The definition of timeboxing

A box needs four sides

This is the second edition of the One Thing at a Time (OTAAT) newsletter. It will always touch on time and how we use it. It’s short: fewer than 500 words. 

If you like it, I’d especially appreciate feedback and/or your forwarding it to anyone who you think might also enjoy it. If you received it this way, you’ll get one every Wednesday by signing up at https://marczaosanders.com/newsletter. Even-shorter-form content goes out more frequently via https://www.instagram.com/marczaosanders.

---

A book about timeboxing needs a solid definition. When I came to write the book, I couldn’t find one I was happy with, so I created one. Not comprehensive enough. A second attempt. Doesn’t have a nice ring to it. A third. Not right but can’t quite put my finger on why. I’ve lost count of the iterations. Arriving at a crisp, comprehensive definition of a term is hard. 

Before reading on, how would you define timeboxing?

For a while, I’d had an informal, simple definition (shared on Instagram last week) which is good but wouldn’t do for a work devoted to the subject; this definition is about to be translated into more than 20 languages. There was some pressure. Eventually, I got to… 

Timeboxing is the practice of: 

1. selecting what to do, before the day's distractions arise; 

2. specifying each task in a calendar, including when it will start and finish; 

3. focusing on one thing at a time; 

4. doing each to an acceptable (rather than perfect) standard

The first two are about planning. The second two are about doing. 

I think it’s nicer to describe it more casually, as I can in a blog. Plan the timeboxes in advance, with a cool head, in the calm before the storm, so you make good choices. Describe each activity clearly, including how long it will take, in a (digital) calendar. Take some measures to avoid diversions from the chosen task. Get to good enough — most of the time, this will be fine.

Related ideas:

time-blocking = [1] + [2] +[3]

perfectionism = [1] + [3]

procrastination = [1]

single-tasking = [3]

satisficing = [4]

timeboxing = [1] + [2] + [3] + [4]

Can you improve on my definition? If you can, I’d love to hear; the book is still in the late-editing stage (and if your suggestion leads to an enhancement, I will thank you here and in the book).