none

Busy? Me too. Yet if you’re like me, you want it all and you’re always thinking ahead, looking for ways to make your life more enjoyable and productive. Problem is, where do you find the time to work on your new voice over career?

In this week’s Inside Voice Over, I’ve got some great advice.It’s from a very busy friend of mine Julie Steinbacher, an elder law attorney and mother of three. Julie developed a method she calls ‘Chunk It’ where she divides her time into focused 90 minute blocks of productive activity.

Here’s how it works.

Face the facts
Let’s be realistic here. The day will never come when you’ll have long interrupted stretches of days or weeks to work on your voice over career. To start getting real results, all you need is 90 focused, uninterrupted minutes a day to work on your voice over career. But the key here is that time must be focused and uninterrupted. I believe anyone can find that time. Get up a little earlier or go to bed a little later. Turn off the TV. Order take out dinner once or twice a week. And then make the commitment to sit down and do it.

Ramp up Time
All tasks require ramp up time to get focused and gather your thoughts. When you switch from one task to another, you waste precious time getting ready. 90 minutes is just enough time to get focused and really get some work done.

Optimal Concentration
Brain research shows that 90 minutes is an optimal amount of time for your brain to focus. After that it starts to get tired. In fact, researchers recommend that for optimal concentration, we take a short break every 90 minutes or so before returning to our desk for our next 90 minute chunk of time.

No Interruptions
When working in a chunk, nothing should disturb you. Don’t go to the bathroom, don’t check email, don’t answer the phone, don’t talk to family members. This is a completely uninterrupted chunk of focused time. According to Julie, anything can wait for 90 minutes. Your productivity will really soar when you discipline yourself this way.

Use a Timer
Stick with your task and don’t leave your seat until the bell goes off I’m always amazed at how much I can get done in 90 focused minutes when I concentrate this way.

Hang in there!
An author recently completed a book in only 6 months working in 3 uninterrupted 90 minute chunks of time each day. She started early, finished work by 3 PM and still had time to go for a run in between two of her chunks.


Want to use this article on your website or your own ezine?

You may absolutely share this article with people you think may enjoy it. When doing so, please forward it in its entirety and include the following: Susan Berkley is a top voice over artist and founder of The Great Voice Company, a company devoted to teaching great voices around the world how to become successful voice over actors.