Between a Rock and a Hard Deadline
One of my biggest problems is that of internet distraction. It is so easy to start doing one thing, follow a link in order to do that one thing and end up gone... surfing all over the place, as the clock ticks and your work remains unaccomplished.
This has been such a big problem, I made a late New Year's Resolution- implement Hard Deadlines.
What's a Hard Deadline? A quick and easy way to improve efficiency in three steps.
1. decide what you're going to accomplish.
2. set a "time block". Decide on the time you'll devote to that one task and set a timer. Grab your kitchen timer or start your computer timer if you have one set up.
3. stick to it. When that timer goes off, the time block is over, end of task.
This helps keep you focused. Example - When trying to write an article, I often want to check some details. If I'm on a Hard Deadline, however, I rarely chase that link but rather just put in about 5 dashes (------) where the details are needed. At first writing I just want as much of this article roughed out as possible.
Later I'll create a new time block to check all the dash lines in the article. This has been working quite well- more articles, more efficiency, less total time.
In fact, it was working out so well I began to really enjoy how "easy" things were getting.
This ended abruptly when I slammed into a real Hard Deadline killer: the
faulty interface.
In this case it was the WA website. I've already blogged about what happened so there's no need to go into that again. It's just such a beautiful example of how you can spend hours (over 5 of them, since I was setting timers in 30 minute increments) getting just about 30 minutes work done.
And I've already wasted 17 minutes of my latest time block on this, rather than using the few hours left to me (IF the WA website is currently working, that is) for wading back into the confusion.
Recent Comments
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Half the battle is know what the problem is and adjusting accordingly. I admire your sticktoitiveness!
I had to laugh when I read that first paragraph...it sounded so familiar! I tend to get distracted from what I am currently working on as well, especially if it is not something that totally captivates my attention. I like your suggestion of the blocks of time.
I write for a company and have to do a lot of research. The topic is very interesting, so find myself doing more then necessary. I have now bought myself a college spiral notebook. As I am looking into the topic I make notes and then I come back to them and write my article. So far it has been working great!
Good luck in your future time management.