My personal productivity secret weapon!

Whenever I suggest this to clients, I can almost hear them trying to stifle their disbelief.  A plain and simple digital kitchen timer is a fantastic aid to productivity! 

I know that at this point you’re probably shaking your head and thinking “it’s finally happened, Louise has lost the plot!”  Honestly I haven’t ;-) When you think about how many messages (by phone, text, email, IM) are vying for your attention and interrupting your concentration, it can be really difficult to get the important tasks done.

The simple, inexpensive little timer will give you back valuable focus time.

Generally I like to set it for 50 minutes or an hour.  No longer because it’s important to take break at least every hour.  If I’m struggling with a task I might only set it for 20 or 30 minutes so that I make at least some headway! 

Here are some other uses for this great little tool:

• Use it when you know you’ve been getting distracted to pull you back on track
• When procrastination strikes, set it for short bursts of, say, 10 minutes
• If you’re up against a deadline, race against the clock and see how much you get done
• I like to allocate blocks of time to projects in my diary and then use the timer to make sure I meet these daily mini goals.
• When I’m coaching by phone, setting the timer keeps the conversation very focused.

OK, now it’s your turn.  Give it a try for a week.  Don’t forget to let me know how you get on.  And do share any additional uses you come across!

Comments

[Jackie Nees]

Louise, this is brilliant. I am getting one today. This is exactly what I need to stay on track. I tend to get sidetracked with little things and then before I know it my day is over. This is going to be my new secret weapon too. Thanks for the great post!
Jackie