No, it’s not that kind of window. Although I’m sure Albert stared out many a window while pondering math, physics and solutions.
Dr. Todd Dewett , noted leadership speaker, wrote a wonderful article some years ago: The Brutal Basics About Time Management. Yes, I’ve heard some say “it’s not time management, it’s you management.” Nevertheless, his insightful article tells of three smart steps that will help you find more effective time management. In our bustling world with software programs, day planners, apps, calendars, and training programs, you ask: Shouldn’t we have it figured out by now? Actually, with all the input we have from a plethora of digital and conventional sources, I think we need all the help we can get. Guess what? The answer, just like great design, happy lives and tranquility comes from simplicity. Dewitt believes all those solutions have made time management overly complex, and he offers the answer in 3 Steps:
- Apply the 20/80 Test: Simply put: some things are more important than others. Specifically, the “20” are the tasks, projects, and relationships that are of the highest value. That “80” are the things not as important. People spend far too much time everyday on the “80” instead of the “20”.
- Identify your Einstein Window: Not a genius? Hold on. Problem solving is mainly about preparedness. And a big part of preparedness is knowing when to work on what. The 20 or the 80? Do you procrastinate doing the 80 instead of tackling the challenge of the 20? Dewitt suggests: You are smarter than that. Think about the time of day when your mental ability peaks. I call it the Einstein Window. For most people it is a two to four hour window each day where problems feel like fun challenges. What should you work on during your Einstein Window? You guessed it – a big chunk of your “20” items. In short, you will train yourself to work on the most important items when your brain is experiencing its peak window. During this time, vigorously resist working on any “80” items!
- Protect your Einstein Window: It’s up to you to protect your precious Einstein time: learn to say “no” to others unless it’s an emergency, shut the office door, take the phone off the hook, turn off the smartphone, and shut down the email program. So many things can distract you. Dewitt suggest trying it for a minimum of 30 minutes. When we cut out all our multitasking, we’ll probably feel more like an Einstein. He even suggests leaving the office with your laptop and doing the work in a quiet place, such as a park.
Now you may say “I can’t do that at my office! That’s not rational!” Yes, it’s doing things differently. But that’s the point.
“I never made one of my discoveries through the process of rational thinking.” – Albert Einstein
It’s all about seriously boosting your productivity, and it starts with simplifying. Simplicity is something Einstein understood. As he once said:
“If you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t understand it yourself.” – Albert Einstein
Einstein Window at Work
