often break up work into much smaller tasks, then I track time by each task. The feedback from doing this is very valuable especially when I need to quote on other similar projects in the future. When I write books, each of the chapters becomes a project in this handy system. Even when I’m coaching clients, I simply open up TraxTime and clock-in. It’s a convenient way of measure exactly how much time I spend with my clients. I do find that this system makes me more productive. Your 4-hour work day is inspiring (I think that is a perfect amount of time to work). I think you’ll find yourself accomplishing everything you used to, but in less time. And, that means more time for Sharon! Yes, it is amazing how we fit ourselves in to the parameters we’re given. Thanks for sharing what you’re doing to make the most of your time.
Tara, I love this idea, as long as I can buy one that doesn’t making little ticking noises. I’ll look.
I checked out TraxTime and it isn’t available for the Mac. When I worked for large corporations as a writer and editor, I had to “bill” individual business units, so I just logged my time on the current page of Outlook and then added it all up for the weekly status report and time sheet.
Now when I’m working for a client, I open a Note in my Entourage mail for the project I’m working on and keep track of my time that way. But I’m always looking for new ways to be efficient, and you have both given me some good ideas. And I am SO going to work on having a productive 4-hour day!
Thanks so much.
Tara, I have a timer with multi functions (clock, stop watch, and count up). I love it and use it all sorts of different ways. I time myself when doing housework that I don’t particularly care for, aka cleaning toilets. So now I know it only takes me 20 minutes to clean both of them, and I use this fact to motivate myself to do it.
Quite often I’ll give my girls a task to do, and if I’m really busy, I’ll forget. Now what I do is tell them I’m giving you X amount of minutes to get this done, and you’re on the clock. When they hear me set the timer, it’s a motivator for them to get busy because they know I won’t forget!
Also if I’m away from my computer doing client work, I’ll use it and then log the time in on TraxTime software. I could go on and on, but the point is I love this little gadget.
Hi all!
Bye
Hi there Guru, what entice you to post an article on ase Your Productivity: Use a Kitchen Timer at Coachamatic? This article was extremely interesting, especially since I was searching for thoughts on this subject last Sunday.