I’m experimenting with a meditation timer on my iPhone as way to help me concentrate on writing. (I’m using SUZU Meditate.) So far, it’s working really well.
Here’s how it works. You can set the program to ring a bell at the end of a set period – say 40 minutes – and a bell every five minutes in-between.
If I sit down at my computer to write something and I work solidly for 40 minutes I can get a lot done. A lot! But the problem is that I get easily distracted by things – Facebook, writing blogs, tinkering with iTunes, etc. etc.
The little five minute bell reminds me that time is passing. It helps me bring my attention and focus back to the work in hand.
Then when 40 minutes are up, the big bell rings and I go make myself some more tea.
My only gripe: I’d love to find a PC equivalent of this program so I don’t need to have my iPhone on all the time. (There are some meditation timers here but they only have bells at the end.
See my other tips on how to concentrate on writing.
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I use Cool Timer. The default sound is an annoying claxon (although I’ve become fond of it), but it doesn’t have a minute bell. You can replace the claxon with any sound. I frequently motivate myself with timers. I usually use 20 minute chunks of time (that’s about how long my maximum attention span is unless I achieve flow; if that happens, I keep working).
What a splendid idea. I’m making one for you right now.
Looks interesting! I find meditating to be quite helpful.
You maybe interested in these two articles:
http://successbeginstoday.org/wordpress/2006/09/the-power-of-48-minutes/
http://successbeginstoday.org/wordpress/2007/01/goal-setting-strategy-the-4-12-48-solution/
These inspired us to design it into our groupware email client for daily task management.
I have been looking for a program that I can run while I am anywhere, from my PC. I was only able to find websites so far. This site is my favorite. It has two great sounds and a variety of settings (start/finish, intervals, time of day) when the different sounds will play.
http://www.mindfulnessdc.org/bell/index.html
Only a few hours later, but I came across this and thought you would like it:
http://www.dartfrogmedia.com/timer/
The link at the bottom allows the user to download the program for the desk top. It has intervals of random sounds and a countdown.