My Egg Timer’s Set to 30 Minutes

Guest Post: Kelly Andrew Brown

 My optimal time for getting anything done is 30 minutes – with few rare exceptions.

If I’ve let any given task drag on longer than that, chances are I’ve lost my way. I’ve either forgotten the outcome, I’m unclear on my next step, or I’m off on some weird tangent. So one of the most valuable tools on my desk is my beloved OXO egg-timer. Is it a bit OCD? Ohhhhh yeah. But who cares? Time constraints work.

Ever have an impossible 5pm deadline? Something that seemed unachievable in the time required? I bet you made it. And I bet the end result was pretty darn good. Somehow we always manage to pull it out in the end (pun intended).

Time constraints work because they force you to focus on only the most important aspects of any given task or project. Given an unlimited budget of time, it’s only human to start making things bigger than they are. We add embellishments. We ‘research’ on Google. We play with fonts and fuss over the margins.

We create noise. All of this distracts from our core objective and most likely produces a poorer quality product.

Am I saying anything can be completed in half an hour? Well, no. But that next action on your project can. If it can’t, you’ve made it too big. This leads to resistance which leads to procrastination. You’ll put it off until the last minute. And then wouldn’t you know it? Your facing a 5pm deadline…again. And that is why I pace my projects (and my day) in 15-30 minute increments.

My Tips for Egg Timer Safety

I should say – I create a daily work plan that is organized in 15-30 min increments. I don’t schedule these times, I just list the things I want to advance today and put time estimates next to each. I work on them in whatever order I feel inspired. To get the most out of your time it helps to use the first few minutes to get my head on straight before diving right in.

1. Make the time outcome based: “When this 30 minutes is up I will….”
2. Think through the best approach — “If I want this ‘done’, done my best bet is….”
3. Then Dig in

Kelly Andrew Brown is the founder of Small Business Guru and the author of 10 Mistakes Small Business Owners Make (And How To Avoid Them). The Small Business Guru Web site provides coaching, inspiration & practical advice for small business owners.