My Fav Procrastination Hack - 30-10
We all procrastinate — let’s admit it. And if you’re like me, you’re always trying to find ways to stop the procrastinating. Here’s the trick that works best for me:
- Find something that you cannot make it through the day without. For me that’s email, reading my blogs on Google Reader, or posting to this blog.
- Set a timer for 30 minutes, and work for 30 minutes straight. Don’t stop until the timer goes off! I use Cool Timer.
- When you’re done, you get to do the activity in No. 1 above. It’s your reward. Do it for 10 minutes only, and then go back to your timer.
Obviously, this only works if you stick to it, and that’s the trick. But I’ve found that it’s really boosted my productivity.
Here’s the key: resist all temptation to check email or your blogs (or whatever your reward activity is) until the 30 minutes comes up. You will probably be tempted, but don’t give in. You will get more done using this simple trick than you can from any motivational seminar.
Posting this to my blog has been my 10-minute reward. Now I have to get back to work.
- Posted on 6 February 2007 in Productivity & Organization, Simplicity |
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Comments (19)
Anonymous Says:
February 6th, 2007, 21:08 pm
nice tip! i think i’ll give it a whirl.
Leo Says:
February 6th, 2007, 21:38 pm
Thanks … I can’t promise it’ll work for everyone, but it definitely has made a difference for me.
At the same time, every once in awhile, you should put away the timer and just let yourself work without pressure. Slowing down isn’t always bad.
Katrina Talley Says:
February 7th, 2007, 17:10 pm
I love this tip! Thanks for posting it. We’ll see how it works for me.
Love your site by the way. I’ve been reading like ALL your posts! :)
Leo Says:
February 8th, 2007, 4:18 am
Thanks Katrina … let me know how it works for you. Glad you like the site!
Isidro Says:
February 16th, 2007, 14:18 pm
Great Tip, simple, obvious, effective and powerfull…
Thank’s.
Leo Says:
February 16th, 2007, 14:47 pm
Hey, Isidro … thanks for the nice comment. I hope it helps others. I didn’t invent it, but I love it.
super Says:
February 21st, 2007, 4:39 am
Hey… Just bumped into your blog ….and found it to be great… I have made several plans to tackle procras… but failed miserably many times… but after reading your blog i am motivated greatly…I have made it a point to finish jobs at once……thanks man…..keep up the good work man….
Leo Says:
February 21st, 2007, 4:58 am
Hi super … thanks for the nice comment. I’m glad I’ve helped! Just keep that motivation going … the key is to keep your focus on your new habit, even over the course of days and weeks. After awhile, it will become a habit.
kamal Says:
February 25th, 2007, 21:36 pm
I like this one, nice and simple. thanks!
Bug Says:
February 26th, 2007, 15:08 pm
I use this hack (not religiously, alas)and find it VERY productive. It gives me the sense that I can lose myself in the work because I have a reward coming. Soon.
Leo Says:
February 26th, 2007, 16:29 pm
Hi Bug … thanks for your comment and for sharing your experience. I’m not that consistent with it either, but when I do use it (which is every day, but not all day long), it works extremely well for me. Other times I use other tactics … such as the fact that I will lose business or my job if I don’t get my stuff done ASAP! :)
colleen pederson Says:
July 8th, 2007, 12:36 pm
Greetings from Minnesota, Leo!
I have successfully used this timer technique while raising my children [now young adults] as well as with clients. It is especially helpful for attentional problems, such as with ADHD, as it limits the ‘on-task’ focus time yet builds in incremental [and thereby, do-able] steps to task accomplishment.
Hope this finds you doing well!
Warmly,
Colleen
Gizmo Says:
July 14th, 2007, 6:59 am
A great idea, i’m rather impressed in the simplicity… Though, it won’t work for me sadly, as my reward is involved in with what i do for work (business networking through various forums and clients via email) but will defiantly keep it in mind for clients ;)
Carlos Says:
October 30th, 2007, 18:49 pm
Thanks! This has helped me a ton, I have really big problems with procrastination, and I can focus better with the timer.
AI Says:
November 15th, 2007, 11:10 am
The reason for procrastination is low self esteem. People feel they dont deserve better.
Once they stop feeling so, they have goals in their life. Motivation helps them get there.
So love yourself, automatically you will exercise, get that degree you waited for, live in a clean house and be all excited about decorating yourself with all the best things life has to offer.
Love yourself!!
Rosie Says:
January 30th, 2008, 22:10 pm
That’s a tip that’s small and simple enough to put into practice. Sure enough, I’ve all but cleared one of my email folders through 30 minutes of concentrating: now I’ll thank you for the suggestion, and go and put the kettle on.
Cheers!
cinci_dave Says:
February 28th, 2008, 14:25 pm
This is a great idea, since I’m addicted to surfing the web at work, and it takes a toll on my job performance.
I found this software, which works better for me than Cool Timer. The timer automatically resets, and it has some other nice features too. It’s called Scirocco Take a Break 2.7 and it’s free.
http://www.download.com/Scirocco-Take-a-Break/3000-2350_4-10333152.html?tag=lst-3
Oscar Campbell Says:
April 10th, 2008, 16:46 pm
Hey, nice site full of different tips!
I’ve been doing this both to NOT work too much AND to keep focused - and it definitely helps med staying focused on doing what’s important instead of straying (though still being on the set out project). I set the timer on 90 minutes. This gives med just the little pressure I need (positive stress - one source, and I control it) to really get on things, but not to short an interval as to put me in to ‘fear of abrubtion’-stress mode.
When the time is up I turn on the water boiler for tea (the timer is in the kitchen BTW, because it forces me to move, thus pumping ’stale blood’ around refreshing my mind) and during it’s boiling time I do back exercises and have a glass of water. Then 90 minutes again…
Not exactly the same - however - the timer works! :-)
