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That's it.. I'm getting an egg timer ...

by Scott Ames
34 replies
Eben DeAngelo,,, or was it David Pagan...? taught a way to get things done faster and with more focus.

He said to do things in I believe 50 minute spurts then take a break, and do it again. It sounds normal. The difference is that it is timed with an egg timer and you only focus on that one task. You don't read email, answer phones, listen to the news, etc. The timer serves as a visual and auditory reminder of the time that is passing and you try to beat the clock and get your task done. If the task requires more sessions you just break it up and use as many as you need.

After today where I'm all over the place, surfing the WF, looking at my email, visiting CNN, etc. I realize that I need to start doing that technique.
#egg #timer
  • Profile picture of the author evolvingpublishing
    I went to Wal-Mart and bought a digital timer and sat it right in front of my computer whenever I'm working on anything online and set it. As long as I keep it right in front of my face at all times I'm much more focused and can get more done when the clock is ticking. To tell you the truth its one of the best productivity tricks I use. Good luck with the technique I think it works wonders.
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    • Profile picture of the author Ernie Lo
      Good move mate. You should also do it to help your health by taking the regular breaks. Im gonna do the same thing once my arm is healed.
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      • Profile picture of the author Scott Ames
        I think I need to put my Warrior Forum surfing on a timer as well. It's out of control
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        • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
          I believe the idea originates with the late copywriter Eugene Schwartz who set an egg timer for 33 minutes and 33 seconds.

          He'd work intensely for that period of time then take a rest (goof off and distract his conscious mind).

          He said he often got his best ideas while he was goofing off.

          The real key in this process is the REST TIME.

          It helps free your subconscious to come up with ideas.

          Kindest regards,
          Andrew Cavanagh
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          • Profile picture of the author Ricter
            It's the college way.
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        • Profile picture of the author saulyd
          Originally Posted by Scott Ames View Post

          I think I need to put my Warrior Forum surfing on a timer as well. It's out of control
          My thought's exactly!

          Cheers!
          Don
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          Willing is not enough; we must do. - Goethe

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  • Profile picture of the author pwebbiz
    Scott,

    I think anyone who is willing to apply this technique and stick to it will find great success. I'd consider starting it but I'm not sure how I'll stick to it. It would be a BIG help to me because with school work I'm often getting distracted.

    Michael
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  • Profile picture of the author Zeus66
    Hey, to each his own. I found a much better motivator. I have my wife pop in on me randomly, and if she catches me during official "work time" goofing off, no sex for me that night. Which do you think works better?

    John
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    • Profile picture of the author Samuel P.
      Great idea. You also might try this "Rescue Time" program. It send you a report on all the time you've spent on this forum and other time suckers.
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      • Profile picture of the author pmore
        50 minute spurts sounds like a good idea - I have to stick to 1/2 an hour, though. Any longer and my back starts killing me!
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        • Profile picture of the author Kim Standerline
          Originally Posted by pmore View Post

          50 minute spurts sounds like a good idea - I have to stick to 1/2 an hour, though. Any longer and my back starts killing me!
          You need a decent chair then, and you might also look at how your work station is designed as well. Needs to be as ergonomically perfect as you can possibly make it considering the amount of hours you probably spend in front of it

          For instance sitting with a laptop on your knee doing IM is a big no no

          Cheers
          Kim
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          • Profile picture of the author Peter Bestel
            There are studies that suggest we can perform at our best if we're more 'in tune' with our bodies. Our brain, apparently, functions in rhythms, alternating from activity and rest. We've become accustomed to overriding these rhythms but if you care to listen to them then, on balance, you can become more productive.

            According to this theory, as long as we're healthy and not too stressed, we experience responsive brain activity for an hour and a half to two hours, followed by 20 minutes of 'rest'.

            This is where the concept of 'power naps' comes from.

            Babies and toddlers are tuned into this, but we drum it out them so they can conform to the 'normal' working day.

