How (And Why) To Use The 52/17 Rule To Boost Productivity

All it takes is just one email, a single Facebook notification, or a Like on your latest Instagram post to distract you from your work.

Once you’re distracted, it takes a long time to get focused and go back to work.

I know this better than anyone because I used to face this problem almost every day. It’s something you have to deal with when you’re working from home.

People working at an office can at least stay focused on the work at hand out of the fear they have for their boss. But for a freelancer working from home, procrastination is an ongoing war.

Thankfully,  I’m no longer procrastinating. And I’m slowly becoming more productive. Thanks to the 52/17 method.

I found an effective new strategy to boost my productivity. And if you’re like me and have trouble focusing on work, you might want to give this strategy a try.

What Is The 52/17 Rule?

I’ve tried all the methods.

I’ve tried using lots of browser extensions to keep me from visiting time-wasting websites. Tried the Pomodoro Technique. I’ve tried timer apps. And even tried scaring myself to stay productive by setting terrible deadlines. Of course, some techniques worked for a while but nothing lasted long.

While searching for new productivity hacks, a few months ago I learned about this new strategy called The 52/17 Rule.

It’s nothing special. This strategy works the same way as the Pomodoro Technique. You simply set your clock to work 52 minutes and then take a 17-minute break.

Simply put, it’s working at short bursts and taking more breaks.

I’ve been using this strategy for a few months now, and it works every time.

Why I Use It?

The 52/17 strategy solved a big problem I had with the Pomodoro Technique.

As a writer, I have to keep working whenever inspiration strikes. But, when using the Pomodoro Technique I was only working 25 minutes at a time. That time slot was too small for me to produce effective results.

As it turns out, working 52 minutes straight with no distractions helped me to keep my focus on the task at hand while looking forward to the 17-minute break I’m about to be rewarded with.

Does It Really Work?

This brilliant strategy has worked wonders for me.

I’ve been able to keep better focus while working, finish more articles at shorter time periods, and I even managed to add an extra client to my schedule thanks to my high rate of productivity.

In fact, I’ve managed to write a few extra chapters of my book as well.

How come this strategy is so effective? According to a study done by The Muse using a time tracking app, 10% of their users were able to get more work done by doing short bursts of work while also taking more breaks.

Why? Because during that 52 minutes, you’re working with better focus and purpose. And then taking a short break boosts up your energy to go another round. In a way, it’s simple science.

Why Should You Use It?

Most people think that freelancers make money by just sitting in front of a computer and clicking on a bunch of websites.

They don’t know about the hard work we have to put in every day to get results.

You have to clean your house, cook meals, take kids to school, and spend time with your family while also managing time to do your work. People going to office jobs have it easy.

Staying focused at work during that small amount of time we have each day can be difficult without a proper strategy. You’re probably having the same issue right now.

The 52/17 Rule has been a time-saver for me so far. And I’m sure you’ll find it useful too.

How To Get Started

There are no complicated steps to get started with the 52/17 Rule.

A decent timer app is just what you need to get started. I use an app called 5217 on my phone. This app has been designed specifically to follow the 52/17 Rule and it even allows you to disable phone notifications during the 52-minute work period.

Apple users can try this app with a little bit of customization. A simple timer app should also be enough to do the trick.

Bonus: How To Avoid Getting Addicted to Your Phone

Lately, I’ve found myself getting addicted to my phone.

Whenever I was taking a break from work or even when I’m watching TV or in bed, I kept taking my phone out of my pocket and staring at it.

I tried hiding the social media apps or replacing them with other apps, but I kept going back to the same habit.

I’ve found a great app that helped me quit this addiction, it’s called Forest: Stay Focused.

This app gives the incentive to avoid looking at your phone. Whenever you want to focus, you plant a virtual tree in the app. It will keep growing as long as you do not look at the phone. If you unlock the phone, the tree dies.

It sounds silly but it’s actually quite effective. Give the app a try if you have the same phone addiction as I have. The app will help cure it.

Other Productivity Tips

In addition to these digital methods, you can also use other more simpler productivity methods to make the most of your time.

One method that always worked for me is making To-Do lists. I use Google Keep to create lists of things to do and check them off as I complete each task.

Try breaking down your work, projects, or goals into smaller tasks. Then add them into your To-Do list

I also use a Reminders app to create daily and monthly recurring reminders for regular tasks. Like exercising, taking vitamins, paying bills, and even for birthdays of friends and family. Todoist is a great app you can use for this.

Conclusion

In a world full of distractions, it’s now getting more difficult to stay focused at work. People will tell you to work hard, but they won’t tell you the right strategies to get things done.

Hopefully, the 52/17 Rule will be as effective for you as it has been for me.

Leave a comment and let me know if you’ve found this strategy helpful or if you know of any other great methods for beating procrastination.

Image credit: Freepik.com