The Time Chunking Method: A 10-Step Action Plan for Increasing Your Productivity

by Damon Zahariades

“时间分块法”是当今流行的时间管理方法之一，学生、公司经理、企业家、家庭主妇都用这个方法提升效率，保持活力，为自己赢得更多空闲时间，这些你也可以做到！保证高效运用这一方法的关键在于将它和自己的工作流程结合，本书将教你怎么做：步骤1：列举说明时间分块法将如何改善你的生活步骤2：如何使用时间分块法步骤3：如何让时间分块法与生活相融合步骤4：如何克服落实时间分块法过程中的困难步骤5：时间盒与时间分块法步骤6：提升工作效率必须提前知道的事步骤7：行动起来，和倦怠感说拜拜 “时间分块法”是当今流行的时间管理方法之一，学生、公司经理、企业家、家庭主妇都用这个方法提升效率，保持活力，为自己赢得更多空闲时间，这些你也可以做到！保证高效运用这一方法的关键在于将它和自己的工作流程结合，本书将教你怎么做： 步骤1：列举说明时间分块法将如何改善你的生活 步骤2：如何使用时间分块法 步骤3：如何让时间分块法与生活相融合 步骤4：如何克服落实时间分块法过程中的困难 步骤5：时间盒与时间分块法 步骤6：提升工作效率必须提前知道的事 步骤7：行动起来，和倦怠感说拜拜 步骤8：休闲活动做什么，总清单来支招儿 步骤9：拓展工具箱，寻求优化 步骤10：拒绝纸上谈兵，赶紧行动起来 本书比任何你读过的书都要更详细地介绍了时间分块法，给你一个易于上手的时间管理全面方案！

Genres: Self Help, Productivity, Nonfiction, Business, Personal Development

131 pages, Hardcover

First published July 14, 2015

Reviews

[Emma Sea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been mainlining Zahariades's books like popcorn. I find his voice so encouraging.

[Todd Dosenberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never finished a book in one setting or 2. Or 3. Until this book. And I've read hundreds of books. Sure, this book is sort of short at 99 pages but damn. I've been going back and forth with the pomodoro technique over the past year or so. My gut says to keep going but I always lose control of it. It's a bloody challenge for me to take a break once my timer goes off even if I know a break would help.

Reading this book gave me the confidence to run with it and dominate the pomodoro technique like never before. I've never heard of Damon Zahriades before but can not wait to read more of the books he's writing. I'm stoked to send him an email and connect with him.

Cheers!

[Helly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just google Time Chunking instead.

[Tomungo X · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gets people focus, school work special projects everything can be applied with this technique. I usually use this to help me get to my reading goal of 52 books per year. Sometimes i fall behind, but to really apply it, and to really be strict with it, it will be super beneficial and it works. I just dont have the discipline to do it all the time.

But thats the thing anyone who has super discipline and super focus usually and will maintain to be successful or close to it. Being consistent and super motivated is key. But this book will help people get to their goals, and keep the house clean along the way!

[Dawn Hattenbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good premise

Now with more and more of us working from home, it’s important to get up and move around. And to separate work time from home and family time. So, increased productivity during the day is a must, and keeping our brain from being overly tired at night is helpful. I haven’t put this into practice just yet, but it certainly seems practical and achievable to stay really focused for the time chunk to earn the break. There were also some ideas on what to do and not to do during breaks, which was helpful.

[Benjamin Cribb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical Guidelines and overview

This book was very easy to read in a single session. It gave details and guidance as to what the time chunking method consists of and how it can be implemented. The book also provides resources and ideas to consider when implementing. I can see this as a great resource in helping with those struggling with time management and/or project management.

[Michelle Yip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick Book that I can finish in less than 2 hours!

Damon gave very clear instructions on how we should adapt the system to our suitability and not us trying to force ourselves to adapt to it.

[Sulaiman Algharbi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is great. it provides practical steps to start taking control of your time. manage it very well using the subject Time Chunking Method. The book is written at great focus on only practical steps away from all unnecessary wordings. It reflects a true challenges that the author and many people have when managing their time. I truly recommend it for reading.

[Jeff Ezell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Productivity plus

Covered many other tools to use along with the variety of Pomodoro options discussed. No fluff coverage of etools and even physiological aspects of keeping you body and brain tuned up.

[Book Chui · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not too shabby. Gets the point across in bite-sized chunks. Packs more value than the price of the book itself so by that alone, it gets 3.5 to 4 stars in my book.

