There are days when we are simply stuck and unmotivated. We have too much to do everywhere, but neither enough time nor motivation to get anything done. The result is that we end up postponing or dragging on a task that was supposedly simple and would have taken just 20-30 minutes maximum. But since we find that task hard or uninspiring, or we have been feeling unmotivated and lazy, we keep on delaying this task and end up wasting time. Once the deadline approaches or the day ends, we end up asking ourselves where the entire day went and what did we actually accomplish!  The realization of an entire wasted day can be a real downer.

At times, we may not lack the motivation or time, but we lack having a productivity technique, a strategy or a game plan that can help us have a satisfying productive day.

That’s why I am going to recommend the 20-minute rule in today’s WorthWorkin4 Wednesday blog post as a productivity tip to get the most out of a day.

What is the 20-Minute Rule?

The 20-minutes rule means working with focus and attention on one and only one important task, without taking a break or getting distracted. It is similar to the time tracking Pomodoro Technique.

The 20-minute rule needs no complicated procedure or an app. You just need to consider just two things: Firstly, it simply has to be a task that would take you no more than 20-30 minutes to do under normal circumstances. Secondly, you need to set a timer for 20 minutes on your time before you start that task.

Once the timer starts, get going! You don’t have to be fast! Just give your focus and attention singularly to that task for the next 20 minutes. Don’t stop, take a break, or let yourself get distracted with any other thing! Keep going until you are able to finish it and until the timer dings.

Now, if you have been unable to do finish your task within the allocated 20 minutes then either the task is complicated or needs more than 20 minutes to get finished. This proves that we need to be realistic in planning our time and executing tasks.  We need to realize that the effort to squeeze in and execute complicated tasks in less time won’t make us productive. In fact, this practice can leave us stressed or disappointed with our performance.  

What strikes me most about the 20-Minutes rule is how much we can done in these 20 minutes when we have a clear target and are fully focused to accomplish it.

20-Minutes Rule to Tame the Housework

Homes can get incredibly messy and hard to manage over a period of time. Some days you would just stare at your messy room or house and wonder where you should start from and how much you can actually manage to organize. So many times, I end up leaving everything just as it is due to the overwhelm.

In many cases, 20-minutes cleanup cycles can help you get streamline your household tasks and get at least some of the important things out of the way in lesser amount of time. The only rule you need to follow is to not to take a break in between, start another task, get distracted, or stop in the mid.

Likewise, if you have young kids or teenagers, it is worthwhile to teach them to participate in household chores and learn to pick after themselves.  Here is how to go about it:

1. Gather your kids and assign them tasks according to their age.
2. They can do their own tasks such as, pick up the toys, clean their study desk, make the bed, put shoes away, fold clothes, etc.
3. You can also ask them to participate with you in doing easy household tasks: clear away the couch, clear away the table and clean it, wash dishes in the sink, load or unload the dishwasher, fill the food and water bowls of the pets, dust furniture, etc.
4. Set a kitchen timer for yourselves and them and start with the individually selected tasks.
5. Once the timer stops, you stop. If your kid has been unable to finish the task, encourage him/her to complete it.
6. Praise your kids and enjoy a break.

The 20-minutes rule is not the magic wand to transform your messy and chaotic home into those picture perfect ones featured in glossy lifestyle magazines. But it can help you keep the mess and clutter under control, make everyone in the household responsible and create a more organized and clean living space.

20-Minutes Rule to Tackle Work or Study

Whether you are tackling office work or studying, the 20-Minutes rule can help you focus and get considerable work done, instead of procrastinating or daydreaming. Just pick up a task, such as writing an email, making an important call, following up, filing your papers, creating an outline or writing, start reading an article relevant to your field, etc.  Set a 20-minutes timer and get going. Refine your work in the next 20-minutes slot, finish it and then take a short break.

Similarly, if you are studying, you can select a chapter comprising 2-3 pages and go through it. In the next 20-minutes slot, you can recall what you have read. You can start penning down your assignment. Remember, not to pick up your phone or check your emails during these 20 minutes. If you are reading something, read with speed and challenge yourself to get to the end of it. Similarly, if you are writing, write whatever comes to your mind related the topic and stop only when the timer goes ding. Use the next 20-minutes slot to refine and polish your draft.

To Sum Up

Our present day lives are a complicated mix of work, household work, parenting and hustling. We often find ourselves with unfinished tasks and no time. The 20-Minutes rule is a simple productivity technique to help us make the most of our time. It helps us fix our goals and targets as well as our attention and focus. 20-Minutes rule is not a magic bullet to fix everything in our lives, but it can help us get more things done and make the most out of our existing time.