Try this mock-work mini-lab to explore different ways of working under deadline pressure. The mock-work is simple card sorting using an ordinary deck of 52 playing cards. The 'work' is simple so that you can pay attention to, and learn about how you do the task rather than what you're doing.
First Heat
You sort the cards (and it's not important exactly how many cards you have, just use the same number for each time trial) into books--groups of four deuces (two of hearts, two of clubs, two of spades, and two of diamonds), four threes, four fours, and so on. Try to sort the whole deck in less than 60 seconds. In other words, sixty seconds is the deadline. Use a stopwatch or the second hand of a clock or watch to see how many seconds it takes you.
Get ready, get set, go!
--- --- ---
After you finish, make some notes about your experience and any insights you have.
Did you ever notice a time when it felt like the deadline was closing in on you? Could you work all day long like that? Would there be a tendency to burn out? If so, why? Were there any timeless or really enjoyable spots?
Second Heat
Now shuffle the cards, and do the sorting again. See whether you can beat your time--by getting into it more, not by racing or hurrying against time. Relax, but get totally involved, holding nothing back.
Before starting, 'warm up' by breathing easily, gently, and smoothly through both nose and mouth, with the tip of your tongue on the upper palate just in back of your front teeth. (See Balance Your Breathing for more information.) Continue this kind of smooth breathing as you sort the cards. Once again, time yourself.
Get ready, get set, go!
--- --- ---
After you finish, make some notes about your experience and any insights you have.
Did you ever notice a time when it felt like the deadline was closing in on you? Could you work all day long like that? Would there be a tendency to burn out? If so, why? Were there any timeless or really enjoyable spots? Did the breathing continue smoothly throughout the exercise? How much clock time did it take compared to the first time you did the sorting? What slowed you down? Can you see how the time pressure you felt was related to your increasing or decreasing, moment-by-moment involvement in the sorting? (You could read about different levels of involvement in "Where Does Time Pressure Come From?") What could you do to increase your involvement in the sorting?
Third Heat
Now do a third trial. Challenge yourself to decrease the clock time needed while improving your relaxation, energy level, and sense of well-being. See whether you can beat your time--by getting into it more, not by racing or hurrying against time. Also, see whether you notice how your varying involvement in the sorting is related to the varying time pressure you feel.
Once again, before starting, 'warm up' by breathing easily, gently, and smoothly through both nose and mouth, with the tip of your tongue on the upper palate just in back of your front teeth. (See Balance Your Breathing for more information.) Continue this kind of smooth breathing as you sort the cards. Once again, time yourself.
Get ready, get set, go!
--- --- ---
After you finish, make some notes about your experience and any insights you have.
Did you ever notice a time when it felt like the deadline was closing in on you? Could you work all day long like that? Would there be a tendency to burn out? If so, why? Were there any timeless or really enjoyable spots? Did the breathing continue smoothly throughout the exercise? How much clock time did it take compared to the first and second times you did the sorting? What slowed you down? Can you see how the time pressure you felt was related to your increasing or decreasing, moment-by-moment involvement in the sorting? (You could read about different levels of involvement in "Where Does Time Pressure Come From?") What could you do to increase your involvement in the sorting?
Now you can read about experiences of others' doing this exercise in this excerpt from Results in No Time: "Gambling with Deadline Pressure."
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