After my walk this morning I came home and popped in a tape and started to do some aerobics. As I was watching the three instructors who take turns doing a different routine for three minutes each I thought, “I just can’t do this”, I wanted to stop. I looked at the clock and I knew it would only be eight more minutes to the end of this routine. I knew I could keep going that much longer because I knew exactly when the end was in site.

As a professional organizer I know some days it is hard to get in the mood to organize even when it needs to be done. One tip that has helped me is to set my timer for a certain length of time and organize until it dings. When I organize for women I tell them when the timer rings to stop right then. Take a five minute break and come back to it. That way they won’t get burnt out and will be happy to come back and work some more.

Another reward of setting a timer is we can work to ‘beat the clock’ and in that fifteen minutes we can accomplish more.

How have you used a timer to inspire you?