January 28, 2008 at 15:08Effective Timing
Probably the most popular technique with which most people begin to get acquainted with time management. This topic is already quite battered, so from the very beginning I will not explain it. Who cares - I recommend reading the book by Gleb Arkhangelsky “Time Drive. How to manage to live and work. ” I’d better talk about a few pitfalls that many of those who start timing are stumbling over. Since the problems begin much earlier than they expect. Namely, at the time of the first recording. Why?
In order to get at least some positive effect from timekeeping, first of all you need to determine the purpose for which you are going to use this technique. It is important not just to raise your eyes to the ceiling to dream about getting more time, but to set the most specific goals. Moreover, it would be better if you add timelines to the goals.
Good examples:
Unsuccessful:
What is the difference? The difference in the measurability of the result. In the first case, a specific result and deadline are described. You can detect the length of the working day and look at the calendar. 8 hours - excellent, more - we continue to debug work processes. If there is no specifics, then soon, all attempts to organize affairs will mix with routine and will come to naught.
So, for what timekeeping can be applied:
1. To determine where your time is flowing
There can be an infinite number of options, you need to determine one thing - what is your time spent on. The result is sometimes amazing. After 2 to 3 days of accounting, it becomes clear that a huge amount of time is simply wasted on talking with colleagues, coffee, reading RSS and so on (and, I’m not saying that these are all unnecessary things, they just should not take 25-30% working time).
But in fact, the table of reports of time spent over n-days is practically of little use. For a full analysis, it is better to use additional indicators. In my practice of timekeeping, I mainly use the following indicators:
- Time spent on a specific group of cases
For each entry in the table, in addition to the name, start and end time, an additional field is entered - a task group (work files, my projects, personal files, leisure). Thus, by the end of the reporting period (for example, the end of the week), we can summarize all the time spent on any group of tasks.
- Importance and urgency of the task.
For each entry in the table, 2 fields are entered, in which numbers that characterize the priority of the task and its urgency are entered. Remember the simplest task classification? They are important and not important, urgent and not urgent. In order to achieve better results and to avoid rush jobs it is worth doing important and not urgent matters (so that they do not turn into important and urgent ones). Summarize the statistics - and draw conclusions on which class of tasks takes more time.
- Work-life balance
It can be defined as the ratio of time spent on solving work problems to time spent on personal needs and leisure.
So, from a practically useless table, we got a set of indicators by which we can adjust our activities. Again, everyone chooses (or thinks up) a set of these parameters for himself, based on his own needs.
2. Timing for motivation
Timing, by and large, is an experiment. And as a result of the experiment, not only information about a certain system / phenomenon is obtained, but also an effect on the object under study. How does timing affect a person’s personal performance? Most often positive. You see specific numbers: so much time spent on VKontakte, so much on ICQ, so much on work. Then the internal censor turns on and says: have a conscience, get down to business, in the end - in the end. This can be useful for developing self-discipline. But the main thing here is not to flatter oneself, since this result is usually short-term.
The same peculiarity must be taken into account when analyzing timekeeping reports. The same Gleb Arkhangelsky emphasized that during the observation it is not necessary to make changes to the usual daily routine or change habits - since in this case the statistics will not reflect the real situation.
3. Timing for planning
Everything is quite simple here. Having information about the time spent on certain tasks is much easier to plan or optimize work processes.
Total, in order not to be disappointed in the timing you need:
I am sure that there will be people who will once again say: it does not work, it is a waste of time ... A waste of
time is the use of time tracking without first setting a goal. Timing in my understanding is a tool, it cannot but work. Relatively speaking, from the fact that someone does not know how to use the chisel, it will not become useless from this, and the master will use it to create.
Original here
In order to get at least some positive effect from timekeeping, first of all you need to determine the purpose for which you are going to use this technique. It is important not just to raise your eyes to the ceiling to dream about getting more time, but to set the most specific goals. Moreover, it would be better if you add timelines to the goals.
