Comments on: Reader Question: What Does a Time Box Look Like? http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/ A journey from Java Software Engineer to Entrepreneur and beyond Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:13:10 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: How to Get Six Pack Fast http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/comment-page-1/#comment-106147 How to Get Six Pack Fast Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:47:15 +0000 http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/#comment-106147 The style of writing is quite familiar . Have you written guest posts for other blogs? The style of writing is quite familiar . Have you written guest posts for other blogs?

]]> By: Donna http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/comment-page-1/#comment-12853 Donna Wed, 28 Mar 2007 00:20:54 +0000 http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/#comment-12853 This is a very late reply -- a year later. I'm OCD, though more obsessive and compulsive, which means I tend to obsess (waste time & mental energy) on "useless" things (hobbies). At work I miss details and fail to finish. My solution: checklist forms I've tailored detailing how to start, complete, and close common tasks. I'm tactile so I print out many copies, keep them in a folder and the physical paper guides my progress and provides me a place to write the details. I finally know how to start a project: get out the checklist. I finally know when I can call the task "done": when the checklist is complete. I finally know what I need to do if my to do list says "work on this task": look at the checklist. My checklists fit into other tools like timeboxing, lists and a timer. I use Chimoo Timer for Mac: http://www.chimoosoft.com/products/chimootimer/ This is a very late reply — a year later. I’m OCD, though more obsessive and compulsive, which means I tend to obsess (waste time & mental energy) on “useless” things (hobbies). At work I miss details and fail to finish. My solution: checklist forms I’ve tailored detailing how to start, complete, and close common tasks. I’m tactile so I print out many copies, keep them in a folder and the physical paper guides my progress and provides me a place to write the details. I finally know how to start a project: get out the checklist. I finally know when I can call the task “done”: when the checklist is complete. I finally know what I need to do if my to do list says “work on this task”: look at the checklist. My checklists fit into other tools like timeboxing, lists and a timer. I use Chimoo Timer for Mac: http://www.chimoosoft.com/products/chimootimer/

]]> By: cutebanana http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/comment-page-1/#comment-10686 cutebanana Tue, 06 Mar 2007 23:47:31 +0000 http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/#comment-10686 Dear Dave, Ever wonder about doing a podcast on some of the articles you write about. I've read almost if not all your articles and have gained a lot of knowledge from it. Your style of writing is simple and honest, and the great thing is that you actually practice what you preach. Thanks TC Toh Dear Dave,

Ever wonder about doing a podcast on some of the articles you write about. I’ve read almost if not all your articles and have gained a lot of knowledge from it. Your style of writing is simple and honest, and the great thing is that you actually practice what you preach. Thanks

TC Toh

]]> By: Dave Cheong http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/comment-page-1/#comment-1554 Dave Cheong Mon, 06 Nov 2006 22:24:22 +0000 http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/#comment-1554 Hi Mark, Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. I'm happy to learn that the time clock method works for you also. For me, it has been an absolute godsend. In retrospect, I also agree that setting limits around when people can interrupt me is not always constructive. I only do this when I have an absolute deadline. Most days though, I'm happy for people to drop by whenever they feel the need. dave Hi Mark,

Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. I’m happy to learn that the time clock method works for you also. For me, it has been an absolute godsend.

In retrospect, I also agree that setting limits around when people can interrupt me is not always constructive. I only do this when I have an absolute deadline. Most days though, I’m happy for people to drop by whenever they feel the need.

dave

]]> By: Mark Braun http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/comment-page-1/#comment-1548 Mark Braun Mon, 06 Nov 2006 19:43:20 +0000 http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/#comment-1548 Hi Dave: Regarding a time clock method works! Years ago, I not only had two young kids and a house in need of fixing up, I held a full-time day job AND drew comic books at night. The 80/20 rule applied: obsessing over details didn't finish the work. I really did use an egg timer: a funny story to my critics and friends who called it "hack" but I stayed focussed much better by estimating what I was doing, the time I'd need and applying ad agency time limits to completing work or stopping for the night. I DO disagree with your idea of setting limits on when people can talk to me at work, but I don't tolerate an extra minute on outside junk or problem-solving that is obvious. My rule here is, if its a good idea, tell me and do it. An occasional interuption for input usually gets a "good thinking!" rather than a "don't bug me until 3 pm." Hi Dave: Regarding a time clock method works! Years ago, I not only had two young kids and a house in need of fixing up, I held a full-time day job AND drew comic books at night. The 80/20 rule applied: obsessing over details didn’t finish the work. I really did use an egg timer: a funny story to my critics and friends who called it “hack” but I stayed focussed much better by estimating what I was doing, the time I’d need and applying ad agency time limits to completing work or stopping for the night.

I DO disagree with your idea of setting limits on when people can talk to me at work, but I don’t tolerate an extra minute on outside junk or problem-solving that is obvious. My rule here is, if its a good idea, tell me and do it. An occasional interuption for input usually gets a “good thinking!” rather than a “don’t bug me until 3 pm.”

