Discussion Forum > Combining Get Everything Done Bursts with Autofocus
I have read your post. Thanks.
I read GED years ago, and I have used timeboxing regularly since then.
In that book, as I remember, he gives several variations on how to use time limits.
But on this forum, he has given more from time to time.
It would good if all of these were collected, and put together, like the TM systems.
If you search the forum for "Timeboxing" you can find some threads.
There is a thread about "Micro Timeboxing - Forcing little and Often", where there is a post by Mark Forster in which he gives several variations.
Also search for "timed bursts"
There is a blog post "How to Crack a Difficult Task" where he gives another variation.
He has a post somewhere where he starts with 1 minute, and increases it by 1 minute, so 1,2,3,4, etc.
There are threads where others comment on GED, or come up with their own variations.
I read GED years ago, and I have used timeboxing regularly since then.
In that book, as I remember, he gives several variations on how to use time limits.
But on this forum, he has given more from time to time.
It would good if all of these were collected, and put together, like the TM systems.
If you search the forum for "Timeboxing" you can find some threads.
There is a thread about "Micro Timeboxing - Forcing little and Often", where there is a post by Mark Forster in which he gives several variations.
Also search for "timed bursts"
There is a blog post "How to Crack a Difficult Task" where he gives another variation.
He has a post somewhere where he starts with 1 minute, and increases it by 1 minute, so 1,2,3,4, etc.
There are threads where others comment on GED, or come up with their own variations.
January 13, 2025 at 3:11 |
Mark H.
Mark H.
@Mark H. Thank you! I did find some of these posts before I wrote, but not all. I agree that it would be great to have a collection of the variations. I’m thrilled with how my hybrid approach is working for me so far.
January 13, 2025 at 21:02 |
Melanie Wilson
Melanie Wilson
For what it's worth, I asked Perplexity.AI to summarize Mark's time bursts / time boxing methods, and it gave me this:
Mark Forster has developed several approaches to timed bursts and timeboxing, all designed to enhance productivity and overcome procrastination. Here's a comprehensive overview of his techniques:
## Increasing Burst Lengths
This method involves progressively longer work periods:
- Start with a 5-minute burst on a task
- Take a short 2-minute break
- Do a 10-minute burst
- Continue increasing by 5 minutes (15, 20, 25, etc.)
## Pyramid Method
A variation on increasing bursts:
- Work up from short to longer bursts (e.g., 1-2-3-4-5 minutes)
- Then work back down (5-4-3-2-1 minutes)
## Micro Timeboxing
Forster's "Micro Timeboxing - Forcing Little and Often" technique involves:
- Select 3-5 tasks to work on
- Set a timer for 5 minutes
- Work on each task for 5 minutes, with short breaks between
- Cycle through all tasks
- Take a longer break after completing a full cycle
- Start the next cycle, potentially with new tasks
## Flexible Timeboxing
Forster also recommends more adaptable approaches:
- Work on tasks for as long as you feel motivated, then switch
- Start with 1-minute on a task, then increase if desired
- Use timeboxing to get started, then continue if in flow
## How to Crack a Difficult Task
For challenging projects, Forster suggests:
1. Write down the task
2. Set a timer for 5 minutes
3. Work until the timer rings
4. Take a 1-2 minute break
5. Increase the time by 5 minutes
6. Repeat, each time increasing by 5 minutes
## Little and Often
This core principle underpins many of Forster's techniques, encouraging short, frequent work sessions rather than long, draining blocks.
These methods aim to overcome initial resistance, build momentum, and maintain consistent progress across multiple priorities. Forster emphasizes experimenting to find the approach that works best for each individual.
Mark Forster has developed several approaches to timed bursts and timeboxing, all designed to enhance productivity and overcome procrastination. Here's a comprehensive overview of his techniques:
## Increasing Burst Lengths
This method involves progressively longer work periods:
- Start with a 5-minute burst on a task
- Take a short 2-minute break
- Do a 10-minute burst
- Continue increasing by 5 minutes (15, 20, 25, etc.)
