Note: This article is by Darius Foroux, who talks about improving your focus and getting more done using the time-blocking technique.
Life can be chaotic. Most of us deal with many different things at the same time. Although the simple solution is to stop this, it is only sometimes realistic or even needed.
What if you could do more things without wasting your time? It is possible, but you have to work in an organized manner. Dividing time is a simple exercise that most people use to increase productivity, and it isn't difficult. You only need a calendar, something everyone with a smartphone and computer has.
Time Split simply uses your calendar to divide time among your top priorities. You only accomplish one task during that time and then move on to the next on your calendar. This way, you don't have to think about what to do next, but Time Split is more than just a productivity tool. It is about self-awareness.
The path to higher productivity begins with awareness
For example, one of my priorities this year is to write a book on pragmatic thinking, but the problem is that I still need to write, so how did I come to that conclusion? I simply looked at my to-do list for the year, then at my calendar, and I hadn't made a writing date in a while. You might say, "Do you have to look at your calendar to realize that?" Yes, I do. I am not a machine, and I may forget. I am an ordinary person.
I think of something to do, start working on it, get distracted, then forget about it, and this happens to all of us. We need self-awareness and tools to discipline us, so I like Split Time.
Why do some people like time division, and others hate it?
Cal Newport, professor of computer science and author of Deep Work: "I take time division seriously, setting aside 10-20 minutes each evening to schedule for the next day. During this planning, I look at my to-do lists and calendars, as well as my weekly and quarterly planning notes, and my goal is to make sure I progress on the right things at the right pace with the deadlines."
The last sentence is precisely why I schedule everything I want to do. Working is one thing, and making progress is another. Splitting up time helps me improve my focus to accomplish meaningful things, which affects my life. Also, I know that most successful people work without using a calendar, as they simply work two, three, or four hours a day, and to be honest, that sounds great to me; however, one has to look at the circumstances of one's life.
What are you trying to achieve?
Most importantly, what resources do you have? Often, people who don't have much money have plenty of time, so why not use it wisely? In either case, planning will suffice. I plan my days and weeks in advance to ensure I'm working on the right things, and I often need help completing daily tasks. I'm already very organized and only work on one thing before I move on to something else.
However, I have many different areas in my life, like my family's company, my blog, podcasts, online courses, social relationships, friends, investments, etc. I'm doing many different things, but it depends on how you view multitasking. Everything I do leads to one thing, which is living a purposeful, independent life, but let's get away from the philosophy here. If you need more focus and are making progress, and want to work in a more structured way, try splitting time.
four tips that may help
- Set aside 10 minutes each evening to plan your next day, and rearrange your time slots if you have to make time for other essential things.
- Allocate the same time for recurring tasks. For example, I schedule two hours to write my new book every Tuesday and Thursday.
- Don't overdo your schedule. Realistically, you can't be productive for ten straight hours. Give yourself some time to rest between tasks.
- Schedule more time than you think you need.
Do you feel that the division of time requires a lot of planning?
No problem, cut back on plans, as there are always counter ideas to everything. Some people do the exact opposite and advocate a lifestyle that doesn't care about notions of productivity, people who claim they have blank calendars and don't care about anything, and people who claim they are always having fun, those remind me of the kids in school who were saying: "I didn't have time to study for this semester," but they were getting the best grades.
People just want to make you think that they don't work hard, yet they achieve success easily. This is unrealistic. Due to my experience in life, achieving meaningful things is difficult, and it's not cool to pretend it's easy, and I don't think it's cool to burn yourself out at work either.
In conclusion, ask yourself: Are you an amateur or a professional?
This comparison is from Steven Pressfield's book The War of Art about getting work done. Amateurs only work when they feel inspired, while professionals work steadily daily. The key is perseverance, not working now and then, not working too much. "The mark for amateurs is that they have a million plans, and they all start tomorrow," says Pressfield.
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