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Nishant Jacob
nishantj@stanford.edu
This sound familiar ?
             
 Start doing an assignment and lose focus in the first
  few minutes
 Your mind starts wandering, you lose interest
 Take a break, when you get back, can’t really focus
 So you take another break
Here’s what’s going on
          
 Lack of clear tasks to work on at any given moment
 Time starts to bleed, tasks take longer than they
  should
 Focusing for too long, kills productivity
 A vicious procrastination cycle starts
How to break the cycle
           
 Make the task you’re working on very clear
 Keep the task timed and super short (2-3 min)
 Try and beat the time
 Have fixed, small, time goals for planning and
  reflecting between tasks and creating your next task
Why does this work ?
           
 Causes you to focus effort fully in short bursts
 Makes it interesting - trying to beat the clock
 Increase efficiency - move on to the next task
 Get it down on paper instead of in your head
Getting Started
                
 Grab a countdown timer
 A blank paged notebook (any notebook will do)
 A pen
 A few behavior anchors (headphones, pencil to chew
  on, gum, water to sip, reading glasses etc.)
Step 1
                      
 Set the timer for 3 min
 Use the 3 min to break up your work in basic tasks
 Keep an eye on the clock and beat the time
 Stop when the time is up!


                                  Example:
                                  Project: Making these
                                  slides
                                  Basic tasks
                                       Pick Topic
                                       Brainstorm
                                       Make Slides
Step 2
                       
 Set the timer for 3 min again
 Use the 3 min to fill in subtasks for each task
 Be extremely specific, each sub task should require 3
  min of work - if needed, apply this step to the subtasks
                    Example:
                    Pick Topic               Make Slides
                    - Brainstorm topics      - Mindmap slide topics
                    - Shortlist topics       - Order slide topics
                    - Pick one               - Make a list of slides
                                             - Make slide 1
                    Brainstorm               …..
                    - Mindmap around topic
                    - List top ideas
                    - Pick one idea
Step 3
                       
 Set the timer for 2 min to plan out the first subtask
 In the 2 min scribble down what you need to do for
  the subtask and what outcome you want by the end
 Keep the outcome concrete and it should be
  manageable with 3 min of work – make it really
  small
                         Example:
                         Brainstorm Topics
                             - want 3 topic ideas
                             - in the area of procrastination
                             - with a focus on time management
Step 4
                       
 Set timer for 3 min
 Do the subtask you planned out
 Try and get to the key deliverable – it doesn’t have to
  be perfect!
 Keep an eye on the clock – try and beat the time

                                Example:
                                Topics:
                                - timer system
                                - take breaks every 5 min
                                - work for long chunks of time
Step 5
                      
 Set the timer for 1 min
 Reflect on the task you just did
 Do you need another 3 min? or is it good enough
 Scribble down anything you learnt from the task and
  thoughts on the next task
                              Example:
                              Reflection:
                              - The idea about a timing system
                              seems promising
Rinse and repeat
               
 Repeat step 3 onwards for the next subtask
Points to remember
               
 Be consistent! Time planning, doing and reflecting
 Take a 3 min break after doing 3 subtasks
 If you feel like a subtask didn’t get done, and if you
  really need another 3 min. do it!
 Always keep an eye on the clock, the clock is king!
 Always listen to the same type of music and chew
  the same gum/pencil when using the timing system
Hang in there
                
 The timing system may feel weird at first
 But it will quickly feel natural and your efficiency
  will skyrocket!

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Beat stress, focus and kill procrastination with just a timer!

  • 2. This sound familiar ?   Start doing an assignment and lose focus in the first few minutes  Your mind starts wandering, you lose interest  Take a break, when you get back, can’t really focus  So you take another break
  • 3. Here’s what’s going on   Lack of clear tasks to work on at any given moment  Time starts to bleed, tasks take longer than they should  Focusing for too long, kills productivity  A vicious procrastination cycle starts
  • 4. How to break the cycle   Make the task you’re working on very clear  Keep the task timed and super short (2-3 min)  Try and beat the time  Have fixed, small, time goals for planning and reflecting between tasks and creating your next task
  • 5. Why does this work ?   Causes you to focus effort fully in short bursts  Makes it interesting - trying to beat the clock  Increase efficiency - move on to the next task  Get it down on paper instead of in your head
  • 6. Getting Started   Grab a countdown timer  A blank paged notebook (any notebook will do)  A pen  A few behavior anchors (headphones, pencil to chew on, gum, water to sip, reading glasses etc.)
  • 7. Step 1   Set the timer for 3 min  Use the 3 min to break up your work in basic tasks  Keep an eye on the clock and beat the time  Stop when the time is up! Example: Project: Making these slides Basic tasks Pick Topic Brainstorm Make Slides
  • 8. Step 2   Set the timer for 3 min again  Use the 3 min to fill in subtasks for each task  Be extremely specific, each sub task should require 3 min of work - if needed, apply this step to the subtasks Example: Pick Topic Make Slides - Brainstorm topics - Mindmap slide topics - Shortlist topics - Order slide topics - Pick one - Make a list of slides - Make slide 1 Brainstorm ….. - Mindmap around topic - List top ideas - Pick one idea
  • 9. Step 3   Set the timer for 2 min to plan out the first subtask  In the 2 min scribble down what you need to do for the subtask and what outcome you want by the end  Keep the outcome concrete and it should be manageable with 3 min of work – make it really small Example: Brainstorm Topics - want 3 topic ideas - in the area of procrastination - with a focus on time management
  • 10. Step 4   Set timer for 3 min  Do the subtask you planned out  Try and get to the key deliverable – it doesn’t have to be perfect!  Keep an eye on the clock – try and beat the time Example: Topics: - timer system - take breaks every 5 min - work for long chunks of time
  • 11. Step 5   Set the timer for 1 min  Reflect on the task you just did  Do you need another 3 min? or is it good enough  Scribble down anything you learnt from the task and thoughts on the next task Example: Reflection: - The idea about a timing system seems promising
  • 12. Rinse and repeat   Repeat step 3 onwards for the next subtask
  • 13. Points to remember   Be consistent! Time planning, doing and reflecting  Take a 3 min break after doing 3 subtasks  If you feel like a subtask didn’t get done, and if you really need another 3 min. do it!  Always keep an eye on the clock, the clock is king!  Always listen to the same type of music and chew the same gum/pencil when using the timing system
  • 14. Hang in there   The timing system may feel weird at first  But it will quickly feel natural and your efficiency will skyrocket!