I have a theory that people don’t waste time in huge blocks (15 min, 1/2 hr, etc) instead time is wasted in 3-5 minute increments throughout the day.
Of course then I started to search and found lots of other people who have theories on the wasting time, even a guy who’s website is timemanagementninja.com OF COURSE this ended up one of those times, when my research turned into wasting time *sigh*
I know that for me those wasted minutes look a little differently each time – so I tend to explain it away in my head.
> Oh I have 5-minutes before that meeting, not enough time to make another call…
> I’ll check email THEN do that unloved task…
> I should probably check them out on LinkedIn again before I…
You get the idea, little increments of time that add up through out the day.
Now I’m all about taking mental breaks – I loved an article I read (and am NOT going to find right now – you know why!) that suggested we schedule in ten or fifteen minutes a few times a day allowing for us to KNOW we have a break coming up. Which keeps you focused.
Here are the techniques I’m currently using on myself to change my time wasting habit:
1. scheduling in 4 short breaks during my day to get up and move.
2. use my BURSTfocus protocol twice daily
3. make sure to have an accountability partner for both difficult tasks AND times I know I have focus issues
How do you ensure you use time to your advantage?
obviously I need some ideas!
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