There is a popular term called “fragmented learning”. Many people have invested a lot of time, such as using the time on the subway or in the toilet to study, and have persisted for a long time, but their work level has not improved much. They still need to spend a whole block of time for systematic learning. Why is this?
Most people lack the thinking of classifying time and treat time equally, which leads to low efficiency in time utilization. They feel busy all day, but do not get much done. This is because they do not use time in different ways according to its characteristics. Time can be divided in different ways. Only after we understand the time division methods can we use different time to do different tasks. We can divide time into several categories.
(1) Fragmented time
Short fragments of time with a short duration, such as the time on the subway or bus.
(2) Block time
Refers to a continuous period of more than one hour during which we can focus on something without being disturbed.
(3) Personal time
Time used to handle personal affairs, usually refers to the time after get off work.
(4) Working time
Time spent on handling work matters.
(5) Waiting time
Time spent waiting to complete something. For example, when we are preparing to make a quotation for a customer and waiting for the boss to give us the unit price of each product, this period of time is called waiting time.
(6) Operation time
After we get the unit price from the boss, we start to make a quotation for the customer. This period of time is called operation time.
(7) Single-task time
In a period of time, we only handle one thing. For example, within 30 minutes, we only do one thing, which is the quotation.
(8) Multi-task time
In a period of time, we switch back and forth between multiple things. For example, when we are making a quotation, a phone call comes in. We make the quotation while making the call. Suddenly, the boss wants to find a PPT file that the customer needs. We switch to find the PPT file again and finally come back to make the quotation.
Fragmented time is not suitable for learning and doing important work. Let’s first look at the learning process. The learning process is divided into 7 processes.
Fragmented time is usually only 10 to 30 minutes. In such a short time, the learning process can only proceed to the stage of receiving information or understanding and digestion, and then it is interrupted. The learning process is interrupted, and it is impossible to enter the subsequent stage of solidifying knowledge, reviewing and summarizing, practicing and operating, and deeply understanding. What is obtained is unsystematic, fragmented, and imperfect knowledge. Moreover, without practical operation and in-depth understanding, these fragmented knowledge are easily forgotten, and business skills have not been greatly improved. The time invested is equivalent to a waste.
What can be done with fragmented time?
Fragmented time is suitable for discovering information, filtering information, and collecting information. The whole block of time is suitable for analyzing decisions and systematic learning. For example, searching and counting potential customer websites, potential customer email addresses, potential customer company names, etc., these tasks can be done in fragmented time, while analyzing the background of the customer company, studying the key information of the customer company, establishing a relationship map of the customer company, and writing targeted development letters, etc., require a whole block of time.