Good examples:
- In a month I want to go in for sports, for this I need to release 2 hours on Tuesday and Thursday at the end of the working day
- I want to reduce my working day from 10-12 to 8 hours in 2 weeks
- During the current month I want to start devoting 8 hours a day to sleep
Unsuccessful:
- I need time for my personal projects
- I want to set aside time for learning a foreign language
- I want to sleep more
What is the difference? The difference in the measurability of the result. In the first case, a specific result and deadline are described. You can detect the length of the working day and look at the calendar. 8 hours - excellent, more - we continue to debug work processes. If there is no specifics, then soon, all attempts to organize affairs will mix with routine and will come to naught.
So, for what timekeeping can be applied:
1. To determine where your time is flowing
- Your working day noticeably exceeds 8 hours, despite the fact that you seem to solve all problems on time.
- You do not get enough sleep all the time, although you come home quite early.
- You have been wanting to go in for sports for months, but it’s impossible to allocate time for training.
- Your boss is dissatisfied with the effectiveness of your work.
There can be an infinite number of options, you need to determine one thing - what is your time spent on. The result is sometimes amazing. After 2 to 3 days of accounting, it becomes clear that a huge amount of time is simply wasted on talking with colleagues, coffee, reading RSS and so on (and, I’m not saying that these are all unnecessary things, they just should not take 25-30% working time).
But in fact, the table of reports of time spent over n-days is practically of little use. For a full analysis, it is better to use additional indicators. In my practice of timekeeping, I mainly use the following indicators:
- Time spent on a specific group of cases
For each entry in the table, in addition to the name, start and end time, an additional field is entered - a task group (work files, my projects, personal files, leisure). Thus, by the end of the reporting period (for example, the end of the week), we can summarize all the time spent on any group of tasks.
- Importance and urgency of the task.
For each entry in the table, 2 fields are entered, in which numbers that characterize the priority of the task and its urgency are entered. Remember the simplest task classification? They are important and not important, urgent and not urgent. In order to achieve better results and to avoid rush jobs it is worth doing important and not urgent matters (so that they do not turn into important and urgent ones). Summarize the statistics - and draw conclusions on which class of tasks takes more time.
- Work-life balance
It can be defined as the ratio of time spent on solving work problems to time spent on personal needs and leisure.
So, from a practically useless table, we got a set of indicators by which we can adjust our activities. Again, everyone chooses (or thinks up) a set of these parameters for himself, based on his own needs.
2. Timing for motivation
Timing, by and large, is an experiment. And as a result of the experiment, not only information about a certain system / phenomenon is obtained, but also an effect on the object under study. How does timing affect a person’s personal performance? Most often positive. You see specific numbers: so much time spent on VKontakte, so much on ICQ, so much on work. Then the internal censor turns on and says: have a conscience, get down to business, in the end - in the end. This can be useful for developing self-discipline. But the main thing here is not to flatter oneself, since this result is usually short-term.
The same peculiarity must be taken into account when analyzing timekeeping reports. The same Gleb Arkhangelsky emphasized that during the observation it is not necessary to make changes to the usual daily routine or change habits - since in this case the statistics will not reflect the real situation.
3. Timing for planning
Everything is quite simple here. Having information about the time spent on certain tasks is much easier to plan or optimize work processes.
Total, in order not to be disappointed in the timing you need:
- Define a specific, measurable goal and time frame
- Choose additional indicators based on your goals
- Take measurements without changing habits and routine
- Analyze the result based on the selected metrics
- Adjust activity
- Keep track of time to consolidate the result (at least once a month)
I am sure that there will be people who will once again say: it does not work, it is a waste of time ... A waste of
time is the use of time tracking without first setting a goal. Timing in my understanding is a tool, it cannot but work. Relatively speaking, from the fact that someone does not know how to use the chisel, it will not become useless from this, and the master will use it to create.
Original here