[Remo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aunque está lleno de paja para poder clasificarlo como libro corto y no estrada de blog larga (véase The Dip para comprobar que la idea no siempre funciona bien), este libro ofrece unas cuantas buenas ideas.

La base es la conocida por todos: parte tu día en trozos que llevan un intervalo de minutos obligatorios de descanso al final. Por ejemplo, tres veces 256 minutos de trabajo con 5 minutos al final: 3x[25+5] y luego otro intervalo de 25 minutos de trabajo pero al acabara 15 minutos de descanso, no 5.
Durante cada uno de esos descansos está prohibido trabajar (hay un capítulo entero que de da ideas de cosas que hacer, desde pasear al perro a pagar facturas, -¿estos americanos desprecian consistentemente la domiciliación bancaria?-), y durante los 25 minutos de cada intervalo tu atención tiene que estar laser focused, fully and undivided en la tarea que te traes entre manos. Sin distracciones, internas o externas.
Muchas veces no empezamos una tarea porque mentalmente empezamos a hacer una lista de todo lo que implica y nos da pereza/miedo. Esto nos dice que basta con dedicarle 25 minutos y al acabar habremos triunfado, esté como esté. Eso anima a hacer cosas.
Si 25 minutos es poco para ti, puedes alargarlo y hacer intervalos de 50x10, o 50x10 + 40x10 + 30x10 y luego empezar de nuevo, el libro anima a entcontrar el intervalo de tiempo óptimo para nuestro carácter y nuestro trabajo.
El autor critica el método GTD (didn't work for me) pero luego mete morcillas a lo largo de todo el libro sobre cómo el GTD te aporta en varias de las cosas que él habla. Y tiene como sistema favorito a Evernote, que es mi caso.
Más que un libro que te cambia la vida es una lista larga de cosas, muchas de las cuales son muy aprovechables.

[Melanie white · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally ! Where have I been? I have been going crazy. Now this gives me hope!

Damon thank you for your to the point book on how to manage one’s time and work with more focus and your suggestions on how to achieve one’s goals!
I too have started a new business from home and these last 2 years I have lost sleep, feel like I am on a hamster wheel, and sadly not much to show for what I thought I was getting done!
Now after reading your book, I am going to practice these principles. Not perfection, mind you practice! I will use what works and leave the rest behind!
A must read for those with their heads spinning! Well written and easy to follow. I call this type of writing, “ landing the plane! He gets to the point without the ‘ fluff”. A+

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Time chunk

I will try the time chunking method and see how it helps. I think it might be more realistic for me to take 50 minute chunks and then a break. I can see myself doing the 25 minute chunk for housework. I am a therapist and often have 60 minute sessions back to back. It may be challenging for me to do chunking daily. I felt slightly stressed while reading the book but I understand the importance of breaks and self care. He also recommends apps to help with time management. I think simplicity is better and seeing a visual to do list and limiting the use of technology can actually allow me to get more things done. His to do list book really helped me organize my lists and I can focus on prioritizing much easier.

[Michael Berezny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Step by Step Guide!

What I loved about this book was that it actually gave you a blueprint to follow. I already implement the chunking method into my workflow, but I started becoming inconsistent with it because I was feeling “burnt out”.

When he explained that part in the book, it reminded me of the importance to stick to the schedule, as well as take time to recharge! Sometimes I just try to grind it out and my next day isn’t as productive because of it.

Even professional athletes have coaches to continuously fine tune their skills and improve on them, so this book was perfect for me to rethink my current work schedule and get back in the flow of things! Highly recommended.

[Jerry King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise and usefull

I have read many productivity books, some short and some forever long. That being said I have to give this book lots of credit for being just the right mix of quickly covering the chapter subject and not going into a long story or multiple stories about how the writer learned the subject. I did notice that there were some almost repeat sentences in the summation of chapters, even some on the same page, but that is more of an editing problem. This is an effective tool to truly increase your productivity, I even started using the method to read the book and not loose interest. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who would like a way to increase productivity.

[Stephanie Launiu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a perennial time-management junkie. I've tried so many different types of planners, systems and read many books on the subject. Damon Zahariades' book has helped me the most at this time in my life. Time-chunking just makes sense. And it will help others like me who are easily distracted when we just need to get some work done. One thing I like about Zahariades is his common sense approach, and his advice not to go overboard with time-management apps on your phone and computer. Sometimes we can get so involved in tracking ourselves that we waste valuable time. I read the Kindle version of the book and glad I did. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to accomplish more in the course of their day, at the office or at home.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need a time management plan?

