Support instead of pressure

I think when people are considering using a timer, they are struggling with getting work done and are expecting the timer to help them to be more productive. I know I did. However I learned that it doesn’t work that way. Or it’s not very healthy when it does. Let me explain.

The timer itself is not magically giving you extra motivation or a push to do something, it’s providing a safe space where you don’t have to do anything besides whatever you planned.

The timer simply protects you from being distracted. It’s an automatic prioritization tool that decides here and now, while the numbers are running, what you should focus on. It automatically renders incoming distractions and notifications unimportant, so you don’t have to spend time deciding if you should react to them. Otherwise, you get more mental load and extra costs of switching between different focuses.

Think of it as a force field around your brain. The timer does not demand a higher productivity standard, it’s not there to guilt you. It wipes the table clean and closes the door, so you can relax, feel the safe space, go at your own pace.

If you set a timer for 45 min, it doesn’t mean you have to work 45 min straight, it means you have 45 minutes to go towards accomplishing the task and do whatever you decide. Take breaks, look out of the window, stand up and stretch, pace around, make sketches, type, research — everything works. Do it because you feel like you need it, rather than because of the distractions from the outside world.

When I use it, I feel like instead of thinking about the plans for the rest of the day, I’m only looking at a 45 min period, which is much easier for my brain to comprehend and spend resources without this fear of abstract uncertainty of a larger time scale.

To summarize, the timer does not determine why and how you work. It’s not your supervisor, it’s your assistant that does not let anyone in your office till the numbers hit 00:00.

Why timer does not motivate

I used to perceive the timer as a push to do what I needed to do. Set the timer → do the work. The ticking clock meant I needed to accomplish something before it runs out.

This does not work in the long run, because it just doesn’t feel good to put pressure on yourself in order to force productivity. It’s exhausting, it’s stressful, it’s disrespectful to yourself and you deserve better than that.

Sustainable motivation comes from your values and desires, not from the artificial constraints and pressure. The timer is just a tool, not a reason to do things. You do things because they excite you, because you feel good when you create something or work in a team that achieves something great.

  • Motivation explained in detail
  • That’s by the way why money is also not a long-term motivator, but that’s another topic that I’ll touch on in Happiness every day
  • Also check out all calendar tips in Many ways to use calendar