Quit Working So Hard
Have you ever made the mistake of sitting at your desk for hours at a time?
I know I have. In fact, if I stop watching myself it becomes a routine where I’ll sit there from morning all the way through lunch without stopping. You might be saying “So what?” at this point. So what if you work 3 hours straight? Isn’t that a good thing?
I guess it would be a good thing if you worked at maximum efficiency all the way through that period, but that’s not how it works for me. What ends up happening in these long sessions is I start slacking. I’ll go back and check email. I’ll browse websites longer than I should. I end up wasting time.
The worst effect is you’re wear yourself out. Again, I don’t know about you, but I find I can’t focus intensively for that long at once without my mind wondering. I get tired and distracted. Results suffer.
I’ve had times where I’m working quite well, need to look something up on a website, and then spend the next 30 minutes surfing the web. It happened to me on Friday! What a waste of time.
What’s the solution?
The first step is to recognize this problem. I do much better when I’m concentrating on it. Set up short “project” sessions. You need to complete A within the next 30 minutes. Then take a 5 minute break.
It is said that Eugene Schwartz used an egg timer which he set for 33 minutes and 33 seconds. During that period he’d sit down and write. He wasn’t allowed to do anything else in this period. Between each writing period he’d get up for a bit.
That time is a little strange for me so I’ve never worked like that. I find 30 minute and 60 minute blocks make a lot more sense for my project times. I’ve played with them both ways. On 30 minutes, I work 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute break. With 60 minute blocks I went 50 minutes on and then 10 minutes for a break.
With the tests I’ve done in the past it has always seemed the 60 minute blocks work best for me. That’s 50 minutes of concentrated work and 10 minutes of “play time” in between. That way when I do my daily and weekly schedule I can write what I plan to do for each hour (fits my desk calendar well).
For the 10 minute break period, I love to stop for playtime with my puppies. Little Indiana the golden is close to 6 months while my German Shepherd Champion is close to 4 months. Both of them LOVE the short training and play sessions. If I didn’t have dogs, I don’t know what I’d do. Maybe take a boring lonely walk or something instead of walking them around yard.
Whenever I concentrate on doing this, all my projects flow so much better. Whenever I slack, my concentration and projects suffer. Not only that, but I begin dreading work and don’t know why.
Try it. Setup some type of work schedule (either 25 minutes on and 5 minutes off or 50 minutes on and 10 minutes off). Then make an hour by hour schedule for your goals tomorrow making sure to leave at least one period up for things that might come up (or to potentially get ahead on the next day’s projects).
Here’s the rules. You sit down and you work on THAT project during the period. Nothing else is allowed. If it’s writing, then you write. If it’s creating a video, do that video. If it’s email and blog comments, do that. Once your time is up, get up and do something NON-work related. Go for a walk. Have a snack. Stretch. Call your husband/wife while walking around the house. Just get away from your desk. If you have trouble keeping track of the time, use a stopwatch or a computer timer. There are a whole bunch of free timers available on Download.com.
You can even set some type of “prize” for positive reinforcement when you accomplish your daily goals. Perhaps it’s something you buy yourself like a massage or a new shirt. Or perhaps it’s extra video game time. I don’t care what, but find something little that motivates you to reward yourself for a good day’s work.
Let me know how it works out for you. I know whenever I forget about this, my output suffers.
Related Entries:- 7 Steps to Overcome Procrastination
- 7 Practical Ways to Earn More By Working Less
- Don’t Stare At a Blank Screen of Death
- What Are you Tolerating in Your Life?
- Work Less, Earn More
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Great advice Terry! A lot of times it’s natural to think you’re making forward progress when you’re just keeping busy. I guess it’s one of those tricks of the brain that you have to watch out for. Even if it’s just surfing the web, you’re doing something, so you’re “working” and therefore feel much more useful than if you’re looking out the window or watching the TV. In fact, looking out the window may be more productive, it’s definitely more productive than watching TV! We’re hardwired to think that “brute force” is usually better than finesse, and working long hours is the key to success. In fact, understanding of human nature and working smart not hard is the way to go!
Fred
“Never mistake motion for action.” – Ernest Hemingway
I learned this the hard way. One day my neck started to hurt. The next day back. Then in the middle of the night, I woke up (well, my son woke me up) and it felt like a thin, sharp, blade was being inserted into my spinal cord anytime I leaned forward (even just a little). Backward was fine (I learned to do many things backward, like getting up). The pain was totally unbearable. Chiropractor determined stress on my rib cage and spinal cord from sitting in the same position for too long had finally too its toll.
I’m fine now. Take breaks usually every 30 minutes, sometimes 60. Just like you. Also, like you said, good for the mind.
I started to do this while at University.
And periodically I slacken off and come back to it. it’s a real temptation just to push through and not take the breaks but efficiency drops dramatically.
In my breaks I drink tea or go out into my garden…
Meditation and exercise are also good in these little breaks.
it’s very productive and motivating.
Thanks for the reminder Terry
Question – do you ever work with music in the background?
Alex
You are very right Terry. I’ve faced this problem numerous times, in fact daily. We cannot all completely stop distractions from creeping in;but our duties are to device means to shut them out when they appear.
Hey Terry! I know what you mean. I reward myself with my favorite coffee if I accomplish enough for the day. Otherwise it’s generic brand coffeee : (
Hi Alex:
I have worked with music in the background but it seems to bug me after a while. So I don’t (and that includes classical music that is often recommended).
