This 2000-year-old object will make you more productive than any app

What if you could find a tool that helps you to be more focused and productive without using your phone or computer?

Finding a tool that is actually helpful and not a new distraction is challenging. I tried a ton of them and I couldn’t make them work. But I got an idea a few weeks ago of a new (well old as you will see) tool that works for good.

It is both simple and cheap. No monthly subscription, it won’t drain your phone battery or make weird noises.

The best? It is beautiful and you will love it. (And make others want one!)

Why do productivity apps fail to help you

You see, the problem with productivity app is that they are running on your device. Your phone usually, which is the worst source of distraction.

You will be more likely to keep an eye on your screen and see the notifications. Or worry about your battery charge or think about who you need to call.

There are a lot of aspects of your life attached to your phone. Emotions too.

Knowing that the origin of your lack of focus or your procrastination (and mine!) are emotions, you see how this starts on the wrong path.

You can use your computer as well. Maybe less emotional, it is also a big source of distraction.

How many apps are running and how many tabs are open in your browser? Too many, right? I know, me too.

All sources of distraction because your brain will try to jump at these. Hence the influence of digital clutter and how important it is to reduce it. But this is for another article.

Right now, I think that you are convinced that those tools share the same problem by using the highest source of distraction you can find around you.

So what is the solution? It comes from the past.

How this 2000-year-old tool is a game-changer

To be more precise, it was invented by the Greeks in the third century B.C. More than 2000 years ago. They already felt the need to manage their time and they created a tool for that.

This tool measures how time passes in a simple but surprising manner: by letting a certain quantity of sand flow from one compartment to another by gravity.

Like when you take a handful of sand on the beach and slightly release it by relaxing your grip. You surely experienced that as a child and maybe now you observe your own children do it.

This primitive but reliable technology allows us to measure a specific amount of time accurately and define the subdivisions of the day that we call hours.

This tool is called an hourglass, and it will become your new productivity friend.

How and why?

Very simply, you can use it as you would do with the Pomodoro technique.

You set a defined amount of time during which you don't allow yourself to do anything else than a task you chose. For example, I set a one-hour slot in my day to write this article, and I am not allowed to do anything other than write it. No email checking, no Twitter before the hour ends.

Thus I bought a 60-minute hourglass, and I use it each time I write such an article (and for many other working sessions).

The advantage of using an hourglass compared to a kitchen timer (or, again, a timer app on your phone, as I tried to use), is that it is silent and doesn't distract you. If you listen carefully, you will only hear the subtle sound of the sand flowing. Similar to the white noise used in meditation, for example. Excellent for focusing.

Also, it doesn't ring or beep at the end of the session. So if you are in a flow state, you will naturally continue and stop at the moment which is suitable for you and not imposed by an external (and rude) object.

Why is it much better than any app?

Because it is a specific object dedicated to measuring time and nothing else, it is not an electronic device, not connected to anything.

Pure analogic (very) old-school technology: only glass and sand. (Did you know that glass is made out of sand? Funny when you think about it).

Nothing to distract you.

Bonus: it is also a beautiful decorative object and will make you stand out with elegance. When you can work with class, why do not do it?

Which one should you get and where?

The main criteria of choice are the duration and size. Both are related.

For work, I recommend 30 or 60 minutes. For meditation, it could be a simple 5 or 10-minute model. The 5-minute kitchen type is very easy to get.

Mine is a 60-minute one that I bought on Etsy with personalized engravings. Simple and elegant. Even my wife wanted to use it when she saw it.

Honestly, I had a hard time finding one because they are rare. The 30-minute ones are easy to find.

Be aware that some models don't work very well. Stay away from shiny models on Amazon, for example, that tend to stop before the end. They are decorative only and won't help you.

Bonus: you can choose the color of the sand to match your preferences, your mood, or the decoration of your room.

Takeaway

Forget about the bunch of apps you installed to help you stay focused and travel in time to find the source of productivity in ancient Greece.

Using an hourglass will keep your mind clear, prevent distractions and help you spend productive and peaceful working hours.