Want To Accomplish More by the End of the Day? This Will Help

Have you ever gotten to the end of your workday and realized you didn’t accomplish a thing? Most of us have, I sure have.

There may be nothing more frustrating than putting in eight to ten hours of “work” with nothing to show for it.

Over the past few years I have practiced this one thing that has helped me accomplish more in less time.

Here it is…

The 90-Minute Rule

It’s simple really. The 90-minute rule is a strategy where you block off 90 minutes for focused work.

No distractions

No notifications

No social media scrolling

No open tabs

Just focus on one thing, for 90 minutes.

Why 90 minutes?

Because it’s long enough to get something significant done, but not so long that it’s impossible to focus to the end.

After 90 minutes, I would go for a walk, get a drink of water or make a coffee. And after a break, I would be ready for another 90 minute session if I chose.

People have asked me how I found time to write my upcoming book, and the 90-minute rule has been the most effective tool by far.

 

Sure I used other strategies that helped me in the writing process, like using my highest energy time of day (for me, between 10am – 12 noon) or choosing different locations to write. I usually write in my home office as I am now, but I also wrote much of my book at Em’s Cafe (the cafe my wife Kathy and I opened in 2015 and sold in 2021). Apparently cafes have the optimal decibel level for creativity so I took advantage of the space and proximity to me…a 10-ten minute walk and I had coffee in hand and sitting in my favourite chair.

I read that the average office worker gets less than two hours of work done on any given day because of distractions, interruptions and endless meetings. Yikes!

It’s truly amazing what you can get done in 90 minutes if you focus. Just 90 minutes will help you get more done than most do all day. Imagine if you can schedule two or three in one day.

Just a note…

It’s my experience that you can’t just jump into one of these 90-minute sessions without proper preparation. What I mean is, you can’t jump out of bed and move directly into focus mode…at least I can’t.

I start most mornings with a workout, then time reading scripture and prayer, watching a few daily videos for personal growth, before moving on to more focused work. You want to know something? My morning routine is about 90 minutes.

When I book clients back to back, I schedule them 90 minutes apart, so after an hour long session I have time to get up and walk, make notes, and just breathe before the next appointment.

A daily habit of focused work…even on the days when I could hardly write a word…the habit of sitting down, focused for 90 minutes was so helpful. I’ve applied the 90-minute rule to much of my daily routine and it has helped immensely.

So much so, that I’m close to releasing my new book, Vantage Point: Five Perspectives for Living a Better Story.

Do you have a project or task you want to complete? Is there something you’ve been putting off because you just don’t have the time?

Do you have 90 minutes?

I encourage you to experiment with this strategy and see what happens. I will almost guarantee that you will get more done, in less time.

Feeling stuck? Not sure what to do next? Your life not where you want it to be? Life coaching can help. Contact me for a free  45-minute discovery call. Let’s talk.