Time Timer

My Time Timer came today.

So far, I love it.

I ordered it because I've always been drawn to Time Timers in special needs catalogues, and because The Organized Student, by Donna Goldberg, says students need to be directly taught what time is.

That struck a chord. Like your basic middle schooler, I don't really know how much time any given task takes to do, either.




my problems and welcome to them

One of the Stupid Things I've been doing for — oh, the last year or so — is going to bed too late because I start doing math too late, and can't stop.

Many people would look at this problem and say, "Why don't you start doing your math earlier?"

Good question.

For some reason, I always plan to start doing my math earlier.....and sometimes I do do my math earlier.

But then, somehow, even when I do start my math earlier, I still end up going to bed too late.

This is why I need a Time Timer.



how long is a nap?

OK, so there I am, sleep-deprived & sitting at my desk facing massive piles of Stuff that needs managing.

And I'm tired.

I'm so tired I obviously need to take a nap, BUT I don't take a nap because I DON'T HAVE TIME TO TAKE A NAP....

And so, tragically, I remained rooted at my desk, getting nothing done, because I'm too tired to get things done but I don't have enough time to take a nap because I have too much stuff to get done, etc.

So today, contemplating my groovy new Time Timer, I decided: let's just SEE how long it takes to take a nap.

I took it upstairs with me, set the dial for 30 minutes, got in bed & went to sleep.

Fifteen minutes later I woke up.

Fifteen minutes.

That's not very long.

I can easily spare 15 minutes to take a nap when I'M NOT GETTING ANYTHING DONE ANYWAY.



why do I need a Time Timer for this?

In theory, I could use an ordinary analog kitchen timer, as Google Master pointed out.

Sure, a Time Timer has obvious advantages.

A Time Timer is almost silent; a kitchen timer ticks loudly.

A Time Timer has no alarm when time runs out; a kitchen timer is designed to blast you out of your skin.

Still, these are details. There's no logical reason I have to have a Time Timer instead of a kitchen timer.

Except: the very fact that I have not been able to bring myself to use a kitchen timer as a Time Timer is undoubtedly evidence that I belong to the class of persons who would benefit from the purchase of a Time Timer.

(key words: environmental dependency; frontal lobe function; ADHD ... in case you were wondering)



snippets from the Time Timer materials:

"Since using the Time Timer, my meetings have never been more efficient or effective. People actually want to attend because I don't waste their time."
- Corporate Department Head

"...perfect idea for people with alzheimers disease who constantly ask their caregivers 'how much longer' type questions..."
- Family Member/Caregiver

"I have seven students (six with autism and one who has Downs Syndrome.) I like using the Time Timer with my students because it does not disturb the others, some of whom are extremely noise sensitive."
- Special Education Classroom Teacher

"The Time Timer really helped me keep track of time at my AP tests."
- High School Student