Productivity
Timeboxing – time management technique
Productivity
Timeboxing – time management technique
Productivity
Timeboxing – time management technique
Summary
Timeboxing is a time management technique in which specific time periods (’timeboxes’) are allocated to tasks to help gain focus and control where you are spending your time. Timeboxing can be confused with Timeblocking as both techniques allocate specific times to work on tasks. However, timeboxing crucially sets a limit on how much time a task can take.
Summary
Timeboxing is a time management technique in which specific time periods (’timeboxes’) are allocated to tasks to help gain focus and control where you are spending your time. Timeboxing can be confused with Timeblocking as both techniques allocate specific times to work on tasks. However, timeboxing crucially sets a limit on how much time a task can take.
Read this article
2m
The steps
1. Make a list
As with many time management techniques, timeboxing starts with listing out all the tasks you need to accomplish that day. Don't worry about prioritising yet, simply get it all out of your head and onto paper.
2. Determine priorities
Next, identify your top 2-3 most important tasks or priorities for the day. These are the critical items that absolutely must get done no matter what.
3. Create timeboxes
Now decide how much time you want to allocate for each task or priority, setting a start and end time. These are your ‘timeboxes’.
Think about how long you work with a high level of focus and aim for timeboxes of that length. For bigger tasks, multiple timeboxes may therefore be needed.
4. Stick to timeboxes
When it's time to start a timed task, work solely on that activity until the timebox period ends. Close all other distracting apps and give them your full undivided attention for maximum effectiveness.
If you complete the task before time is up, you've just earned free time!
If the timebox ends before you've finished, you can either decide to bump other tasks off the schedule to allow more time or accept that you did as much as you could in the time available. Often we keep on working on things that are completed because there is more time until a deadline, so making a call that something is good enough can help free up time for other things.
5. Take breaks
Don't forget to schedule break periods between your work timeboxes. Even just 5-10 minutes to get up, move around, hydrate and reset can boost focus for the next round.
—-
The rigidity of timeboxing may seem restrictive at first. But by taking control of your schedule in finite chunks, you'll gain flexibility and freedom in the long run. With clearer priorities and less wasted time, you may just find you have more free time than you realised!
Read this article
2m
The steps
1. Make a list
As with many time management techniques, timeboxing starts with listing out all the tasks you need to accomplish that day. Don't worry about prioritising yet, simply get it all out of your head and onto paper.
2. Determine priorities
Next, identify your top 2-3 most important tasks or priorities for the day. These are the critical items that absolutely must get done no matter what.
3. Create timeboxes
Now decide how much time you want to allocate for each task or priority, setting a start and end time. These are your ‘timeboxes’.
Think about how long you work with a high level of focus and aim for timeboxes of that length. For bigger tasks, multiple timeboxes may therefore be needed.
4. Stick to timeboxes
When it's time to start a timed task, work solely on that activity until the timebox period ends. Close all other distracting apps and give them your full undivided attention for maximum effectiveness.
If you complete the task before time is up, you've just earned free time!
If the timebox ends before you've finished, you can either decide to bump other tasks off the schedule to allow more time or accept that you did as much as you could in the time available. Often we keep on working on things that are completed because there is more time until a deadline, so making a call that something is good enough can help free up time for other things.
5. Take breaks
Don't forget to schedule break periods between your work timeboxes. Even just 5-10 minutes to get up, move around, hydrate and reset can boost focus for the next round.
—-
The rigidity of timeboxing may seem restrictive at first. But by taking control of your schedule in finite chunks, you'll gain flexibility and freedom in the long run. With clearer priorities and less wasted time, you may just find you have more free time than you realised!
Written by Tim Jones
Written by Tim Jones
0:00/1:34
Summary
Timeboxing is a time management technique in which specific time periods (’timeboxes’) are allocated to tasks to help gain focus and control where you are spending your time. Timeboxing can be confused with Timeblocking as both techniques allocate specific times to work on tasks. However, timeboxing crucially sets a limit on how much time a task can take.
Read this article
Timeboxing is a time management technique in which specific time periods (’timeboxes’) are allocated to tasks to help gain focus and control where you are spending your time. Timeboxing can be confused with Timeblocking as both techniques allocate specific times to work on tasks. However, timeboxing crucially sets a limit on how much time a task can take.
The steps
1. Make a list
As with many time management techniques, timeboxing starts with listing out all the tasks you need to accomplish that day. Don't worry about prioritising yet, simply get it all out of your head and onto paper.
2. Determine priorities
Next, identify your top 2-3 most important tasks or priorities for the day. These are the critical items that absolutely must get done no matter what.
3. Create timeboxes
Now decide how much time you want to allocate for each task or priority, setting a start and end time. These are your ‘timeboxes’.
Think about how long you work with a high level of focus and aim for timeboxes of that length. For bigger tasks, multiple timeboxes may therefore be needed.
4. Stick to timeboxes
When it's time to start a timed task, work solely on that activity until the timebox period ends. Close all other distracting apps and give them your full undivided attention for maximum effectiveness.
If you complete the task before time is up, you've just earned free time!
If the timebox ends before you've finished, you can either decide to bump other tasks off the schedule to allow more time or accept that you did as much as you could in the time available. Often we keep on working on things that are completed because there is more time until a deadline, so making a call that something is good enough can help free up time for other things.
5. Take breaks
Don't forget to schedule break periods between your work timeboxes. Even just 5-10 minutes to get up, move around, hydrate and reset can boost focus for the next round.
—-
The rigidity of timeboxing may seem restrictive at first. But by taking control of your schedule in finite chunks, you'll gain flexibility and freedom in the long run. With clearer priorities and less wasted time, you may just find you have more free time than you realised!
Written by Tim Jones
Prior to co-founding Booost Education, Tim previously worked with neurodivergent and disabled students at various universities and trained as an assistive technology consultant with AbilityNet.
Written by Tim Jones
Prior to co-founding Booost Education, Tim previously worked with neurodivergent and disabled students at various universities and trained as an assistive technology consultant with AbilityNet.