Build Daily Momentum Using the 10/15 Split

When it comes to daily planning and time management, most people face two challenges in particular:

1. Getting off to a great start at the beginning of the day
2. Letting go at the end of the day

We can change procrastination patterns and the cycle of overcompensating (which leads to burnout) by using a better daily planning system, like the one built into the Daily Planner view in Momentum.

There are a few other time management skills you can develop to enhance your experience in the app. That’s where the 10/15 split comes in.

Essentially you spend 10 minutes at the start of your daily schedule checking in on your task load and planning the day, and 15 minutes at the end of the day checking out everything you’ve worked on so far, to see where you’re at.

Here are the basics to help you use this strategy to build a more effective time management routine each day:

The 15-Minute Check-Out

If you’re new to this process, try starting with the 15-Minute Check-Out, because it serves two purposes:

1. It is a visual reminder that your goals are achievable, and you have made progress.
2. It makes it really easy to get started with your 10-Minute Check-In the next day.

We usually have a better perspective on our workday at the end of the day than at the beginning of a new one. You have a firmer grasp on what you did and didn’t do on your daily task list, and you have a good idea of the next steps you need to take.

It may feel like your stress levels are higher at the end of the day, but the mental cobwebs that cloud the beginning of the day aren’t there. That means your workload will feel lighter and more achievable (especially once you see how much progress you made).

Keep these questions in mind to help guide your 15-Minute Check-Out:

1. What did you accomplish? (celebrate!)

Acknowledge what you did do, rather than just focusing on what you didn’t do. Always, always, always celebrate what you accomplished during the day, because it matters!

2. Is there anything that you need to do right now to be able to disengage?

Prioritize the most important tasks in your inbox and on your To-Do list that have to happen that day. If you’re thinking of starting one last project at the end of the day, think about your actual time limits, and how it might affect your work-life balance. What would really happen if you didn’t start right away? You’d be surprised how many different tasks can wait until the next day.

3. If something didn’t get done, what prevented you from getting it done?

Sometimes these blockers are outside of our control, but other times, like when it comes to distractions — like unexpected phone calls, or social media or text message notifications that led us astray — it’s within our ability to look at that frankly, and assess how we can create a better time management routine for tomorrow.

The 10-Minute Check-In

If you start the 10/15 Split with the 15-Minute Check-Out, you’ll spend less time planning, because you’ve done most of the hard work ahead of time. All you have to do next is wake up the next day, and do what you told yourself you were going to do.

Here’s how to guide your 10-Minute Check-In:

1. Has anything significant changed between now and your last check-out?

It’s definitely possible for things to change in the span of a few hours, that might affect your plans the next day. For instance, your kids might get sick, and you’ll need time to take care of them that wasn’t accounted for. Maybe it comes down to multitasking, or finding related tasks that you can prioritize instead, to ensure you have enough time to feel satisfied later on. Use your 10-Minute Check-In to help you adjust things and rescale the day’s events.

2. What did you plan for today?

Review the plan you made yourself the day before, during your 15-Minute Check-Out. It’s here that you’ll realize how you probably had a better idea of what you needed to do today when you did your check-out, than you do right now (or at least until you’ve had that first cup of coffee ☕).

3. What is one thing you are going to start on right now?

This step is all about setting the intention to focus on this “one thing” for your next time block, rather than shuffling through a few projects and not making any real progress on any of them.

Even if you’re looking to finish simpler admin tasks, plan on how you’re going to process things like emails and voicemails – maybe you’ll look for a few key messages that are relevant to what you need to do right now, rather than just jumping in. Check your inbox and your To-Do list for those things that have to happen today.

Give the 10/15 Split a Trial Run

Good time management comes with practice and routine, so if you haven’t found a reliable way to build daily momentum in your workflow, give the 10/15 Split a trial run for five days. If it doesn’t work for you, then, worst-case scenario, the amount of time you’ve “wasted” is less than two hours.