## Pyramid Method
A variation on increasing bursts:
- Work up from short to longer bursts (e.g., 1-2-3-4-5 minutes)
- Then work back down (5-4-3-2-1 minutes)
## Micro Timeboxing
Forster's "Micro Timeboxing - Forcing Little and Often" technique involves:
- Select 3-5 tasks to work on
- Set a timer for 5 minutes
- Work on each task for 5 minutes, with short breaks between
- Cycle through all tasks
- Take a longer break after completing a full cycle
- Start the next cycle, potentially with new tasks
## Flexible Timeboxing
Forster also recommends more adaptable approaches:
- Work on tasks for as long as you feel motivated, then switch
- Start with 1-minute on a task, then increase if desired
- Use timeboxing to get started, then continue if in flow
## How to Crack a Difficult Task
For challenging projects, Forster suggests:
1. Write down the task
2. Set a timer for 5 minutes
3. Work until the timer rings
4. Take a 1-2 minute break
5. Increase the time by 5 minutes
6. Repeat, each time increasing by 5 minutes
## Little and Often
This core principle underpins many of Forster's techniques, encouraging short, frequent work sessions rather than long, draining blocks.
These methods aim to overcome initial resistance, build momentum, and maintain consistent progress across multiple priorities. Forster emphasizes experimenting to find the approach that works best for each individual.
January 13, 2025 at 23:37 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
Fantastic idea to ask AI. I’ve not used Perplexity.
My approach of starting with a writing time block followed by 10-20-30 bursts choosing tasks from lists worked brilliantly for me. In the past I have tried theme days or assigning full hours to various areas and it did not work.
How are you, Seraphim?
My approach of starting with a writing time block followed by 10-20-30 bursts choosing tasks from lists worked brilliantly for me. In the past I have tried theme days or assigning full hours to various areas and it did not work.
How are you, Seraphim?
January 14, 2025 at 2:20 |
Melanie Wilson
Melanie Wilson
Hi Melanie!
Glory to God, doing well, surfing the chaos. :)
Have two grandkids now!
Nice to see you posting here! How are you?
Glory to God, doing well, surfing the chaos. :)
Have two grandkids now!
Nice to see you posting here! How are you?
January 14, 2025 at 17:17 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
Love "surfing the chaos." :-) And so exciting about having two grandkids! I don't even have an engaged child yet, but it's fine. The kids are all well and happy, so I am thankful. I am enjoying my work too.
January 17, 2025 at 2:27 |
Melanie Wilson
Melanie Wilson
I will publish Amazon reviews of both, but I want to say how brilliant I think they are. As someone who uses story to teach in my own writing, I was crazy about the fairy tale in GED. If you haven't read all of Mark's books, I suggest you make doing so a resolution.
Now on to the topic. I was most excited about using bursts in my work day because it addresses my primary problem: feeling like I'm neglecting important business and life areas as I attempt to focus on the "priorities." With GED's burst approach, I can rotate through all these areas during the day.
When I gave it the first try, I didn't remember that I was supposed to have chosen specific task(s) for each area, after which I would be done and the time allotted to the area would be reset at 5. Instead, when a life area was ready for a timed burst, I scanned my digital to-do list for that area to see what I wanted to do. At the end of the day, I was in awe of how much I'd accomplished in multiple areas--including things I'd procrastinated doing for ages.
For my second attempt using bursts, I started where I'd left off with longer bursts and had preplanned tasks. I still accomplished a lot, but it wasn't as exciting. After reading through this forum, I realize why. I wasn't using an Autofocus approach to the tasks in each area anymore. It still worked, but I can see where it will eventually feel like a schedule of doing X minutes on preplanned tasks. I would likely burn out on it.
I am excited to revert to what I did at first, using an Autofocus approach to the task list in each area. Autofocus was the most addictive approach of Mark's for me. I will likely use a morning time block for writing going forward as I don't have resistance there. But everything else will be actioned in this way. If there's nothing more I want to do in a category on a pass, I'll skip it and drop it to the shortest timed burst.
If you're interested in trying something similar, I want to be clear that I have cut my commitments as GED recommends, and I'm working from a shorter "day" list for each area that I plan daily (not a master list). I noticed that when it came to personal categories, I used more of a Dreams approach where I didn't use the list every time. I just did what I felt like doing. In this way, those categories felt like breaks. When a family or home task interrupted me, I just counted it as an out-of-order burst for that category.
I'm also going to experiment with10-20-30 bursts that reset daily. I love that Mark gives us so many alternatives to try. That also reduces resistance to using this approach.
Blessings to you all!