It is very important in life to be able to concentrate and get work done, but to do this, it is essential to clarify the tasks that need to be done.
This time, I will teach you a task management technique using the concept of time boxing.
About the original schedule
People think that ideally, they would be able to keep up a schedule that is packed down to the minute with hours on end, but that’s actually not the case.
Ideally, you should leave a lot of leeway and keep the tasks to a minimum.
It is said that about half of the tasks on the to-do list are never completed.
How to think about to-do lists and time boxing
What is time boxing?
Here we introduce the concept of time boxing.
The idea is to divide your day into boxes and toss tasks into each box.
In the 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. box, put the tasks you want to focus on the most, and in the 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. box, put tasks that don’t require concentration, such as cleaning, tidying up, and simple labor. Something like that.
During that block time, do what you decided to do within the block.
Ideally, you should do important, attention-demanding tasks in the morning, when your concentration is higher, and do menial tasks that don’t require your attention in the afternoon, when your concentration is lower and you feel tired.
Also, if possible, I would like you to set aside two hours of free time each day without any special plans.
Flow of schedule creation
First, try making it in 2 hour blocks.
Create a schedule grid for one week by entering the time on the top and bottom and the date on the left and right.
Then, in the squares, write the tasks you created earlier in order of priority.
Fixed/top priority block
The first thing to write to is a fixed block. For example, you might have a presentation at 12 o’clock on Wednesday, and on Saturday you might take your family to an amusement park from 7 a.m. until evening.
The empty space becomes a place that can be used freely. Of course, sleep should be excluded.
Block priority tasks
The second thing you should write is a block of priority tasks.
For example, include time for studying for the future, muscle training, hobbies, etc.
Communication and digital detox box
The third thing to write in is the communication and digital detox box.
This is the time to intentionally meet the person you are preparing for.
To put it more generally, it is an activity that continues to increase the level of happiness in your life over the long term.
For me, this means going out, doing things I enjoy doing, and reading at the library or outdoors.
And digital detox refers to time away from the internet and electronic devices.
It is okay to carry a smartphone for emergency calls for work or to carry valuables, but opening SNS or news is prohibited.
white space
White space is “time without any plans.”
Let’s spend some time thinking about it.
You can clean the house, wash the car, go for a bike ride around the neighborhood, or watch a movie.
It would be a good idea to leave it in for about 2 hours on weekdays and 5 hours on holidays.
schultz hour
This is time spent doing nothing.
Spend one to two hours per week thinking about long-term life goals and reflecting on yourself.
Reconsider your purpose in life and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
I write in the notes app on my iPad, but you can also take out an A4 sheet of paper, write on it, fold it, and put it in your pocket.
It is a good idea to write down any points for improvement or improvements as notes.
detailed tips
Divide fun tasks into sections
Instead of doing tasks that you find enjoyable all at once, try breaking them up and arranging them into smaller tasks.
For example, when watching anime, watch one episode in the morning and one episode in the afternoon.
If you’re drinking wine, drink it over three days and enjoy the changes in flavor.
Combine tedious tasks with favorite tasks
For example, “You can only watch movies or watch YouTube while exercising,” or “You can eat sweets after exercising.”
Always leave a space between schedules
Considering irregularities and breaks, it would be better to limit the time to 70 to 90 minutes in a 2-hour box.
create a sanctuary
Create an area in your house where you can’t do muscle training or use smartphones, find a park with a nice view for devoting ideas or reading, or go to a cafe to concentrate on your work.
It would be a good idea to have a sanctuary like this.
celebrate
If possible, make time to celebrate with someone important to you and say, “I achieved this goal.”
