The “Countdown Timer”
One of the best ways I know to boost my productivity on workdays is to utilize a countdown timer during prime time hours.
I define Prime Time as my personal productivity time without any interruptions. It’s that sacred time of my workday that gives me the freedom to focus on the critical activities that only I can do.
A prime time segment for me is 50 minutes in duration. I turn off my phone, shut down my email and lock my office door to prevent all disruptions.
I set my countdown timer to 50 minutes and then I get busy.
Here are some of the activities I recommend you focus on if you decide to set aside prime time hours for yourself:
- Strategic planning
- Contract evaluation
- Email/web copywriting
- Critical thinking
- Mind mapping
- Curriculum design
- Audio/Video production
Putting aside 50 uninterrupted minutes a day, five days a week, adds up to about 188 hours a year of pure productivity. Try it for 3 months and you’ll be stunned at how much more productive you become.
If you’re like most entrepreneurs, your stress levels will decrease and your income will increase!
What To Do Now: Click here to get free instant access to my favorite online countdown timer. Then set aside 5 prime time fifty-minute segments next week. Report your progress by commenting on this blog post. Good luck!
This countdown timer principle of productivity is simple to implement and I really want to get your feedback in the comment section on this post if you give it a try.
Thanks for reading,
~ Alex
Alex, I gotta tell ya, the first time I heard you talk about this I thought “Oh c’mon, I don’t need a timer to focus!”
But I also thought, “What have I got to lose, I’ll give it a try.”
Glad I did! Adds focus and productivity to my day, week and business. I know this will sound sort of “Orwellian” but I have found there is freedom in knowing there are only 50 minutes to focus on just one task.
Folks, if you have not tried this, I recommend you do. There’s a very good chance you will get more done!
Jeff Herring
http://www.JeffHerring.com
Alex,
I separate my days between:
– “focus” days, where at least 75% of my time is on my most valuable contributions to my organization (usually revenue-generating), and
– “buffer days,” where I give myself permission to do clean-ups, administrative work, and preparation.
I have not yet tried a “timer,” but I love the idea of short bursts of intense productivity. This could easily be used on either my focus or buffer days.
I’ll try it 3 months…and see what happens!
Michael Mahoney
Hey Alex – I completely agree. I get my best work done when I turn off all distractions (phone, email, close door, etc.) and FOCUS on one task at a time.
This has proven to be very effective for me especially for me when writing copy and strategic planning/mind-mapping.
Thanks for the awesome countdown timeer resource too!
Glen Hopkins
http://www.GlenHopkins.name
Why online? Standalone desktop timer. Can be sized, moved and colored. Also allows you to note intermediate times if you need.
Alex, the system you described works great for me. Blocks of uninterrupted time help me with my projects, especially when brainstorming or creating new things.
I’ve read that it can take 10-20 minutes to get back on track with an important project after an interruption. So, if you are interrupted every 10-20 minutes, you make little progress on your project. That’s why my productivity jumps during these interruption-free blocks of time.
Steve Sponseller
Intellectual Property Strategist
Michael,
The timer works great during “focus” days. As my Strategic Coach buddy for 3 years, I forgot to mention the timer concept during our Quarterly meetings.
Thanks for commenting,
~ Alex
Dmitry,
The online timer is simple easy to access whenever you’re online. I use it when I travel on my laptop since I’m usually oneline.
You can also utilize inexpensive physical timers that are under $20. Go to http://www.eBay.com and type in the keyword phrase: “countdown timer”.
The timer I have at home is higher end and you can take a look at the pricing at: http://www.MicroFrameCorp.com
Any timer will do and find one that’s adequate is easy. What takes a little bit more discipline and sticking to the uninterrupted “prime time” segments and stopping when the timer hits zero.
I’ve found that stopping when the time’s up is the most difficult part of prime time. Ironically, that’s when the ideas come flooding in.
Thanks for commenting,
~ Alex
Steve,
Sound like you’ve got the meaning of “prime time” dialed in. Thanks for commenting.
~ Alex
Glen,
You’re welcome and check out some of the countdown timer resources I suggested to Dmitry two comments north of this one.
Thanks for taking time to comment and give me your feedback. It’s much appreciated.
~ Alex
I bought a £5 ($7.60) egg timer from Amazon for this.
I thought the quiet ticking would be a distraction.
In fact, quite the opposite.
The ticking is a constant reminder that I’m in “premium time” and whenever I consider reaching for the email (or Twitter, or Facebook etc) its an immediate, almost sub-conscious indicator that, no, I’ll stay on task until the bell rings.
