// Internet Duct Tape

How Procrastination Dashes Made Me a Better Worker

Posted in Increasing Productivity and Simplifying Your Life, Software, Technology by engtech on September 06, 2007

Software

The biggest problem with the Internet is that it’s entirely too easy to get distracted. We’ve all wilfed at one time or another — what started as an innocent task-related web search ended up down some rat hole of links until you’re reading a web comic about falling into a couch and confronting the dark nebulous force of Lost Things. Stupid internet, so bright and shiny and full of useful and entertaining information.

43Folders recommends setting a procrastination dash to attack tasks you’re having trouble getting started on. The (10+2)*5 system suggests doing 5 intervals of 10 minutes of work, followed by 2 minutes of “me time” as a way to get yourself on a groove and find your flow. It’s a great system, and it really works, especially if you use the Instant Boss software.

Instant Boss procrastination dash productivity dash 5*10+2

Instant Boss is a tiny software app that will let you know when your 10 minute / 2 minute timers are up. If you want to take a longer break than 2 minutes (because you’re saving an interesting article, or writing an email to a friend) then it will keep reminding you to get back to work every minute on the dot.

Instant Boss procrastination dash productivity dash 5*10+2

It’s one of those great little applications that works exactly as specified. I highly recommend it.

13 comments

13 Responses

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  1. Jan said, on September 06, 2007 at 10:58 pm

    Hey.. I need this! I’m going to try it. Thanks!

  2. Ross said, on September 06, 2007 at 11:08 pm

    I think I’d find myself clicking “Longer Break” all the time. Which would REALLY amount to wasting time :P

  3. engtech said, on September 07, 2007 at 1:46 am

    @Ross:

    The nice thing about clicking longer break is that it gives you a 1 minute notification. You *do* eventually stop your break because it makes you conscious of how many minutes have pass.

    I also love how the titlebar keeps track of how many minutes left of your current cycle. Great, great app.

  4. Mark said, on September 07, 2007 at 5:25 am

    Workrave is good for the rsi factor too – and getting up to stretch always manages to distract me away from the computer :)

    http://www.workrave.org/welcome/

  5. Rolling a blog joint « Cuzoogle said, on September 07, 2007 at 8:56 am

    […] Internet Duct Tape talks about how procrastination dashes made him a better worker. […]

  6. sunchaser said, on September 07, 2007 at 6:08 pm

    This is really great, thanks!

  7. Traveller said, on September 09, 2007 at 8:41 am

    Heh! This seems funny, and I am not sure if it’ll end up being irritating. Lemme try it and see how it feels…

  8. Best of Feeds - 22 links - lifehacks, blogging, facebook, firefox, productivity « Internet Duct Tape said, on September 09, 2007 at 11:46 am

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  9. Procrastinate Much? « chasing the sun said, on September 14, 2007 at 8:21 am

    […] Internet Duct Tape (some really handy tools ie: “the Instant Boss” – see below) How Procrastination Dashes Made Me a Better Worker: The biggest problem with the Internet is that it’s entirely too easy to get distracted. We’ve […]

  10. Tool To Help You Stay Focused : Dirty Little Secrets said, on September 14, 2007 at 6:59 pm

    […] came across an interesting Windows app that will help you to stay focused and be productive from Internet Duct Tape. This software have a long name: Instant Boss 5*(10+2) procrastination dash […]

  11. Richard said, on October 02, 2007 at 9:32 pm

    Great idea!!

    related suggestion:

    I occasionally keep a log for a whole work day of what I did. Only to the nearest 15 minutes- — and not religiously every day, just once in a while.

    Just looking back at the unnecessary faffing around will refocus me and stop me from wasting more time.

    If excessive web surfing is a problem, look through your browser’s history at the end of the day. You’ll see how much time you spent each site.

  12. engtech said, on October 04, 2007 at 12:44 pm

    @Richard:

    You’ll like this link I discovered about the Printable CEO. It’s printable sheets for task organization and time tracking.

    http://davidseah.com/archives/2007/01/02/emergent-task-planner-2007-updates/
    http://davidseah.com/archives/2006/12/29/emergent-task-timer-2007-form-updates/

    hope you find them as useful as i do

  13. Patrick said, on February 10, 2009 at 7:39 am

    I think it’s not worth for a download as the 1 minute dialog is annoying to me.


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