Timebox: How to use it to control your time
Learn how to use timeboxing to manage your productivity
Timeboxing is divided into three sections: dumping, prioritizing, and scheduling.
Brain Dump
- Offload your thoughts to clear your mind, making it easier to concentrate on tasks.
- Note down everything, context, big-picture ideas, and small details that are easy to forget but could be useful for your tasks.
- Write everything down in the evening before the next day or first thing in the morning.
Top Priorities
- Realistically, there's only so much you can effectively accomplish in one day.
- Review your Brain Dump and identify the most important tasks that must be completed for the day to be considered successful.
- Your top priority is what matters most, regardless of its size or whether it relates to work or personal life. What's critical is its necessity to be completed today.
Scheduling
- Allocate time to the tasks you aim to complete today. Avoid overbooking your day, leave some flexibility in your schedule for adjustments.
- Remember your priorities and allocate more time to top-priority tasks, as these are crucial to accomplish.
- Include breaks, family time, and household chores in your schedule. Having a comprehensive plan helps maintain focus without overthinking time allocation.
- Lastly, understand that not every task needs to be completed today fully. For example, dedicating 30 minutes to house cleaning daily is more manageable than attempting to do everything in one day, reducing the potential for overwhelm.