The thing about productivity hacks is that everyone’s needs are different. You might function better through compartmentalizing, or multitasking, or finding small ways to reward yourself. For people who operate better through visual cues, though, these methods aren’t always effective. Sure, you can write down your daily tasks in a planner, but when that’s out of sight, it’s out of mind—and a written schedule doesn’t do much to keep you on task. So try coloring a clock instead.
How and why to color-code your clock
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First, you’ll need a clock. Think the big, black and white kind that hung on the wall of your elementary school classroom. Here’s one for $22 that will be perfect for your needs here: The numbers are big, the tick marks between them are visible, and it’s otherwise totally plain.
Next, you need a bunch of dry erase markers. (Here are 12 for just under $6.) Finally, you need a dry erase board big enough to be seen from anywhere you can also clearly see the clock. Here’s one for $10.
Start by assigning each color of marker with a corresponding task on your to-do list. If you need to be productive during your workday, maybe blue is for meetings, green is for answering emails, and red is for your lunch break. If you’re a student, each color can be for a specific class. If you simply want to be more productive all day, one color can be for cleaning, another for cooking, and another for commuting or personal tasks. Whatever you struggle finding enough time for—and completing within that time you have so you can move on to something else—needs a color.
Using the color that corresponds with a certain task, draw a slice shape directly onto your clock with the point of the triangle on the center, where the hands connect. Extend it out to overlap the time frame that task requires. So, if you have to study biology and you want to devote an hour to it at 5 p.m., grab the color you use for that class and shade in the pie wedge between 5 and 6 p.m.
On your dry erase board, use the same color to write down a few notes about the task at hand. If blue is for biology studying, write BIOLOGY and a few bullet points of what you want to focus on, and so on.
Why this strategy works
This method is effective because it supplies with a tangible visual reminder of what you have to do and how long you have to do it. When the hour hand is in a section that is colored in, you’ll know it’s time to work on something, and that you have to finish it before the clock’s hands have left that colored wedge (at which point you’ll be behind schedule). There’s no arguing it; you can see it plainly there on the wall.
Wiping off the previous day’s colors in the morning and taking two minutes to apply the marker for the day ahead will help you get in a more focused, productive headspace from the jump. (Just don’t forget to pick a color to represent your well-earned breaks.)