FastTrain

A couple of years ago I had a client who found it very difficult to manage his time. There were jobs he really hated and would avoid doing until absolutely necessary.

He was a self confessed procrastinator, but it had led him into difficulties with his boss and it was damaging his chances of promotion.

I had come across time boxing as a method for project management where meeting timelines is especially important. Then I had attended a networking event where someone else said that they used time boxing but in a different way for their personal time management.

Time boxing is a way of committing yourself to do a task by limiting the pain.

• First identify the task you have to complete
• Then allocate a time to start work on that task. Ideally the time commitment should be limited, perhaps 30 minutes up to an hour. If it is a job you really hate doing then don’t commit to more because you will never start the work
• Allocate the time when you are fresh and alert (ideally early in the morning). This has two effects, you get the time boxing completed and can enjoy the rest of your day and secondly you will feel really good with yourself and find that everything else that day goes well
• With time boxing don’t have to finish the task, although those people who do use the technique say that they often find themselves drawn into and completing the task regardless of the time box commitment
• Then set yourself a small reward for completing the time boxing.

I saw that client again recently. He has some new problems now, but these all centre on a promotion he achieved. Yes he did try out time boxing and it is now part of his routine, although thankfully not every day.

Why not give it a go and lets us know how you got on.