Timer Productivity Hack
Summary
- I use a simple twist kitchen timer from Amazon, which cost about seven bucks, to boost my focus.
- The timer helps me better estimate and predict how long tasks will actually take to complete.
- I stop the timer whenever I get distracted, like when my phone rings or I check messages, to measure my true time on task.
- This habit reveals that actual working time is often much less than we assume it is.
- In my early days, I realized I spent lots of time in front of the computer with little real work being done.
- Many tasks are easier than they seem if you genuinely focus and put in the effort.
- Learning to enjoy hard work can make winning feel inevitable.
Video
How To Take Action
I would suggest implementing a simple focus strategy to boost your productivity. Get a twist kitchen timer, like the one I use, which costs about seven bucks on Amazon. This timer can help you concentrate better on tasks by allowing you to track your time accurately. Here's how you can make the most out of it:
First, estimate how long a task will take and set the timer for that duration. For instance, if you think a task will take 30 minutes, set the timer accordingly. This helps you get better at predicting task durations over time.
Whenever you get distracted—maybe your phone rings or a notification pops up—stop the timer. Resume it when you get back to work. This practice reveals how much actual working time you're spending versus what you assume. You'll likely notice that effective work time is less than expected.
Over time, you'll develop a habit of focusing more deeply and cutting down on distractions. Many tasks are easier when you give them your full attention, so embrace the challenge. Learn to enjoy the process of working hard. When you love what working hard feels like, achieving your goals becomes much more attainable and rewarding. Take these steps, and you'll be surprised at how much more you accomplish with the same amount of time.
Full Transcript
I have this timer that I have on my desk it's the easiest purchase you can make I think it was like seven bucks on Amazon it's a little twist kitchen timer it's very easy it's been probably my biggest Focus hack you know to date which is I turn it when I want to start working and part of it allows me to think how long I I get better at predicting how long it's going to take me to do something I think this will take me 35 minutes so I turn the clock to 35 and I click on and I start working on the thing and the moment my phone rings or I look at slack or whatever I stop the timer and so you actually see that your time on task is usually significantly less than you think it is and I think that in my early days I would spend a very long time in front of a computer telling myself that I was working with very few minutes actually on task and that's why I think that most things are actually significantly easier than people think they are they just don't know how to try hard and so it's like if you can just learn to love what trying hard feels like then all of a sudden it becomes unreasonable that you can't win
