Give Yourself a Time-Out!

I had to put Pekoe on a time-out this morning because she was behaving inappropriately, keenly expressing her belief that her needs (something about "belly!" and I think I heard, "rub it! rub it! rub it!") were more important than mine (something about "getting ready" and "work"). While there are differing views about the time-out as a means of discipline, especially considering that the 15-minute hourglass runs to 105 minutes in cat years, it is preferable to Pekoe and I screaming at each other while the toast burns.

I'm a big fan of the time-out for myself too, especially when I'm writing. To fully out myself as a Type A personality by admitting that I've read a number of time-management books: The Power of Full Engagement is the best of that bunch, and its authors share that 90-120 minutes of focus is the natural limit before we humans require rejuvenation (well, what they say is that "shifts of energy" are tied to "ultradian rhythms," but you get the idea). It makes sense, right? Think about how long we can sit in a movie theater before we get fussy: 90-120 minutes! I keep their advice in mind especially when there is much to write and little time (and isn't that why we're all here? To write much in little time?!).

In addition to this hourglass, I have four other timers (and am saving up for the coveted Enso!). My favorite approach is to set one for 90 minutes of writing and then set another for 10 minutes of Something Else, especially if I'm feeling flummoxed or insistent about belly rubs. When I follow this schedule, I can write for more hours in the day, even though my individual sessions are relatively short, and I'm in a much better mood! My favorite time-out activities (dancing, dishes, cats! cats! cats!) reset my brain so I'm ready to sit and write and play well with the others in my brain and on my pages again.

What are your favorite time-out activities? Do you track your writing time? With what? Did you give anyone a time-out today?