Time Management 

Chapter 14. Setting the right intervals

The best way to predict your future is to create it. ― Abraham Lincoln

You need to have uninterrupted periods

of time to be most effective.

The more important the tasks,

the more time you need to set aside time to process them.

You need a minimum of 60 to 90 minutes to be able

to do anything of value.

You need about 30 minutes

just to focus your mind on a complex task

such as preparing a proposal,

report or even planning an important project.

Once you’re in tune with your work,

you can focus your mind with high awareness

and creativity for the next 60 minutes

or so to work as focused and serious as possible.

Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible. — Tony Robbins

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Don’t confuse creative work with administrative work

You cannot mix creative tasks

with functional or administrative tasks.

You cannot do operational

and creative tasks at the same time.

Each type requires fast or slow thinking

but not both at the same time.

Office jobs require quick

and short-term thinking,

while creative jobs require thinking,

planning and execution.

Think of creative work time

as your “inward golden period”

and active work time as your “extrovert golden period”.

Don’t confuse them.

You can’t do major creative work

that requires concentration in a typical office environment

unless you put up a do not disturb sign on the door.

Otherwise, you’ll have to be creative in finding ways

to get out of the annoying work environment

and complete the tasks that are crucial to your career.

“If you aim for nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” — Aysa Angel

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How to set the right time intervals

Here are a few pointers to help you set the right time intervals

and dramatically increase your effectiveness.

First, work in the morning

when you are most refreshed and alert.

Most of the most productive people follow the rule

of going to bed early

and getting up at 5 or 6 a.m,

so they can work for 60 to 90 uninterrupted minutes

before heading to the office.

So even if you come to the office a little later,

with that 90 minutes of continuous work

you will get the same results

as an average person working at the office for 3 hours.

Another time you can take advantage of is lunchtime.

This is a great opportunity to turn off your phone,

disconnect from the internet,

and eliminate other distractions

when everyone else is out for lunch.

You’ll have 60 minutes of uninterrupted quiet time

so you can focus on your work

and tackle the things that matter most to you.

Knowing is not enough;

we must apply.

Willing is not enough;

we must do. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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Do not bother

Another tactic you can use is to close your office

at certain times each day to focus your mind

on the most important tasks.

Many leaders hang a do not disturb sign on the door.

Everyone knows that when this sign is there,

no one is allowed to disturb them except

in a really urgent case.

My financial manager,

a talented and skilled woman,

complains that she is overwhelmed

by constant interruptions while working.

As a result, she was unable

to complete her detailed accounting work

and submit the financial statements on time.

When I asked her to hang a do not disturb sign

outside her door

and work continuously

for 1 hour in the morning

and 1 hour in the afternoon

without interruption,

her work changed dramatically.

She told me that after only a few days,

she was able to fully concentrate on her work.

Not only that,

it turns out that no interruption is so important

that it can’t be put off

until another time.

“There are only two rules for being successful.

One, figure out exactly what you want to do,

and two, do it.” — Mario Cuomo

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Take more time

This is another great technique

that almost every successful leader uses.

It’s so simple that I shouldn’t have revealed it to you.

Get up a little earlier

and get to the office an hour

before everyone else.

Use that time to organize your day

and get to work

before there’s any interruption.

Then work past lunchtime

and spend another productive hour in the afternoon.

Finally, stay an hour later after everyone has gone home

and take this time to wrap up the day

and complete your most important remaining tasks.

This is a great technique!

When you tailor your day in this way,

you’ll avoid traffic jams on your way to work

as well as on your way home.

Plus you get three more productive hours each day.

You will get many times more results

than people working regular hours.

With this tactic,

you can double your achievements

and bring positive changes to your career.

Remember that you are a potential genius.

One of the areas where you can show your creativity

is to set aside periods of time

that help you get more done

and move faster in your career.

“If a goal is worth having,

it’s worth blocking out the time in your day-to-day life necessary to achieve it.” — Jill Koenig