Best to go to the bathroom first.
I find 4 or 5 sessions of 45 mins each is optimum per day. Beats 12 or even 16 hours of unfocused “work” hands down!
Alex, please don’t broadcast this “everyday secret” to my web development competitors!
Cheers,
Alex
Hey Alex,
I love this concept so much that I recently created software based on it.
I call it The Action Machine.
I does just as the name implies. :)
How awesome to see you talk about this!
Email me Alex, and I’ll get you a copy.
Derek
http://www.theactionmachine.com
>The online timer is simple easy to access whenever you’re online. I use it when I travel on my laptop since I’m usually oneline.
Yes, but desktop timer is accessible whether you are online or not!
>You can also utilize inexpensive physical timers that are under $20.
The main disadvantage of physical timers arises from their advantage – they are just a solid thing. Software timers are flexible as possible, constantly evolve (usually upgrades are free for licensed users) and you can even contact an author to ask for small (or big for $$$ :)) personal adjustments. By the way the link was broken http://www.xnotestopwatch.com
>I’ve found that stopping when the time’s up is the most difficult part of prime time. Ironically, that’s when the ideas come flooding in.
If ideas come I definitely do not stop! Discipline (timing is just a part of it) must compel to work but not compel to NOT work. :) Sorry for my English. :)
Love this…I recommend it to all my students
I posted a comment a few days ago about this productivity approach from my iPod, and it doesn’t appear to have posted.
I just wanted to say that using a countdown timer works!
There aren’t any complicated rules to follow – just select a task, set a timer, and get to work.
It’s amazing the difference something so simple can make in the results you get.
I love this system so much, that I created a piece of software around it. Since I see that others were allowed to post links to their sites in their comments, I’m going to assume it’s OK to share something that’s DIRECTLY relevant to this post.
Have a great day!
Derek
http://www.theactionmachine.com
Sounds like you hit a chord with some of your readers, But I feel the presence of a timer would disrupt my work time. I just wouldn’t be able to concentrate, it’s not something that i have tried before. When I want to get something done like writing articles or researching a subject I normally just switch everything off until the job is done.
Hi Alex,
Great post. Very interesting on the timer deal. I especially liked Jeff Herrings thoughts about the 50 minutes of focus for one task.
To Our Success,
Philip Mutrie
http://www.PhilMutrie.com
HI Alex. I first learned and started using the countdown timer from your suggestion in the pre-launch to Internet Optimization Secrets which I am now taking with you. Learning this technique is allowing me to get the most important thing done every day regardless of how many irons are in the fire, how many messes, how many long-term projects that lie yet unfinished. I am taking the steps to transform my inexperienced first-time web presence, and apply the challenging yet exciting load of knowledge I am gaining from your course. I don’t know how I would have dealt with the overwhelm without a tool like the countdown timer usage you’ve suggested..
Alex….I’ve tried it and like the approach very much. I found a Yahoo Widget works on my laptop just fine!
All the best…Dave
Alex, great idea! As a speed reading coach, this idea is consistent with all principles of using time better. Without a time limit, this precious resource twitters Away! :-) The limit helps keep us focused in a multi-tasking, task-shifting world.
Alex–sometimes I come across great info that is so simple…and yet so priceless. Your time idea is just what I need to get more “STRATEGIC” work done–I can stay busy all day long, but if I do not make time for the items you listed above, I will never move to the next level. Thanks for sharing.
Amy
If you don’t like the online version, you can find a better, easier version with lots more features here: http://www.derekfranklin.com/2009/04/what-is-genius-mechanism.htm
Hey Alex I am confused with something. I was looking at your presentation at the Ray Edwards seminar where you taught about this but I want to know something. During this 50 minute exercise that you do once for 30 days……do you only do one task on your action list or do you do as much as you can during the 50 minutes? Thanks for clarifying this!!!!
Brian,
When you’re starting with this Critical Thinking Time exercise (50 minute clips), I recommend you set aside 4 x 50 minutes per week. During the 50 minutes clips, I recommend you keep them “uninterrupted” and do as many tasks as possible until the buzzer goes off. I typically do 4 to 12 actions depending on how involved they are.
I started with 4 of these 50 minute clips per week and now I do 4 per day. I don’t recommend this to start off, but what I do want to make clear is at least 4 per week is recommended, not 1 per 30 days.
Makes sense?
~ Alex
If you’re the ‘zen’ type, take a look enso clock. Not cheap, but a really nice piece of kit: http://www.salubrion.com/products/ensoclock/