One dish at a time

OTAAT applies to things, moments & dishes

TLDR: Timeboxing intentionally is much like washing dishes, one at a time. The tangible metaphor helps us understand the practical benefits of the OTAAT practice.
Word count: 415
Read time: 2 min

Happy New Year! (Remember that ‘year’ is the third most-used noun in the English language, behind person and, of course, time.)

I hope 2025 has started happily for you, today. Note that reviewing 2024 is — as many of us have over the past few days — easy for those with fully or even partially timeboxed calendars — you know what you did and when you did it. So, evaluating that and drawing insights and modifying one's modus operandi becomes possible. More of that - the act of recording - in a future post.

This one's about the dishes. For many, staying in the present moment is difficult to act on. The moments are so fleeting and our concerted effort fishes around haphazardly, ineffectively, sometimes frustratingly. Alan Watts, the British-American philosopher, sought to shine a light on the mysterious notion of the present moment by comparing it to washing dishes.

The stack of dishes that have been washed up is not the focus. The stack still to be done is also not the focus. Both large stacks are overwhelming and not helpful to us right now. There’s just one dish in focus, and it’s the one in your hand. Delight in washing that dish. Wash it well. Observe as it becomes cleaner. Make it perfectly clean. Sing as you wash! But do not allow this wonderful experience to be haunted by the ghosts of dishes-past or dishes-future.

The dish metaphor is helpful because it’s so tangible. We know what a dish looks and feels like. We can grasp it and hold it and move it around exactly as we please. It doesn’t take long to wash and then onto the next dish. Very clear, very simple.

Well, a dish is a lot like a timebox. We know what each timebox is - a period of time in the calendar designated for a task or activity. It needn’t be very long. And for its duration we should be focused on just that single thing. And when it’s done, onto the next. You’re only ever in the timebox you’re in, focused on that well-chosen activity, shielded from the countless distracting calls on your time.

The 20th chapter of Timeboxing is As mindfulness. In less than a thousand words I argue that living intentionally in each timebox is much like what is meant by being mindfully present in each moment. But timeboxing happens to be a lot easier. Timeboxing benefits from the association with the tried-and-tested, age-old appeal of mindfulness. And mindfulness may benefit from the accessibility and practical usefulness of timeboxing. I might have added another chapter, 19b, As dishes, or As the single dish you’re holding.

As you may have noticed, this newsletter is called One Thing at a Time. If that’s too abstract, think of it as One Dish at a Time. It’s all we can do, really, anyway. Just try washing two dishes at once.

Marc

---

Links you may like

7 days of Timeboxing (the free email micro-course)
Timeboxing, the book (US)
Timeboxing, the book (UK)
Timeboxing, el libro (Español)
Connect with me on LinkedIn