From a Pacing to a Practising Mind - How to Accomplish More with Less
Dr. Vikram M.
Entrepreneur, Founder?&?CEO-WordPar International, Localization & Translation Service Providers
The ten-minute rule is a life-altering technique that helps us take control of our time and move towards our goals. What I believed to be a time-management technique offered me greater insights and practical resources towards efficiency and mindfulness.
How I Benefited
When I put these principles into practice, I found that many things I had been wanting to do but putting off for want of time, I was able to do and enjoy with minimum investment of time and effort. Surprisingly I was making not just a little progress, but large strides. It was as if things were getting done ‘in no time’. Books I wanted to read, articles I wanted to write, languages courses I wanted to pursue, and various aspects of my business that needed closer attention, were beginning to get done with seemingly minimum labour.
Implementing this technique freed up my time and uncluttered my mind space. My to-do list shrank, and I had the satisfaction of accomplishing several goals.? The miracle that unfolded forced me to reassess my perception of time. Slowing down helped me become more present and observant of myself.
The Technique
The Ten-Minute Rule
Simply stated, the technique suggests that we work on a project for just ten minutes a day, during which we perform a singular component of the larger task. When the time is up, we bring the work to a close, and by the eleventh minute, move on to doing something else.
The Five- or Two-Minute Rule
On days when we are tired or pressed for time, we can reduce the timer to five minutes or even two. Important is that one must consistently come to one’s work every day and perform even the minutest element of the task.
The One-Day Break Rule
On a day when one is has a burnout, take a day off. Only, making sure that the break does not extend to the second day.
Thomas Sterne’s Principles – The Four ‘S’ words
The ten-minute rule aligns with techniques I read in a book entitled A Practising Mind by Thomas M Sterne. He introduces four ‘S’ words for four simple principles, that can considerably ease our work and lifestyle.
Sterne suggests identifying and breaking down a complex task into simpler components or constituent steps. Say, opening the yoga-mat, stepping on it, or setting up the worktable. Next, setting smaller goals or tasks for a day’s work. ?For example, clearing one drawer instead of an entire cabinet – or writing one sentence instead of an entire article.
The third principle is short, setting aside a little time each day to execute that little bit of the task - ideally only as much time as one can comfortably eke out the day’s schedule. This is where we apply the ten-minute principle.
The last mantra is slow, which in my opinion is the most significant principle. One ought to work slowly – at a comfortable pace which allows one to focus and to pay attention to the job at hand.
How I Think it Works
Power of One: We get overwhelmed by looking at a task in its entirety and decide that it is insurmountable. The natural tendency is to give up. The SECRET lies in identifying the constituents that form part of the larger process. And then engaging with ONE component at a time.
Power of Now: Having removed the pressure of finishing the ENTIRE task at once, one begins to immerse in that LITTLE bit of work. And then, instead of living in the FUTURE accomplishment of the task, one unlocks the pleasure of the process in the NOW. This is of course, much better experienced than explained.
Power of Accumulation: We undermine the significance of small units of work. We believe that a few minutes a day, will make no difference to the task, and tend to shelve it for a better time. Strangely, it is these little droplets of time, however small and insignificant they appear, that accumulate and add value over time to produce (astonishing) results.
Time is a potent aggregator. Small but consistent contributions yield a compounding effect. Drops of water make a mighty ocean.? Our perception of time is limited. The human mind is not easily able to comprehend the layers of events that are embedded between two temporally distant points. And therefore, we fail to see the cumulative value of a few minutes of effort over an extended period of time.
Mathematically explained,
Why I Think it Works
Setting the Ball Rolling – Reinforcing Positivity
By dividing and reducing the immediate task at hand, we take away the nightmare out of it. The burden of a task is divided over several days, making it easier to deal with. This helps us overcome procrastination and take the first step towards a goal. ?The satisfaction of having started is rewarding in itself.
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Quantifying the duration of time well spent, gives a sense of achievement, and motivates us to keep going. A reinforcing loop of achievement, gratification and motivation is set in action.
Duration of Least Effort & Maximum Concentration
The attention span of the human mind is limited. Concentration dwindles and fatigue sets in beyond fifteen or twenty minutes. In applying the ten-minute rule, we work during the time of maximum concentration, while investing a negligible amount of time. The reward is disproportionately more gratifying.
Freeing Up Mental Space
Making progress removes the stress and guilt that come with piling work. Our mental space and time are freed up. We are up to date, accomplished and progressive.
Metaphysical & Philosophical Ideas
Slow is Fast, Less is More
To develop speed, we first need to do things slowly. We have experienced this while learning to type or play the piano, for example.
When doing things slow, we concentrate. Efficiency develops because we lay out our tools and resources optimally. Paradoxically we end up working faster (not at a fast pace) when we slow down. This is because we work without wasting time, our minds are fresh on the job, and we work more efficiently.
Expansion of Time
There is an inherent limitation and anomaly in our perception of time. To the pacing mind, ten minutes are (perceptibly) very little time. Yet, if we set a timer and close our eyes for ten minutes, we will experience time slowing down and stretching. Ten minutes will seem much longer, and we will appreciate that ten minutes are in fact a very valuable unit of time.
Karma-Yogic Perspective
I interpret karma-yoga in two ways. Firstly, with this technique, we enliven the principle of efficiency at work - ???: ?????? ??????.
From a philosophical standpoint, we lower the bar, learn to detach from the goal and focus on the moment and a smaller unit of work..
Then, miraculously, we see things getting done by themselves, and the role of the “I” becomes diluted. Quoting Thomas Carlyle, “Our main business is not to see what lies dimly in the distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.”
Incidentally, we begin to enjoy the process, revel in the progress, and become less obsessed with the outcome, using the goal only as a direction in which to move.
I have personally benefitted in slowing down mentally, becoming more present and mindful. Making a giant leap from a pacing to a practising mind.
Quotes, References, YouTube Links
Ten minutes are “short enough to be manageable, and long enough to achieve something worthwhile”.?
Caroline Buchanan
Thomas Sterner
Image Credit: freepik.com
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