            So that's the key: to be more productive we must all act more like babies!!

            Shouldn't be too difficult!:p

            Peter

            PS Oh yeah, if you want to find out more, Google for Ultradian Rhythm
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    • Profile picture of the author Ricter
      Originally Posted by Zeus66 View Post

      Hey, to each his own. I found a much better motivator. I have my wife pop in on me randomly, and if she catches me during official "work time" goofing off, no sex for me that night. Which do you think works better?

      John
      Well, to answer your question, first I need to know, how long have you been married? ; )
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      • Profile picture of the author Carol J Smith
        I need to work on some serious time management myself, this forum gets me easily distracted.

        Carol
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        • Profile picture of the author creativenerd
          I've been using the egg timer trick for years!

          I love it - 40 minutes for me. It keeps me focused for short periods of time
          (I get bored & distracted easily!) Then I go and play for 15-20 minutes.

          Life is good!
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        • Profile picture of the author kazmagic
          Thanks Craig

          I have just downloaded 'Time Left' it's great, just what I needed.

          Karen
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          • Profile picture of the author JasonKing
            The system is 50 mins on, 10 min off, 50 mins on, 30 mins off (repeat) ...

            Has its origins in CCPM I think ...
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            • Profile picture of the author sylviad
              Originally Posted by kazmagic View Post

              Thanks Craig

              I have just downloaded 'Time Left' it's great, just what I needed.

              Karen
              I've used this little program for years. I just wish it had a visible timer like a stopwatch or egg timer. It's way too easy to ignore Time Left as it runs silently behind your work. Then, you have to remember to pause it whenever you take breaks. I always forgot to turn it back on again. Good program, though.

              Originally Posted by Carol J Smith View Post

              I need to work on some serious time management myself, this forum gets me easily distracted.

              Carol
              Me too. I've been on the Forum all day... since 9 a.m. Do you believe it??? Talk about addiction. How sad is that? In all fairness, though, I took off all last week and hadn't planned to start work until tomorrow. So in this instance, I guess it's ok to "loiter" and table-surf here all day.

              Originally Posted by Scott Ames View Post

              Eben DeAngelo,,, or was it David Pagan...? taught a way to get things done faster and with more focus.

              He said to do things in I believe 50 minute spurts then take a break, and do it again. It sounds normal. The difference is that it is timed with an egg timer and you only focus on that one task. You don't read email, answer phones, listen to the news, etc. The timer serves as a visual and auditory reminder of the time that is passing and you try to beat the clock and get your task done. If the task requires more sessions you just break it up and use as many as you need.

              After today where I'm all over the place, surfing the WF, looking at my email, visiting CNN, etc. I realize that I need to start doing that technique.
              BIG problem for me... far too many distractions. CNN running all day long, constantly logged in to WF, endlessly checking my email even when no new ones have arrived. Worst of the worst... that freakin' "Thieves & Kings" card game I installed. Gotta uninstall it quick!

              Funny. I never USED to be like this. I think it has a lot to do with my cluttered desk that was always neat when I worked in someone else's office. Far more organized then, too. Got lots more done. How does the saying go? Something about a clear desk and a clear mind / cluttered desk, cluttered mind?

              If only I could keep my area tidy. But so much paperwork... all those manuals, tip sheets, idea and to-do lists and the like.

              Gotta get me an egg timer, for sure! I just know THAT would work. Hmm.

              Sylvia
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        • Profile picture of the author DanGTD
          Originally Posted by Craig Desorcy View Post

          I work in 45 minute blocks and when the time is up, I like to walk away from the computer and clean something in my home. Needless to say, my house is spotless .
          Great. It seems Eben's technique solves two problem at once, or an egg-and-chicken problem:

          You over-work and thus you are not too efficient, and at the same time the house is a mess because you don't have time to clean the house, being over-worked.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kim Standerline
      Originally Posted by Zeus66 View Post

      Hey, to each his own. I found a much better motivator. I have my wife pop in on me randomly, and if she catches me during official "work time" goofing off, no sex for me that night. Which do you think works better?

