How to make the most out of your three-hour work cycle

Tired and agitated, Sara got ready for bed.  What had happened to the day?  She had woken up fresh that morning, ready to have a productive day.

During breakfast, Sara’s assistant called to alert Sara that she wouldn’t be in to copy the reports for the next day’s meeting.  When Sara went to make copies of her presentation, the toner cartridge was low, the paper jammed and the machine ran out of staples. When Sara reviewed the copies, page 17 had been skipped by the machine.  Sara’s lunch appointment cancelled while Sara was waiting in the restaurant.  After lunch, she couldn’t get on-line to do some research.  Then Ron, a co-worker, came in and complained about his weekend for half an hour.  What went wrong with Sara’s day?  Sara was unable to get a work cycle completed.

A work cycle consists of selecting an activity, doing it, achieving some internal satisfaction for the work, then selecting the next task.

When we experience this cycle of “choose-do-return to order-satisfaction, then choose again”, we create a powerful success cycle with feelings of accomplishment and contentment.

When we are having a productive work cycle, we’ll say we are “on a roll”.  We go from task to task, choosing progressively harder tasks as time allows.  On those high achieving days, we feel unstoppable. 

Then there are the days when we get off to fits and starts because we are interrupted, don’t have enough time to complete a task before another commitment, or we lack the necessary supplies.  How that trip to the hardware store can sabotage the best efforts for a productive workday. 

Most of us, even small children, have a built in three-hour work cycle.  We might contrast and compare it to our sleep cycle.   When we know we have at least three hours of uninterrupted time, we will tackle a multitude of jobs and enjoy doing it.  If our time is interrupted, we may not even try to start anything.  “It’s not worth the effort, or I don’t feel like doing anything,” we might say.  Sound familiar?

When given a regular three-hour period, children (and adults) learn to tap into a success cycle.  After accomplishing a series of short and familiar tasks in a ninety minute time frame, a child will choose a task that is challenging and represents “true learning.”  At this ninety-minute mark there is a period of restlessness that lasts about ten minutes, until the choice for the challenging activity is made.  The new activity may last for sixty to ninety minutes.

Here’s an example of a recent Saturday morning three-hour work cycle for me.  Not very glamorous but I was on a roll.

Clean kitchen, 15 minutes.  Start laundry, 15 minutes.  Make phone calls for appointments, 20 minutes.  Vacuum, 20 minutes.  Feeling of restlessness, What should I do next?  Cup of coffee, 10 minutes. Balance bank statements and pay bills, 90 minutes.   

Here’s an example of a four-and-a-half-year-old’s work cycle that I recently observed.  Work puzzle, 10 minutes.  Build with blocks, 15 minutes.  Water plants, 20 minutes.  Sweep floor, 10 minutes.  Number counting cards, 15 minutes.  Walk up and down steps, 5 minutes.  Talk with dad, 10 minutes.  Do 100 piece puzzle, 45 minutes.  Practice tying shoes, 45 minutes. 

 When we have achieved a three-hour work cycle, normally we are eager to begin the next cycle.  Productive adults have two to four work cycles a day.  Children under the age of five usually have one work cycle a day.  Around five, children will start a second work cycle if given the opportunity.

The gift of uninterrupted time gives us, children and adults, the opportunity to engage in our own powerful three-hour work cycles, creating personal success in learning, concentration and independence. 

Maren Schmidt is a Blue Ribbon News special contributor who writes about child development issues in her weekly Kids Talk ^TM columns. Maren founded a Montessori school and holds a Masters of Education from Loyola College in Maryland. She has more than 25 years experience working with children and holds teaching credentials from the Association Montessori Internationale. She is author of Building Cathedrals Not Walls: Essays for Parents and Teachers.  Contact her at maren@kidstalknews.com or visit MarenSchmidt.com.  Copyright 2011.

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  Kids Talk / Parenting by Maren Schmidt, Maren Schmidt, parenting, three hour, work cycle