The 2-10 Method of Integrating Breaks Into Your Schedule
Working in litigation, and specifically defense, I read thousands of pages per week. And no, that’s no exaggeration. In a single day alone, I can find myself in a 1000 page document.
Back in law school, I became a pro at managing to do all my reading without my eyes going blurry. And now, the same method of reading sustains me through hundreds of pages a day. It’s something I call the 2-10 method and it works for any busy schedule, not just long reading days.
The 2-10 method is simple: for every two hours of deep focus, take a 10 minute break. This strategy incorporates breaks into your existing schedule to help shift your mindset on what productivity means, and encourages you to take a different approach to setting up your schedule.
For example, if you’re someone who likes to sprint through writing a motion, this method will encourage you to break the writing out into sections with a refreshed mind before moving from the legal portion to the analysis portion.
Here’s how it works:
Set a two hour timer or a reminder two hours out from when you start a task.
Honor the timer. When the time comes for your break, treat it like any other task on your schedule: it’s not optional.
Stick to the 10 minutes. Don’t allow taking a break to completely break your focus. Remember: the purpose of this break is to clear your mind for better productivity. Don’t fall for slipping into distractions beyond your 10 minutes of committed rest.
What if you can’t honor your scheduled break?
Maybe your preceding task is a call that’s running longer than scheduled. Maybe you’re actively at a trial and not in control of a the schedule. You have options:
Stack your breaks. For every additional hour added onto your task, add an additional 5 minutes to your next scheduled break. Be realistic and reasonable here, but if you end up going 3 hours straight, take 15 minutes instead of 10.
Take a true break when the time comes. If you’re not in control of the schedule, when break time arrives, take a break. No need to read emails, respond to business texts, or catch up on that one thing real quick. Empower yourself to take the break for what it is: a break.
You don’t just deserve breaks, you need them. Next time you find yourself finishing that one last thing before you give yourself a chance to breathe, consider honoring and respecting your health and own time by just taking that break.