]]> By: Maus http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/comment-page-1/#comment-1304 Maus Mon, 30 Oct 2006 10:22:05 +0000 http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/#comment-1304 I'm glad to see you again (yes, it took me sometime to write and say it). I had an idea of the Timebox that might help John: i see it as a desk with drawers with different sizes. You have big, medium, and small drawers and you car arrange that desk as you want. So, There can be a 8 hour drawer -it's too much, but you can have it-, or a 15 minute drawer. And inside there is material you have to read, or see, or web pages to finish, etc. When the time is up you return all the stuff inside, and leave a note what to do next. Hope it helps. In my life? Things are ok. I had a month of nonfinish work (weekends included). And I hope in november is going to pay off all this. ¿sad thing? Lost friends in the way. ¿good things? Good/best friends stayed and understood life is like that sometimes. Hope to read you soon. I’m glad to see you again (yes, it took me sometime to write and say it). I had an idea of the Timebox that might help John: i see it as a desk with drawers with different sizes. You have big, medium, and small drawers and you car arrange that desk as you want. So, There can be a 8 hour drawer -it’s too much, but you can have it-, or a 15 minute drawer. And inside there is material you have to read, or see, or web pages to finish, etc. When the time is up you return all the stuff inside, and leave a note what to do next. Hope it helps.
In my life? Things are ok. I had a month of nonfinish work (weekends included). And I hope in november is going to pay off all this. ¿sad thing? Lost friends in the way. ¿good things? Good/best friends stayed and understood life is like that sometimes.
Hope to read you soon.

]]> By: Dave Cheong http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/comment-page-1/#comment-1164 Dave Cheong Tue, 24 Oct 2006 21:45:24 +0000 http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/#comment-1164 Hello TheUndefined, Thanks for the vote and for reading. I'm sorry the posting frequency has slowed but I have some interesting and exciting news which I'd like to share. Now, I just need 30 mins of quiet time to write it up! dave Hello TheUndefined,

Thanks for the vote and for reading. I’m sorry the posting frequency has slowed but I have some interesting and exciting news which I’d like to share.

Now, I just need 30 mins of quiet time to write it up!

dave

]]> By: TheUndefined http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/comment-page-1/#comment-1155 TheUndefined Tue, 24 Oct 2006 15:04:46 +0000 http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/#comment-1155 hi dave, sorry for posting this off-topic, but just wanna say welcome back :) I've been reading your posts for a while now, since i found this page trough digg and was afraid you had quit. Your articles about patterns and how to change them has been very insightfull to me, i've even added some techniques of my own. Building positive patterns and doing it constructively and aware does seem very important in achieving anything, even if you're not sure what that is. now back on topic, The timeboxing seems like a great technique to be aware of what you do and how much you do it. I'm not using the timeboxes, but i feel if i would it might help me achieve more. I suppose i just feel uncomfortable with too much structure :P Anyway, keep up the good work, i'm checking this weekly hi dave,
sorry for posting this off-topic, but just wanna say welcome back :)
I’ve been reading your posts for a while now, since i found this page trough digg and was afraid you had quit.

Your articles about patterns and how to change them has been very insightfull to me, i’ve even added some techniques of my own. Building positive patterns and doing it constructively and aware does seem very important in achieving anything, even if you’re not sure what that is.

now back on topic,
The timeboxing seems like a great technique to be aware of what you do and how much you do it. I’m not using the timeboxes, but i feel if i would it might help me achieve more. I suppose i just feel uncomfortable with too much structure :P

Anyway, keep up the good work, i’m checking this weekly

]]> By: Flow Seeker http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/comment-page-1/#comment-1085 Flow Seeker Sat, 21 Oct 2006 15:08:56 +0000 http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/#comment-1085 "It might be a good way to interrupt your thinking/working and remind you to focus on results and getting things done." I guess you're not working on anything that requires thinking or working then :) “It might be a good way to interrupt your thinking/working and remind you to focus on results and getting things done.”

I guess you’re not working on anything that requires thinking or working then :)

]]> By: Neville Ridley-Smith http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/comment-page-1/#comment-950 Neville Ridley-Smith Mon, 09 Oct 2006 04:33:43 +0000 http://www.davecheong.com/2006/10/04/reader-question-what-does-a-time-box-look-like/#comment-950 I did some extensive research trying to find a good timer/alarm-type software to implement my time boxes. I reckon the best one is this : http://www.sinnercomputing.com/Egg.htm To set a countdown in most cases requires literally only 2 clicks. I did some extensive research trying to find a good timer/alarm-type software to implement my time boxes. I reckon the best one is this : http://www.sinnercomputing.com/Egg.htm
To set a countdown in most cases requires literally only 2 clicks.

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