Technology for intention?
Do we need any tech to timebox?
TLDR: The main benefits of timeboxing require very little software or gadgets
Word count: 393
Read time: 2
This week, I was asked by a writer for the New York Times (article coming soon) about what tech you need to timebox. There are plenty of options:
AI calendar-optimising software such as UseMotion, Timebox.so, Structured.
Laptops which now include focus features eg Lenovo’s Smart Modes
Smartphones which have for some time built-in calendar and scheduling features, focus modes (eg do not disturb) and usage dashboards
Digital calendars in the cloud (I use Microsoft Outlook and Google Calendar)
To-do lists
I told the journalist that I only use the bottom two from this list. So I do utilise tech (and I don’t just keep a paper to-do list & calendar, say) but not much at all.
I don’t currently utilise any AI tech to set out timeboxes. For me, the process of deciding what and when, and ordering timeboxes relative to each other is an essential part of the process. Furthermore, no app can possibly have all the relevant, personal data (even if it could adequately process them) which will include factors such as your mood, the contents of your very-latest thoughts, whether you have your running shoes with you, how you feel about the order of activity A-then-B vs B-then-A, etc.
The do-not-disturb features of laptops, tablets and smartphones are mildly useful, but so much narrower than the overarching mindset and method of timeboxing itself.
Those cube timers are unnecessary for anyone who has a computer with the time displayed discreetly in a corner. So they’re unnecessary for everyone.
The to-do list is obviously essential for us all too...isn’t it? Let’s just check that (there’s curiously scant data online on this for such a mainstream activity)…
Here are eight ways to-do to-do lists well.
Finally, a digital calendar in the cloud enjoys the hard benefits of being synchronisable across devices, backed up, and comes (essentially for free) with a bunch of additional software (recurring appointments, notes, reminders, week/month/year views, etc). So it’s a yes to that too.
Timeboxing is special. It comes with many, many benefits. And at the same time, it’s so easy. Partly, as argued here, because there are virtually no hardware or software requirements. But mostly because we all already timebox to some extent through the use of shared digital calendars we get from Apple, Google, Microsoft, which we use every single day. So if you haven’t already, try timeboxing today by setting a 15-minute ‘Timebox today’ timebox to recur each morning. Do it now!
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)
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