preface

Time management is now a required course in the workplace, and there are so many books on the subject that I’ve read at least five. Time management has also undergone three versions of the upgrade.

Three versions

Version of a

The Pomodoro technique, which typifies this version, divides the day into smaller work units, one every 25 minutes, with five-minute breaks in between. I also downloaded the [Tomato & Potato] app specifically for this working method. This app has a 25-minute countdown function, when the time is up, it automatically enters a 5-minute rest period, and then repeats the cycle. This app is cross-platform. But the big problem with this method, besides being highly disciplined (which can be deadly), is that it works best in a monotonous setting. You can’t be in the middle of a good programming session because you stop when the 25-minute block is up. And there may be meetings and project discussions that creep in throughout the day, completely disrupting the dozen or so things you planned to do in the morning. Execution was poor and frustration was high when the tomatoes were not completed as planned. I made some improvements later, extending the unit length to an hour, but it still didn’t work.

Version 2

Timeline plus four quadrants and I don’t have to say four quadrants, a lot of people use it; Record here about the timeline, this method I from middle school life efficient handbook, the specific method is to find a blank page, draw a vertical bar in the middle, and then draw a day on a vertical bar in the key time node (such as 7, 11, 15, 18 points), and then write on the left side of the vertical bar on the second day the night before the big time interval, Start the next day, and the next night write down exactly what you did in those intervals to the right of the vertical line. Then summarize why it didn’t go according to the previous plan and what the reasons were. Make adjustments in your next timeline.

I combined the two methods for several months before finally giving up. Say what the problem is.

  • Timeline record

Make a detailed plan for each day. In the evening, write down the actual situation of the day. This takes 10 to 20 minutes, but it may be faster once you get familiar with it. This alone let more than half of the people give up, really need very perseverance.

  • Four quadrant method

Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether it’s urgent or important in a split second.

Version 3

Energy Management + Tick list:

  • Energy management

The core idea is that people have a limited amount of energy in a day, and the distribution of energy is different in each period of time. For example, they are very energetic for two hours after they wake up in the morning, and then they start to decline, and they can’t concentrate easily. After lunch rest 15 ~ 30 minutes, energy and restore, and can keep 1~2 hours. Do your most complex and difficult tasks during your peak hours and save the repetitive, simple tasks for your peak hours.

This is more in line with human nature, unlike the first two versions of humanity.

  • Tick list

The list software has used no less than 5 kinds, and the last one left is this tick list, which I think is very consistent with the habit of Chinese workplace. Specific functions to experience.

Currently, I am using version 3 for my own time management, which will continue to be used as far as the results are concerned.

List of books you have read on time management

  • 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
  • Handbook of Productivity in Life
  • The Pomodoro Law
  • The 2 Most Important Hours of the Day
  • Eat that Frog