Author: Lizette Volkwyn
Do you get easily distracted when you should be working on a task? Work/Break Block System (WBBS) – The Productivity Secret You Will Love! Do you find yourself taking breaks more frequently than you know you should? Do you sometimes spend too much time working on a task and then get totally burned out before […]
Do you get easily distracted when you should be working on a task? Work/Break Block System (WBBS) – The Productivity Secret You Will Love!
Do you find yourself taking breaks more frequently than you know you should?
Do you sometimes spend too much time working on a task and then get totally burned out before finishing it?
I decided that it was high time I shared one of my ‘coaching secrets’ with all my subscribers and contacts: “The Shulem Work/Break Block System” or “WBBS” for short.
I created this concept almost two decades ago and hundreds of my clients have used it to become more productive. This was long before I had ever heard of ‘The Pomodoro Technique’ and his idea! My Work/Break Block system takes that idea a couple of steps further. Here is how it works.
STEPS:
Everyone has a different amount of time that they can sustain an activity: Your Threshold. This means you don’t stop to respond to a text, check social media, get a drink, or get lost in thought. You are able to stay ‘on task’ fully and get something useful done. YOUR threshold is the amount of time you can consistently sustain an activity without needing or taking a break of any sort. Keep in mind — that amount of time often changes depending upon the kind of activity it is. You might find that you can read a report for 30 minutes, but you can work on finances for 45 minutes. That’s okay with my system. This simply means that your threshold is different for different types of mental activity – and knowing this is super helpful. Take time over the next few days to be aware of how long you notice you are able to sustain an activity. Make a note of this.
Let’s say your threshold is 40 minutes — THAT is your WORK block time allotment. Next figure 15% of that time (40×15%=6) – which is 6 minutes and that is your BREAK block of time. So; your personal WBBS formula is 40/6 for that kind of activity. You can calculate your WBBS formula for various activities and use them when you wish.
During the time allotments that you concluded you will take care of the myriad tasks on your list, set the timer for the 40 minutes and get to work. You’ve got this!
Here is the secret sauce to this process: When the timer goes off – you MUST take the break. Set your timer for the 6 minutes and take the break. Your brain will get used to the idea that you will reward it with a guaranteed break if you make use of the WORK block of time first.
This has several psychological effects: a) You are working with a time frame that is utilizing your personal threshold, not some random amount of time which makes it more likely you can finish the time blocks. B) you are promising yourself a break – in which you will have time to respond to a call or text, get a snack, check emails, let your mind wander, etc. which reduces stress, and c) you will not get ‘stuck’ in either time block because using a timer will signify that you are done with each block when it is time to move onto the next block of time.
Contact Us at WeSpeak Global and follow us on Twitter
The articles, video and images embedded on these pages are from various speakers and talent.
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by WeSpeak Global.
On a recent flight, at almost every stop along the way, the airline I had chosen reminded me that I was flying with “the best” So can you over-compliment your CX. Airport signage told me…the CEO appearing on the pre-flight safety video told me…the flight attendant announcements told me…well, you get the picture. The problem […]
‘Quick! The business is dying! Find me the humblest possible consultant to solve the problem!’ as Experts don’t disqualify themselves. Author Allen Weiss makes this tongue-in-cheek point in his book, ‘Million Dollar Maverick.’ And it’s a good one. As we strive to position ourselves as top-level experts in our industry, a demure and deferring persona […]
One of the most common buzzwords of 2022 on how to Create a Working Culture has to be the word ‘feedback’. My sense is that leaders and managers for the most part want to get better than this, and it could therefore be a major goal for 2022. As you might expect however, there’s a […]
LONG LIVE THE COMFORT ZONE. It’s been getting a bad rap for years! Popular activities for team-building include exercises to help teams think outside the box, workshops that force us outside our comfort zones, seminars are designed to inspire attendees to embrace discomfort in the name of personal growth … the list goes on. As […]
Problems, obstacles or roadblocks of some kind inevitably pop up on the way to our goals. I was recently reminded of a story about a dog and rabbit that exemplifies that oftentimes, problems may not be exactly what they seem to be on the surface. It takes courage to look deeper, even though it might […]
Do What You Love Lie as Fabulous Aussie group The Hilltop Hoods just released a new single called “Show Business” and after being on high rotation at my place, it really got me thinking about Do What You Love. (You can check out the song here) No matter what you do are there are always […]
BEING MINDFUL OF MINDSETS and The Power of a Growth Mindset by Grant Driver In July 2019, I experienced one of the most significant and yet most daunting moments of my career as a professional speaker. I had been invited by Discovery Healthcare to present a 3-hour workshop to thirty Neurosurgeons on my research into […]
“How you see yourself determines what you see for yourself, Are You Externally or Internally Driven?.” Veli Ndaba – ‘The NeuroEngineer’ Self-esteem represents an overall evaluation of oneself – the extent to which one feels positively rather than negatively toward oneself – and views oneself as a person of value and worth. Contingent self-esteem is […]
Our Mission
© All rights reserved 2025. Created using VOXEL THEME