Then this book will certainly help you! Damon advises on many different versions of productivity boosting methods and focuses on the best of the best. You always are encouraged to adapt what he covers to suit your own needs. There’s something for everyone here. The options are many. He is also very helpful with examples. I would have enjoyed learning more about successful low tech implementation of the time chunking system. Great overall! Thanks for making this guide.

[Ashli Auguillard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read!

I found this book helpful as it pertains to time management. I struggle with optimizing productivity. The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I would have liked it to expand more on how to stay on track when dealing with necessary distractions. As a person in the entertainment industry, turning my phone off for hours or ignoring my agent's calls isn't going to end well for me. I'm sure there are many other "on call" industries in which people need to re-prioritize as spontaneous needs erupt. Definitely recommend the book though.

[Ben Worthington · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basic and rambling

I struggle to understand who find this pamphlet (“book” would be stretching things here) useful. The most useful is the basics on time chunking which ironically the author notes as an aside (there are lots of asides) he almost omitted. The rest of it is a jumble of trite tips like do exercise, get sleep and, when you get a 5 minute break, make coffee. Presumably there are no overweight tea drinkers who are in anyway productive.

Really, this is pretty thoughtless stuff.

[Katy Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful

This book is an easy read and is very helpful in explaining how to time chunk. I started time chunking and am a big fan it has helped me become more productive and helps me manage my time so I no longer waist my time getting sucked down a worm hole on Netflix or my phone... I have also found that I have more time in my day because I am organized and able to complete my tasks efficiently and effectively

[Ryan Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fundamental book regarding time chunking. It shows how to be flexible in your approach to accommodate your individual working style and needs. It also discusses other productivity tips that relate to the time chunking approach to ensure you get the most out of your efforts. Overall it was exactly what I needed. I have implemented the techniques and am already seeing the value in this productivity approach.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time chunking was suspiciously similar to pomodoro method.. so I was a bit on guard. However, the encouragement to personalize the method, to add time boxing.. a list of what to do during breaks and apps for tracking won me over. The author kept it moving.. and the time spent reading this book will easily be given back to me in time used more wisely in the future. Time well spent for both author and reader.

[Saravanan A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Coverage is whole.

This book has good coverage not only on the method but also details on what are factors that are needed to support the method. Really good and wholesome coverage. I like author's way of covering all related aspects. Comparing Timeboxing with Time Chunking. How to use them complementing. Similarly stress and burn out diffence. It's a true action guide. Must read for anyone want to improve your productivity indeed life.

[Alex Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to implement

I enjoyed reading the book because it sticks to the point. I believe I’ll use this method and tailor it to time frames that work for me. While reading the book I already have a list of tasks I need to complete. I found the book motivating to read and like the author says the most important thing to do is take action and implement the strategies. Thank you for having this be easy and simple.

[Mazvita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read but great info

I am glad the author reminded me to write this review because I always forget to review books. This was a work read! I finished it in 1 setting. As a busy mom with a fulltime job, 2 part time jobs and a business, I found this book to be refreshing. I learned practical tips that I believe will help me get things done. I look forward to implementing these things

[Jeffing · Rating 4 out of 5]

after the first few chapters I was ready to give it 2 stars at most because I got the book for advice on implementing the time boxing method that I've heard Cal Newport praise, but this time chilling method was just the pomodoro method. however, the author does have a chapter on time boxing and even how to use it in combination with this time chunking method. most of the rest of the book is periphery fluff, but it was still insightful.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive and best mini-book...

This was a very comprehensive and, by far, the best focused topic mini-book I've ever read. The sections were focused and thus efficient to read. And the topic was covered thoroughly including preparing for the obstacles to executing. Now it's my turn to do it! :-)

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Productivity Guide
I really enjoyed this book for the practical approach in managing 'Time Chunks'
It covered a variety of different topics that I could implement into my own systems and processes and was very helpful in creating a strategy to work towards my goals and be more productive and also evaluate and track my overall progress

[Hussain Abbas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick guide on time chunking and not much else

This is a guide on how to use the time chunking method that is meant to be read quickly one step after another. It doesn't go into depths of anything but broadly (or superficially) covers various tricks on how to remain productive with this method. If that's what you want, great. This is probably going to be helpful to you. Personally, I found it too prescriptive for my taste. I ended up ignoring most things in the book but there were enough valuable inputs to keep me going.

[Arsh Shaikh · Rating 5 out of 5]

for change of mindset

Thanks Damon for writing the book. No need to think twice on the topic or need to do any research on it. It's a complete guide to boost your productivity. Have already applied after reading about it in your other book. I found it very useful. I recommend everybody who is devastated to waste their precious time.