Context boxing
Musing on the Winter Solstice, the power of timeboxes and thinking of other aspects of context
Today is my wife's birthday. I'm writing this within a 15 minute window before we head out for the afternoon. After some present opening this morning I took the boys and the boy dog out for the morning so one of her friend's could give her a massage.
It's also the Winter Solstice. The longest night. The shortest day. The start of Winter.
After today we'll get an extra minute a day. What will we do with those extra minutes? Will they help us? Or does a shorter amount of time actually help us focus?
In praise of timeboxes
It always surprises me what can get done in timeboxes. There's no wonder it's often used in software development, pomodoro techniques, and in a roundabout way Mel Robbin's counting back from 5 to do something.
There's something about the pressure, the urgency, and the awareness that you have decided to devote time to one thing for a set amount of time.
But also, there is the forgiving of self. The relaxing of pedantry and perfection. Because you did it in a short set of time.
A timebox sets useful boundaries. And things (usually) get done.
Timeboxed tidy
I decided to take the kids to the office so I could do some tidying and leave my wife to her birthday massage. After parking up, I paid for 90 mins of parking, so we had a limited time window to get some drinks, sneakily eat the bacon and egg rolls we bought, and get on with the tidying.
The boys went onto their devices, while I quickly used the time to get some stuff out of the office and spill into the co-working areas. Giving me space to sort.
After a bit of tinkering on a teleprompter I hadn’t installed and some kit that I lost some screws on, I started trying to sort some boxes, loose paper and some rubbish that had not quite ended up in the many bins.
Before long, I checked the time, and could see we were running out of our parking time. I quickly chucked stuff back in the box, and put the piles of paper back into the office.
I hadn't done as much as I had hoped, but I had made some progress. And that's enough. Just a little spike of done-ness to make me feel better about the day ahead and focus on my wife and family.
Timeboxed writing
As I get to this point I can hear my wife stirring. I only have a few minutes to finish the piece.
So, I'll wrap up now on one more point.
The construct of the advent calendar challenge has always been about timeboxes. A post / a creation / a whatever a day. A window of time to write whatever is emerging.
I have started many posts that I haven't finished. Published many posts I normally wouldn't bother. And found it a little more stressful than in previous challenges.
One reason might be that last year, and in fact other years where it was really good, I had a short window at the start of the day. When my thoughts were fresh, my focus at its highest.
Last year, I had between 45-60 minutes at a local coffee shop at the start of the day to get it done. And so it got done at the start of the day. Giving me an extra spring in my step.
Context boxing
As I just wrote that last paragraph I realise it's more than time boxing itself. There are more facets of context to consider. Where I am. What music I might listen to. Any caffeine, or meds. What my motivation is. What novelty I can employ. How I feel. Probably more aspects that can have an effect on how effective or productive I might be.
So, it can be worth consider what context boxes might work best for you, for specific challenges, tasks, activities, or whatever.
What aspects of context boxing help you?
What will you do with those extra minutes?
What will you do with fewer minutes?
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I’m Jason Mesut. I help people explore positive futures. For themselves, their organizations, and the worlds they serve. Navigating the uncertainties of their present.
I do this through Creative Coaching, Strategic Consulting, Community Connection, and Shaping Designers.
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