Work methods

Principle 1 of 6 · Colby Kultgen

8 hours of work, finished in 4

The work itself stays the same.The trick is to cut out everything that isn’t work.

What happens in an 8-hour day

3 h 30Focused work
8 hYour day lasts
17:00You leave at
End of the day

    Illustrative model: we picked the proportions to make the mechanism visible, without measuring them.The source title promises 8 hours in 4, while this day ends up at 4 h 45.

    Context switching

    Block out your day

    Group similar activities and focus on one task at a time during a dedicated block.Every time you jump from an email to a design, you lose a little momentum.Blocks cut the number of switches, and sticking to your schedule builds momentum.

    A production plan in blocks of time, with colored bars stretching across months
    Time in blocks, like a production plan: each kind of work has its own slot.HarryTruinkers · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
    10

    Time that stretches

    Set artificial deadlines

    Parkinson’s Law says work expands to fill the time you give it.Break tasks into smaller steps and assign tight deadlines to each.Shorter timeframes force focus and prevent procrastination.

    Cyril Northcote Parkinson raising his hat, in a black-and-white photograph
    Cyril Northcote Parkinson, who stated the law: work stretches to fill the time you give it.Anefo · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
    8 h

    Example: a report that takes about 2 hours of actual work.

    optimal time Effort
    8 hTime given
    –Time back

    Wrong rhythm

    Find your ideal work style

    Not everyone works the same way.Experiment with different approaches to discover what keeps you motivated and productive.Try the four styles below and tailor the routine to your strengths.

    A hand writing in a planner next to coffee, a tablet and a laptop
    Paper, tablet or laptop: everyone finds their own way of planning the day.Thought Catalog thoughtcatalog · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

      The order and the rituals differ.The core is always a focus block: 2 hours of deep work or Pomodoro.

      Distractions

      Without this, nothing else works

      None of this matters if you’re constantly distracted.Turn off notifications, clear your workspace, and set healthy boundaries.

      A “Peace & quiet” sign hanging on a door handle
      Notifications off, boundaries set: a closed door keeps the routine standing.Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
      10Interruptions in 2 hours
      16 minLongest quiet stretch
      2 h block: doesn’t fit

      The moments are illustrative.The idea holds: a deep work block only fits into a stretch with no interruptions.