Terry
Hi Terry,
I agree with you. For me the 50 minutes working sessions work well for me too. Longer than time, I will lose concentration.
Great advise.
John Tan
Thanks for the reminder Terry!
I often go for longer times, but it’s because the earlier part of the stretch is distraction-filled, and it takes a while to finally focus. Seems the trick is to cut out the warm-up period of poor quality action, and skip right to the focused action. Duh!
I would interpret this a a “Word from the LORD”! I’m sitting here thinking that I’ve hardly accomplished anything today. But, I’ve been at this computer ‘all day’, with nothing [but a hurting back] to show for it.
Thanks Terry, for bringing this word to me. I have decided that I ‘have’ to change my ways of doing business and your article is a great place to start.
P.S. The first thing that hit me was your IBC e-mail that started with: “Hi Vern, Quit Working So Hard!” Point taken…
This teaching is similar to what Eben Pagan preach in his Wake Up productivity program. In his program, he teaches using 60/60/30 chunks of time.i.e working on a project for 50 mins, rest for 10 mins and continue for another chunk of 50 mins and resting for 10 mins before taking a small meal for 30 mins. I also find it to be effective. I felt my productivity level has risen ever since I employ this technique. Great tips!
A timely reminder. I am about to complete the first stage of a web site revitalization and relaunch. And a feeling that I am off-track haunts me. So I browse far too much while I should be getting down to it. Like right now Catch 22
A pet-hair-allergy means the dog solution is not for me. In fact, I get concerned how much time and energy people put into animals that foul up my walk-ways through the snow.
Which brings me to walking: as a student I learned the helpfulness of walking during study or a period of “stuckness”. Fellow depressives use strolling as therapy.
Sure, the mind wanders as you walk through the countryside and you need to write notes later, or, as I do, carry a mini audio recorder. I wrote a novel that way and my best content for this new web site of mine came from that sort of refection exercise.
So fo you ain’t got no dawg, try walking alone. There is nothing boring about it except perhaps the guy or gal doing the walking.
My business coach over the summer had told me to use an egg timer and one of those things you “plan” on doing but never get around to it, thanks for the reminder, the last week I ve been doing nothing but planning out my schedule to get super organized.
It’s easy to fool ourselves into thinking that by “working” hour after hour – particularly in front of a computer screen – that we’re being very productive. I must admit I fall into the trap you mention of checking email and browsing randomly. I’m actually taking a break without realising it – and without it being a real break.
In addition to the timed approach, I think you need to set up a “no interruptions” environment. Turn of email and twitter/IM/skype notifications. Unless you really need to, set your phone to voicemail too.
Ian
It is easy to get stuck at the desk longer than I ever notice. I’d go to my aquarium whenever there is a sign of slacking.
Thanks for the great post! Jordan
Hey Terry,
That really is a good little refresher course on time management for internet marketers with A.D.D., thanks the break to read this article was much appreciated.
To the top,
Daegan
Terry,
Well said, as usual! I’ll be adding a link to this piece in my next home business newsletter! As a homeschooler, I NEVER get the “luxury” of spending all day at the computer, so your approach really resonates with me. I know I’ll only get a limited amount of screen time when I sit down – so my mind is always working in between. It’s also necessary for me to carry around a notebook, so I can write down thoughts, article topics, to-do lists, etc. as they come up. If it doesn’t get written down – I’ll NEVER remember it when I finally do get to sit down at the computer!!
Thanks,
Pat
Terry, I’ve had the same problem. I plan on doing something about this for 2009 so this is a great post that I could use.
[...] Coaching Blogs Quit Working So Hard January 5, 2009, By Terry Dean What’s the solution? The first step is to recognize this problem. [...]
Wise advise. However, I must say I have fallen victim to procrastinating in returning to work after the little “break” intended to rejuvenate and re-energize I find myself losing momentum. What to do about that? I think this is one of the reasons why most of us charge ahead full force without time off because we are afraid that if we do we can jeopardize our creativity, production and effectiveness. You really have to be self-disciplined and principled in order to to get caught up in this.
Interesting piece. I think the major problem with most people is that they spend “major” time on “minor” things and spend “minor” time on “major” things. Solving this alone can help to beat procrastination and help everyone get more done. Also, we should always ask ourselves – are we as busy as bees or as busy as houseflies? Bees are busy doing worthwhile things while houseflies are busy doing nothing,
That is right. Quit working so hard. We must balance efficiency and effectiveness. Focusing more on efficiency may prejudice ineffectiveness.
Terry, this is an absolutely great content! I think I have experienced this already but I just didn’t realize. Anyway, thanks for the info!
Wow. What great advice! I am heading to the store tonight and pick up a timer. I think if I know a break is coming up, then I will be able to concentrate on the task at hand. Thank you and be blessed.
Grading papers can become laborious after awhile. Especially, if you are doing it into the night. Having a device as simple as a time let you know a certain period of time is up would be very helpful. Thank you for the tip Terry.
Nice article, I have to admit i still do that now in days. Where i would go look for information on something and then something else pop up on the site and i end up wasting time reading through the whole advertisement even when it had nothing to do with what i was looking for. Taking a in between break is most require when working on something for a couple of hrs.. Nice information…..