Timeboxing - Is it useful or overhyped?

Billionaire Elon Musk and many other successful people swear by the timeboxing method. But what is really behind this time management technique? In this article you will find all the information you need to know about this new method.

What is timeboxing?

Timeboxing is a time management method in which you literally divide your time and tasks into separate boxes. The idea is that by creating a visual representation of the work ahead, this makes it easily understandable which should help to improve your workflow.

The duration of each box, and what you want to achieve in that time, is defined in advance. This can range from minutes to hours to days!

This method has three steps:

Step 1: Brainstorm. In the first step, take a piece of paper and write down everything which is in your head that you need to do. Write down everything that comes to mind, whatever homework you need to complete, what you have to study, any upcoming tests or exams etc. In this step, you don't need to prioritise these tasks or sort them in any way, you can think of this process as creating a mind map.

Step 2: Prioritise the tasks. Once all the tasks you have to do are written down, you have to decide what you need to do first. Ideally, you should set a realistic number of goals for the day. To do this, try to estimate the time needed for each task in order to make the best use of the boxes.

Stage 3: Effective timeboxing. For this last step, you need to create a visual division of time, like in a diary, to draw boxes around the different time slots. For example, if the task is "finish homework" from 9 to 10 a.m., the window from 9 to 10 a.m. is "boxed" and a "timebox" is created for this task.

Tip: It is useful to use different colours to make the boxes stand out and to get a better overview. You can also link tasks that are related to each other using colours. For example, if you are preparing for a week of exams and you create boxes for each unit you need to revise, you could use different colours for each subject. Or you can create your own colour code, for example red could mean you have a lot to do, orange could mean you have already covered some of the topic, and green might mean you only have to revise once more before you are ready for the exam.

Take breaks

Don't forget to take breaks! Any decent time management method stipulates that you must take enough breaks so you're still in good shape after a few hours of studying. You can find useful articles on the blog about this, for example the Pomodoro Technique. So make sure to set aside some fixed break boxes. You can also fill these boxes with things you like. For example, you could schedule a box to go walking, get an ice cream, or do nothing at all! Having break boxes to look forward to can help you to stay motivated.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of timeboxing?

Advantages:

• Timeboxing is especially useful for people who procrastinate a lot or have difficulties in managing their time wisely. This is because this method forces you to stick to a strict schedule. In this way you avoid delaying the task or perfecting it over and over again.
• It is visually appealing and can help you not to forget anything. You have an overview of everything that is important and you are in full control of all tasks.
• Completing a box is a good motivator, much like crossing off a task on a to-do list. These small successes from time to time help to keep motivated and stick to the plan.

Disadvantages:

• There are no real disadvantages to the timeboxing method. If you make a plan and stick to it, studying will get easier. The only possible disadvantage is that it takes time, but any plan takes time to develop. It is better to invest time in planning rather than working in a chaotic frenzy and getting overwhelmed by everything you have to do.

Conclusion

So, can timeboxing be a useful method or is it overhyped? As is often the case, it depends on the individual. Similar results can be achieved with other methods such as the Pomodoro method, so timeboxing isn't an entirely new concept. People who feel drawn to visual representation, and who perhaps also work better under time pressure, can benefit from this technique. Those who are still unsure should simply try it to find out!