How to Work in Bursts to Get More Done
By Leo Babauta
If you’re like me — and if you’re a freelancer, you’re probably like this — you procrastinate on your assignment because, well, you just don’t feel like doing it right now. There are tons of reasons why: it’s an intimidating project, you’re not sure how to start, or simple inertia stops you from getting started.
A solution that works every time: break the job into smaller bits, and do those bits in bursts.
That may sound obvious, but not many people put this to optimal use. Too often they procrastinate because they’re stuck with a daunting task on their to-do list. If that’s you, try these 10 productive tips:
Granularize. Got a project? Just put the very next physical action on your to-do list, not everything on the list. Is that task still too intimidating? Break it down even further. For example, instead of writing a whole article, write the intro. Or do an outline. Instead of doing a whole graphic design, just do a sketch. Or start by brainstorming. Or searching the web for ideas (don’t get lost on the web).
Granularize further. If that’s still too big, just do 10 minutes of the task. You don’t need to finish it. Do 10 minutes, and at least you’ve gotten off to a good start. After 10 minutes, you can stop — or just as often, you may just keep going. Even if you stop, doing something in 10-minute bursts is a bit more likely to get it done than putting it off forever. Just a tad more likely.
Set a timer. OK, you’re going to do this in a 10-minute burst — now set a timer and do it. When the timer goes off, you can stop. Timers are great tools for working in bursts.
Clear distractions. Turn off email notifications, clear your desk, turn off the phone. If you’re going to do this in bursts, you can’t be distracted every 10 seconds. You’ve got to really work during that burst, or your burst will never happen.
Really focus. You’re doing your burst, and you cleared away distractions … and yet you still feel the pull of email, or other distractions. Resist. Pull yourself back. Now really focus. Getting pulled away? Pull yourself back once again. Now focus! Good focus will get the job done every time.
In-between time. Bursts are great for those in-between times when you can’t do larger tasks. Got 5-10 minutes before a meeting? Do a focused burst. This is one great way of doing a free-lance job while holding a real job — as long as your boss doesn’t find out. That’s how I do it — but my boss knows about it. As long as I get my job done, doing free-lance bursts in between tasks never hurts my productivity.
Keep a list. You’re most productive if you keep a list of small actions — bursts — that you can do at any time. Then, when you’re ready to do a burst, just choose something from the list and go at it. And checking it off when you’re done is super satisfying.
Next. Finished your burst? Check it off your list, sure, but don’t forget to write the next burst on your list. If you did 10 minutes of an assignment but aren’t done, be sure to put the next 10 minutes on your list, right when you checked the old one off. Always have the next task for an assignment on your list, so you don’t forget, until the assignment is completed.
Just start. I can put something off forever. I’m always finding something else to do. But when I really need to do something that I’ve been putting off, I take a deep breath, and just plunge into it. It doesn’t matter how long I do it, as long as I just get started. It’s like the way I force myself to do a run — I don’t think about the run itself, I just tell myself to put on my shoes and get out the door. The rest will flow naturally. Just get started, and the work will happen.
Enjoy the done. When you complete a burst, take a minute to enjoy the satisfaction of doing something. Doesn’t that feel good? Even better, give yourself a mini reward. Be sure the mini reward, if it’s a snack-sized candy bar, let’s say, doesn’t come too many times in the day, or your mini reward will turn into a major belly. This is when the running comes in handy. But find a variety of mini rewards, and you should be fine.
Still can’t get started? Try 20 Procrastination Hacks for other good tips.
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brilliant!!
thanx x many
minh
Again, great tidbits! You all are just full of great ideas. You all have been a great help! Thanks!
I can’t believe how you keep coming up with these great ideas!
Did you invent the word “granularize”? I’ve never heard it before.
Pretty soon we’re going to have “Leoisms”.
This is great and reminds me a lot of Merlin Mann’s “procrastination hack”: http://www.43folders.com/2005/10/11/procrastination-hack-1025/
When I am feeling unproductive it always helps. It’s a great way to get five things started super fast. (You’ll see what I mean.)
Also, sometimes I feel the need to break down tasks to a miniscule size, so “sketch” is broken down to “get out paper”, “make a mark”, etc. This sounds ridiculous but that’s how bad it gets sometimes.
I just finished bursting so as a reward I went to FS.
…sip…
Although I knew all of these, I rarely put them to use. Great article.
He comes up with ideas like these because they’re simple rewrites of other people’s blog posts. That’s why all of these productivity blogs are the same.
granularize would be a great addition to the Ruby on Rails lookalikes symbolize, pluralize, constantize and the like.
Seriously though, great article Leo. I definitely second the granularizing (that sounds even better). Thinking about what to do is always a hard part, and breaking it down makes even the hardest tasks look easy.
Thanks for the comments, guys. Actually, I thought “granularize” was a word — it just felt right when I wrote it — but it’s not in my really huge dictionary nor is it in dictionary.com. But if you google it, it’s been used before, so I can’t claim coinage. Darn. I like to make up words.
Excellent one, Leo! Inspiring as usual. I’ll print it and put it on my desk right away
I really liked your point “just start” because I can relate perfectly. I run every morning and sometimes when I really don’t feel like doing it one day I just kinda put my shoes on and push myself out the door. Getting started is the hardest part but once that’s done it gets easier and I’m always glad I did it.
Sometime I have a project that I want to put off, but once I start the pieces all just fall into place and it’s never as bad as I thought it might be. So I guess the point is have faith in your ability to do the job and know that once you begin the rest will flow. It makes it that much easier to get started.
Wow! I just posted the same thing on my blog (but much more condensed). Freaky!
Yeah I get stuck in moments and need to get into a more organised structure, may have to try some of these, thanks
Ha ha that’s me, that’s me! No wait! Don’t tell Collis!
Actually speaking of the ’10 minutes at a time’, one technique for overcoming procrastiation is start a task for 15 minutes, and at the end of the 15 minutes you can keep on procrastinating if you want to.
Oftentimes that’ll be enough to get into the swing of things and allow you to keep on moving. Kind of like tricking yourself, “OK, only 15 minutes…”
I think granular is right out of David Allen’s books.
One thing to remind your readers of, is that, if they are concerned with their business having any lasting value, they’ll need to be investing time and money into learning, growing assetts/tools, building network, and enjoying clients.
Enjoying clients doesn’t come naturally for me except for maybe 1 out of 20, but I still need to enjoy them, and strategically manage to keep our relationship “effortless” and enjoyable, so that when I am done, the client feels taken care of. MANY of these hours are not billable. Some are reimbursable, some can be considered tax write-offs, but many go by the wayside.
Great work on this site, these articles, and this education!
Interesting post… It is indeed always better to break things up into smaller parts, then the whole assignment looks more approachable
Not to mention it is also a habit which everyone should learn to develop over time.
++recommend
Great article.. I really can relate myself to this article… i usually do those tips..
hehehe… keep reading.. you will never regret to read it..
Wow this is a very well put together article! A very good resource for a fellow freelancer who procrastinates a bit too much
(Well, I think so, but my clients don’t.. I always want more time than i have =) )
Michael from designandprogram.com
One word: Brilliant!!!!
Excellent tips. Whether a Freelancer or an employee working for the man, these tips help you tackle those big projects!
Wonderful post. I pretty much just followed that technique now, and my reward is catching up on my feeds and floating around the web for a few minutes.
Great info, and very motivational…reminds me of all the stuff I still need to get done today!
Lovely uplifting post