Ways Your Kitchen Timer Helps Become More Productive
Time has a funny tendency to fill whatever space you allow it. If you only have 20 minutes to run an errand, you’ll get it done in time. But if you have all afternoon, it will take you all afternoon. The same happens with work, homework, and chores around the house.
Often it helps to put ourselves on a tight deadline with the help of a kitchen timer. Give it a try. Go dig the wind-up kitchen timer from a drawer, or set a countdown timer on your phone and get to work. You’ll be surprised how much quicker you get done with whatever task you set yourself.
When you’re working around the house, the timer on your oven will also work well. Let’s say you’re getting ready to do the dishes, clean the kitchen counters, and sweep and mop the floor. Set a 20-minute timer and get to work. See how much you can get done in those 20 minutes. Can you get through all the dishes and scrub the counters? Make it a race against time and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much faster you get your work done.
The same goes for tasks at work. Got a report to finish or a project to outline? Set a timer and get to work. Having the timer count down forces you to focus and work fast and more importantly efficiently. You’re not stopping every few minutes to check Facebook or think about how much you don’t want to be stuck in the office. Instead, you’re getting to work and moving right along until the task is finished.
Get in the habit of using a timer to force yourself to work efficiently. Set the timer to 20 to 30-minute intervals. Work hard and then when the timer goes off, take a little break. Stand up, stretch, and clear your head before sitting back down for the next little spurt of work. After a few sessions like that, take a longer break. Go get some coffee, talk to a colleague, or take your lunch break. Then come back and start all over again.
In the beginning, it will be hard to work fully focused for several 20-minute sessions at a time. That’s ok. It’s like working out. You’re working out your brain and in the beginning, you’ll feel exhausted after a day filled with several 20-minute productivity spurts when you use the timer. After a few days, it will get easier.
You can either power through and do the best you can, using the timer method all workday long – with little breaks of course. Or you can start with 4 sessions spread out throughout your day and then add another 20-minute interval each week until you work yourself up to using the timer all day.
Give it a try and see if using a kitchen timer can help you stay more productive throughout your day.
