I’ve done pretty much the same thing, but instead of time frames, I use “work chunks”.. It’s similar to your unit-based procrastination dash. This is a recent development, so who knows if I’ll stick to it, but this is what I’ve done: I would make it a point, for example, to set aside three or so topics that I want to write about. I would commit myself to writing just one article, then take a very short break, come back, and commit to the second article, and so forth. Before I knew it, I found that I was so jazzed that I was actually DOING shit, that I just began foregoing the small breaks and writing all three things in one sitting (they’re very short articles, in case anyone’s wondering. For longer articles, I’d divide it up into smaller chunks). I will admit that after doing this for about a couple hours, I get kinda tired, and take a rather longish break (this is unfortunately too easy when one works from home). But I try to get right back on it after that.

Your timing method will probably work really really well for organizing my unruly books and magazine collection though. And boy do I need help with that.

I just spent 1.5 minutes making a 10+2 playlist in iTunes. I hate beeping timers, but taking a break whenever “My Valuable Hunting Knife” comes on is totally manageable. Now to get typing, in time for some 10 minute instrumental opus. Ha!

That’s all fine - what I need to find is a method that works with forced breaks. I’m a software engineer - that means that I have to wait for my computer from time to time.

Unfortunately, getting focus back after these breaks is hard. Any ideas? (I’ll try out setting a timer for the break, instead of waiting for the finish - I have a rough idea how long tasks take. Maybe that’ll work. But any feedback is appreciated)

You could set up the free utility Time-Out! to do the same. Check it out at www.dejal.com. It’s flexible, and it forces you to take breaks; the only difference is that it actually disables your computer for the defined break time. So, for instance, I have it set up to ask me to take a 15-second break every 15 minutes, then a 5-minute break every hour. You can change all intervals.

I’m going to be honest with you. I’m actually using a very similar method to yours. This is how it works:

1) Switch on TV 2) Watch a TV show until the commercial brakes come on (usuall y takes 10 mins) 3) Do your work during the commercial breaks (usually 2 minutes) 4) Keep repeating the above, until the TV show ends.

Nice, eh?

Can someone suggest a Windows version of something similar to Minuteur? I tried looking for a konfabulator widget to do the same thing, but nothing that’s easy to reset

I love this, and this is one tactic that has worked for me, with a modification. I’ll work on something on my list for ten minutes, take a short break, then actually roll a pair of dice to indicate what to work on next. The idea of working on one project for an hour can be overwhelming at times, regardless of how many breaks one takes.

I have this problem, I hate going to campuss. I know I have to do it, the reason is so obvious (I need only to deal with graduation ceremony administrative business). But still, somehow, magically I always found a reasonfor myself resisting from doing it. Any suggestion? This is procrastination as well rite? I’m an easily distracted person.

Meh…ill start doing this tomorrow

Working better

Courtesy of Mike, I’ve started using a slighlty adjusted (read: “very adjusted”) version of Getting Things Done by David Allen. The problem I was having was procrastination, until this came along [link]. Brilliant method, and seems to do the trick (as …

Get Some Work Done!

Heres a simple, and possibly brilliant, little system from Merlin of 43 Folders for curing your procrastination woes. Seems like it could also work wonders for the too-easily-distracted, like me. Its called (10+2)*5 &#8212…

(10+2)*5

Merlin over at 43folders.com is suggesting a new way to work. Its called (10+2)*5 and he says its a procrastination hack. I dunno, I guess Ill worry about it later. But seriously, its worth a gander and perha…

[…] Studying for PSAT, taking my 2 minute break –> (10+2) *5 –> To Elimante Procrastination and Increase Productivity. […]

Excellent idea. I imagine the hard work, much of the time, is splitting your vague task list into 10 minute concrete chunks.

Interesting. I went through a marathon training program that used a similar approach to help people who hadn’t been runners (like myself) build endurance. We would run for 5 minutes, walk for 1 minute (or 4/2 or whatever interval is best for your condition).

They make “interval timer” stopwatches that allow you to set multiple intervals (e.g. countdown from 5 minutes, then countdown from 1 minute, repeat).

I actually looked for a Windows desktop equivalent of that “interval timer” stopwatch, because (like you) I thought that would be an effective way to “build endurance” in my work habits.

Would love to hear from anyone who knows of a desktop equivalent of an “interval timer” stopwatch.

I found Workrave (www.workrave.org) to be very good in implementing this hack. It also prevents getting RSI :) It’s available on Linux and Windows.

Thank you for this nice work method, very useful ! :-)

If someone wants it in French : http://www.ctrlaltsuppr.com/sujet19955.html

This sounds like a great tip. I’ve downloaded Workrave and I hope to find that this works well for me. If I manage to pass all my papers this semester, I’ll know who to thank.

Good approach for short productivity sprints, but what about when you need to get things done that are important? You might want to check out this post I did for http://to-done.com, Butterfly Stroke Productivity.

Think of it as the director’s cut of (10+2)*5

temptation blocker works for me really well http://www.webjillion.com/archives/2005/08/01/free-software-temptation-blocker

I can do the first part, but when I take a break its hard to stop browsing.. so blocking the browser is awsome :). Was able to finish my thesis that way.

I found this handy timer called “Take a Break” http://www.scirocco.ca/takeabreak.html

It works very well for this hack.

oi. thats a lot of work. getting a timer and limiting everything. my method: laying in bed all day till i get too bored - so i start working for the other half of the day. works for me. =)

Another free timer that doesn’t require additional software is the Tea Timer at Adagio Teas. http://www.adagio.com/pages/timer.html

Great idea, I totally agree. My girlfriend has more of a 20/20 approach and she is always straight As, top of the class kinda gal. 20 minutes working, 20 minutes on break. She swears by it and has been doing it for like 20 years. She also finds that working at night eliminates distractions. So she will crank on her thesis from 12-3 am, in these 20 minute blocks. At work she refuses distractions and meetings unless absolutely necessary. She doesn’t let herself get pulled into meeting hell.

Thanks for saving my ass at work today. Today has been my most productive day in about 6 months.

Wow. Yeah. I’m trying to break down the reasons why this is working for me — I’ve been working in 10-minute chunks of time for a couple of days, now. Instead of a kitchen timer, I downloaded and installed this handy Konfabulator widget:

http://www.widgetgallery.com/view.php?widget=28040

I’ve cleared three projects off my desk, and I’m about to hammer away at a fourth one. It’s definitely not the promise of the two-minute break that motivates me, although I take them without fail. I think the psychological motivator is that I don’t have to finish a given project; I just have to work on it for 10 minutes.

Sorry if this comment is redundant; I’m just really enthusiastic about this tip.

Absolutely amazing so far, getting more done than I thought possible.

For PC I found very nice the Cool Timer application. It is very easy and effective http://www.harmonyhollow.net/download/ctimer.exe

This is working great - I’m on a break right now… I’m just wondering what happens if I need to take a longer break - is that not supposed to happen before the hour is up or is there a way to compensate? 2 min up gtg

I’m yet to buy a kitchen clock to see if it works for me