Learn more about remotework with this collection
How to manage digital distractions
The impact of technology on mental health
The importance of setting boundaries
Time Boxes
There are two types of time boxes: „hard time boxes“ and „soft time boxes“. The terms hard and soft refer to how you handle the end of a time box:
- When a soft time box ends, you allow the current point in discussion or the current task at work to finish.
- When a hard time box ends, you drop everything, stop doing what you do and take a break or move on to the next point on the agenda.
Both types are useful.
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Set Alarms
The alarm at the end of a soft time box gives you a hint that you should come to a conclusion, a result or the end of a task.
It brings the focus of the group back to the point in questions and reminds everyone, that the time scheduled for this point or task is up.
The drawback of a s...
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Pomodoro Technique
The pomodoro technique is a great way to stay productive throughout the day.
I work for 25min straight and then take a short 5min break to get up and relax. I can manage to stay focused for 25 minutes without tak...
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Breaks
Take short breaks every 45min. I would also advice you to take slightly longer breaks (e.g. 15min) every 90min. We often structure workshops by giving each agenda point 60 minutes: 45min work + 15min break. This also makes planing with full hours very easy.
If possible, move around or get o...
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Announce the End of the Breaks
Make it clear to everyone when the break will end! Do this before everyone leaves the room.
State the end time of the break, not its duration! Instead of announcing „5min break“, phrase it as „break until 11:48“. This works, because many people don’t look at their...
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Life Time Box
Some argue that there is one even bigger and very effective time box given to us all: life and death.
But the bigger the time box, the less it serves to help us focus on the important stuff. Steve Jobs really felt the pressure to focus when his time box shrank dramatically due to his illne...
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Benefits of Timeboxing
- Focus: stay focused and do the important stuff
- Stay fresh: stay innovative and productive, even on the next day
- Breaks: time boxes allow to have regular breaks
- Measurable progress: have clear results
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45 Min Rule
Is there a maximum length for a time box? Yes. I believe, a time box should not be longer than 45 minutes. This interval fits with our biological rhythm and is also supported by psychology. There is a reason why many schools around the world have kids take breaks after 45min. A longer stint would...
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Make It Visible
Make the time box visible! Use a kitchen timer or an iPad app so everyone in the room can see it.
Use countdown timers instead of a regular clock to make the time remaining easy to grasp.
The best timers use visualizations instead of raw numbers to clearly communicate the time left....
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Create a work rhythm
You only get maximum effectiveness if you properly balance periods of work and rest. Time boxes provide a great framework to allow this balance to happen. The key is to find your own rhythm.
Alternating between different types of time boxes (such as work/rest, or hard/easy tasks) max...
Organization methods
Once you know what you’ll focus on, you’ll need a daily structure for staying focused on it. You may not be able to eliminate context switching from your day entirely, but these strategies will help you cut down on the number of times you have to shift your attention:
- ...
Overcome procrastination
If you're procrastinating on a task, don't force yourself to finish it. Just put it in a time box.
Setting a time for it will help you overcome your resistance towards the task and chances are that when the time is up you’ll have built enough momentum to continue working on it much l...
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