Daniel Pink's new book, When: the Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, is all about determining the optimum time to act in order to reach goals and achieve results.
Why is timing important?
The way most of us make decisions in the morning is very different from the way we make them in the afternoon. Most people are more willing to carefully consider evidence, even if it differs from conventional wisdom, in the morning, while most of us are more likely to select the tried and true and go with the flow in the afternoon. If you want to convince people to try something new, which time would you opt for? Or if you wanted to convince people to do more of what they were already doing, what time of day would you select?
Will you accomplish more if you work 3 or 4 hours straight, or if you take breaks? And what types of breaks work best? And is it beneficial to take a nap?
It turns out that breaks rejuvenate people and generally allow all of us to accomplish more than if don't take time out (and that goes for children/students, too). What types of breaks are optimal? Being outdoors, spending time with other people (and especially spending time with other people outdoors), exercise, and light snacks are all good breaks. And naps, the absolutely ideal nap is to grab some caffeine (like a cup of coffee), take a 15-20 minute nap, and then go back to work? Naps longer than 30 minutes, while they may help in the long run, actually result in a 10-30 minute trough after the nap. And why caffeine before the nap? It takes 20 minutes for caffeine to take effect, so you get a slingshot effect by drinking coffee and then napping for 20 minutes or less.
Mid-project is also an interesting time, in two different ways.
When groups of people (including students) work on, say a 1-3 month project, there is a preponderant pattern. In the first half of the project, the group gets together, discusses, establishes ground rules, bonds. But they don't generally accomplish anything. But about at the mid-point, someone notices that half the allowed time has passed and the deadline is approaching, and successful groups then go into overdrive and start progressing rapidly.
On many other types of longer term events, there is a flurry of activity in the beginning and a rush at the end, but little actual engagement in the middle.
What are some techniques that can keep motivation throughout a project?
- Setting interim goals with due dates
- Go public with the goals and commitments
- Break in the middle. (This reminded me of a good mystery or video series. Each chapter or episode ends in the middle of a problem. Then the first half of the next chapter solves that problem and builds to the next one, ending before that problem is solved. So when you have a project and you are going to move on to something else for a while, don't stop at a good breaking off point, stop in the middle of something interesting and it will pull you back in.)
- Imagine one or more people who are going to benefit from your work, and let that connection motivate you toward completion.
And for me, one of the more interesting points in the book is the distribution of happiness during one's life. It turns out that people are generally very happy as they become adults in their early 20's. And then their happiness dips, reaching a low about 50 years old. Then it starts rising again, and people are often happiest in their 70's and 80's. For people in their 40's, 50's, and 60's, that gives us something to look forward to. And for you in your 20's or early 30's who are reading this? Look what you did to your parents!
And it's always a good time to check out the discussions that are coming up on Edchat Interactive at http://www.edchatinteractive.org/upcoming-seminars