      John
      after 31 years of marriage, I don't think that would work with my hubby lol
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Hunter
    Originally Posted by Scott Ames View Post

    Eben DeAngelo,,, or was it David Pagan...? taught a way to get things done faster and with more focus.

    He said to do things in I believe 50 minute spurts then take a break, and do it again. It sounds normal. The difference is that it is timed with an egg timer and you only focus on that one task. You don't read email, answer phones, listen to the news, etc. The timer serves as a visual and auditory reminder of the time that is passing and you try to beat the clock and get your task done. If the task requires more sessions you just break it up and use as many as you need.

    After today where I'm all over the place, surfing the WF, looking at my email, visiting CNN, etc. I realize that I need to start doing that technique.
    You ever try KukuKlok - Online Alarm Clock?

    WF member Steven Resell talks about what he learned at the Mass Control event from Eben Pagan called the 60-60-30 solution. Check out the vid on his page here - Live From San Diego! It's...
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    Ok, sure. You can follow me on Twitter - http://twitter.com/Chris_Hunter ;)

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  • Profile picture of the author Rich Muir
    Yeah great technique. I need it and recently purcahsed timer to get into a serious pattern
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  • Profile picture of the author bigpicturerick
    I've been using something called cool timer.

    If you google it you'll find it's a free download and doesn't take up much space or brain because it's so simple.

    You can even set it to make souns of your choice.

    Rescue time seemed to moan and groan a lot.

    Cool Timer is easy and doesn't bog down my processor.

    Good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kyle Tully
    On Mac I use Apimac Timer to keep me focused.

    Set it to 33:33 and do nothing but write for that time. Then get up, lift some weights, get a drink... whatever... then another 33:33.

    4 focused work sessions like that and I get more done I one day than many people do in a whole week.
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    • Profile picture of the author summer07
      I vary the times somewhere between 30 and 60 minutes. It's the best way I've found to actually get lots of articles written instead of surfing...really keeps me on-task.

      Audre
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      • Profile picture of the author James Schramko
        I won't work on the computer without a timer because it is so unlimited.

        I picked up the idea from Eben at the beginning of this year and it has had dramatic consequences.

        Another important thing is to not feel guilty when you are doing nothing - it is perfectly OK to do nothing if you are doing solid sessions when you are working.
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      • Profile picture of the author sylviad
        Originally Posted by summer07 View Post

        I vary the times somewhere between 30 and 60 minutes. It's the best way I've found to actually get lots of articles written instead of surfing...really keeps me on-task.

        Audre
        I have the opposite problem. While the timer might go off after 30 or 60 minutes, if I'm really absorbed in a task (ie: researching and writing articles), it's surprisingly difficult to tear myself away to take that required break. Regardless of the method you use, it still requires discipline, doesn't it? :rolleyes:

        PS: We need more smilie options!

        Sylvia
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  • Profile picture of the author IMChick
    I need an automatic off button on the WF after a certain number of minutes. I'm new, and completely addicted. Arrrrgh.
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  • Profile picture of the author thatgirlJ
    Wow! Amazing thread. I have now downloaded the Apimac timer (thanks Kyle!) and the Rescue Time. Both work for Mac...super

    EDIT: Now, will someone please tell my toddler about uninterrupted work time
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    • Profile picture of the author sylviad
      Originally Posted by Jenn Dize View Post

      Wow! Amazing thread. I have now downloaded the Apimac timer (thanks Kyle!) and the Rescue Time. Both work for Mac...super

      EDIT: Now, will someone please tell my toddler about uninterrupted work time
      How long would he/she stay amused with an egg timer?

      Sylvia
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      :: Writing, Audio Transcription Services? - Award-winning Journalist is taking new projects. Warrior Discounts!
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