Benefits of Timeboxing

It’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed with day-to-day tasks, and sometimes, even with a prepared to-do list, it can become difficult to stay on track.

There are plenty of methods and tools to support your time management, but one that we have found to be extremely efficient is timeboxing. This helps you to target the gaps within your day to further help improve your work productivity, essentially aiding with procrastination.

What is Timeboxing?

Offering a slightly different approach to time management, timeboxing consists of allotting a specific time to a task. The ultimate goal is to complete the task within the time you have allocated, with little to no flexibility on the total duration spent. This can help to focus your attention on the task at hand, without any distractions.

There are two types of timeboxing that you can use to schedule your work in:

• Hard timeboxes: if you use a hard timebox, then you don’t allow any extra time on your task, even a few minutes. Once the time is up, you must move onto the next task. This can help to improve your efficiency, with a gradual adjustment to this way of working overtime.
• Soft timeboxes: On the other hand, soft timeboxes are much more flexible. Once your allocated time is up, you can then adjust your workflow according to how much you were able to do within the time limit. This will help to bring your focus back to the task at hand, as well as increasing your task efficiency.

How do you use Timeboxing?

Adding timeboxing into your daily routine is super simple. Find three steps below to help you implement this technique:

1. Create a timebox for all your daily tasks

The first and main thing to do is to take a look at the tasks you have upcoming for the day and determine how complex each of these are. Then it’s just a case of designating the approximate time that you believe the task will take to complete.

You can also decide if you are going to assign a hard or soft timebox to these tasks. If you are unsure of how long a task would take, then a soft timebox is the best way to go. A hard timebox is most ideal for those tasks that you are certain you can complete in the timeframe.

It’s important to allow extra time for breaks or unexpected disturbances that could occur during your working hours, this will ensure that the time is as accurate as possible.

2. Set a Timer

Once you’ve figured out all your time estimates, it’s as simple as putting a timer on your phone or computer that will send an alert once your allotted time is up. Then all that you have to do is start the timer and try and complete the task at hand!

3. Evaluate

Once your tasks have been completed, at the end of the day you can evaluate how your day has gone. Did you complete all the tasks in the time that was allocated? Which way of timeboxing worked best for you, hard or soft? Is there any way you can improve your work efficiency?

These questions can lead you to identifying any gaps in your work process and develop any further strategies to progress your workflow.

Get in touch

If you’re looking for further help and advice with increasing your productivity, Clevertouch can help. Get in contact with us for any advice or assistance you may need.