Set a time constraint to stay focused, bring consciousness to the time you have, and how you use it.

A time box is a fixed period of time spent focused on a specific activity (which is not necessarily finished by the end of the time box).

  • to get value out of the time box, be clear what you want to achieve
  • agree on the duration of the time box and visualize time
  • negotiate and agree to extend a time box before the time is up
  • break down longer activities into manageable time boxes
  • consider frequent review of progress
  • consider choosing someone (the “time keeper”) to help others stay conscious of time

You could time-box:

  • meetings, calls, dialogue
  • tasks
  • experiments
  • an attempt to solve a problem
  • checking emails
  • breaks
  • a longer stretch of work (a sprint)