What is Timeboxing?
Allocating a fixed time period to a task or activity, then stopping when the time is up.
Timeboxing is a time management technique where you allocate a fixed, maximum amount of time to a task — then stop when the time expires, regardless of whether the task is "done." It's used in personal productivity, agile development (sprints), and meeting management.
How timeboxing works
- Define the task — Be specific about what you'll work on.
- Set a time limit — 25 minutes (Pomodoro), 1 hour, or even a full day.
- Work with full focus — The constraint creates urgency and reduces procrastination.
- Stop when time expires — Assess progress, then decide next steps.
Why timeboxing is effective
- Parkinson's Law — Work expands to fill the time available. Timeboxes create healthy constraints.
- Reduces perfectionism — You can't endlessly refine when there's a deadline.
- Makes progress visible — You see what you accomplished in each timebox.
- Prevents burnout — Fixed blocks include enforced breaks.
Timeboxing vs Pomodoro
The Pomodoro Technique is a specific implementation of timeboxing with standardized intervals (25 min work + 5 min break). Timeboxing is the broader concept — you can timebox a 2-hour design session or a 15-minute email block.
In practice
Many professionals use menu bar timers like PomodoroBar to implement timeboxing throughout their day — starting a fixed session with one click and getting notified when it's time to stop.