Several of my dissertation coaching clients use timers on their computers to help them get started with a writing session, to stay focused, and to stick with their work.
It also helps them to stop at a pre-determined time. In that way, they don’t stay at the writing too long and yet they stay long enough to get a good chunk of work done.
One client says that her Taskmaster—her time-tracking widget — helps her with time management and with keeping track of how much time she spends on a task.
Another client uses a free online timer called Instant Boss. The “Boss” alerts him at a thirty-minute mark—the amount of time for a writing session that my client has decided works best for him He’s noticed that if he stays at it longer, his productivity goes down.
Not only does the Boss tell him when to take a break, but it also helps him keep his breaks to five or ten minutes.
If he decides to take a short walk during his break, he sets the timer on his cell phone.
Using a timer protects you from sabotaging yourself. You decide before you start the writing session how long you will work and how long your break will be.
It’s a handy writing tool, giving you some freedom while it eliminates the need to keep track of time yourself. And a timer helps you stay focused, allowing for an efficient and productive writing session.
Have you been thinking about trying a timer? Why not give it a whirl?
If you use a timer, I’d love to hear how it is working for you.
Until next time,
Nancy
Nancy Whichard, Ph.D., PCC
Your International Dissertation Coach and Academic Career Coach
www.nancywhichard.com
www.dissertationbootcamp.net
www.usingyourstrengths.com
An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a co-worker who was
conducting a little research on this. And he in fact bought
me breakfast due to the fact that I found it for him..
. lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!
! But yeah, thanx for spending some time to talk about this matter here on your website.
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Thanks for letting me know that the information earned you a free meal!
— Nancy
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May I simply just say what a relief to discover someone that actually
knows what they’re talking about on the web. You certainly know how to bring a problem to light and make it important. A lot more people must check this out and understand this side of your story. I can’t believe you aren’t more popular since you definitely have the gift.
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Thanks so much for your kind words. I hope you’ll stop by again.
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Thank you for mentioning my software, Instant Boss.
But don’t you think it would be a good idea to tell your readers where they can get it…and Taskmaster?
I wasn’t sure which Taskmaster application you were referring to, there are quite a few. So, I didn’t know which URL to give you for it.
But Instant Boss can be found here: http://appsapps.info/instantboss.php
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Thanks so much for providing the URL for the timer– really helpful–and, of course, thanks for the timer! If you have any other suggestions for writing tools, please let us all know. Come back again any time.
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Well, now that you asked, I know of a forum thread pack with info about note taking applications. The amount of information contained in it is overwhelming. It may take awhile to get through it all. I suggest not attempting to read it unless you have a few hours to spare.
http://www.donationcoder.com/Forums/bb/index.php?topic=2362.0
There is also a thread with a comprehensive list of sticky note applications. I find digital sticky notes incredibly useful for organizing things and remembering stuff. I consider the application I use (Notezilla), to be an external hard drive for my brain.
http://www.donationcoder.com/Forums/bb/index.php?topic=18605.0
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Thanks– I will definitely look into the sticky notes. Great tips! I’m glad to pass them along.
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