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Letters To Jan
7 New Features in Time Timer iPhone App!
Seven new features will appear in the Time Timer iPhone App next week, giving fans of this visual timer new groundbreaking ways to manage and enjoy their time! See the Pinterest Preview. 
If you currently own the Time Timer iPhone or iPod Touch App, look for this free update in your iTunes soon. New users can download the $1.99 Time Timer App here.
Top New Feature
With this new update, you will be able to display up to four Time Timers at once, helping you visualize time for multiple projects, children or blocks of time simultaneously.
Check out the full new feature list below – features marked with a star * were suggested by Facebook Fans!
All New Features
1. *Name and customize your Timers.
2. *Save each Timer to use again.
3. Run up to four Timers at once.
4. View each Timer full-screen – or see up to four together on a single screen.
5. *Set by touch – or simply pick a number.
6. *Quickly pause, edit and restart your Timers.
7. *Awake Mode: make sure your iPhone doesn't fall asleep while Timers are running!
How It Works
1. From the "My Timers" screen, press "Add Timer."
2. Choose a Timer Mode: Original 60 Minutes, Custom or Clock.
3. Set the Duration, Number of Plays and Options. Save.
4. From any screen, tap the Home icon in the upper-left corner.
5. Select up to four Timers and press "Play Timers."
6. Tap "Play All!"
Check in tomorrow for more updates on the Time Timer iPhone App
Take the Time Awareness Challenge! by Kate Varness of Greenlight Organizing
Take the Time Awareness Challenge
by Life Coaching / Professional Organizer Kate Varness, CPO-CD, MA
The song “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” needs to be changed to “Timers are a Girl’s Best Friend!” One of the biggest challenges for people with ADHD is developing time awareness. Time awareness means matching how long you think something will take with the time it actually takes.
We often overestimate how long things we hate doing will take (dishes, laundry, filing) and underestimate how long things we enjoy doing will take (exploring Pinterest, connecting on Facebook). If your time awareness is low, it leads to chronic lateness, procrastination, feeling bad about yourself, and being out of balance.
The Time Timer is unique because it enables you to see the passing of time as well as hear when time is up. As a busy mom who hates routine household chores, I can tell you that timers are what get me from overwhelmed to done!
If I have been too busy to tackle dishes as they come and am faced with a dirty dish mountain at the end of the day, I set my Time Timer with the sound signal option for 20 minutes. More often than not I glance back at the timer and see I still have time left, or I hear the beep beep and realize that I am so close to done that I am motivated to finish.
How accurate is your time awareness? I have two challenges for you.
Challenge #1:
1. Make a list of tasks you hate doing.
2. Next to each task jot down how long you think it will take.
3. Pick two things on the list to “test” this week.
4. Set your Time Timer with your estimated time, then compare the estimated vs. actual time.
· What surprises you about the results?
· Was it easier or harder than you expected?
· How does using the Time Timer change things?
Challenge #2
1. Make a list of activities you love doing.
2. Next to each task jot down how long you think the activity will take.
3. Pick one activity on the list to “test” this week.
4. Set your Time Timer with your estimated time, then compare the estimated vs. actual time.
· Did things go as you expected?
· What was different?
· How would using the Time Timer help you to keep your time more balanced?
Once you realize the value of developing your time awareness, you will begin to use your Time Timer to keep focused on both beloved and despised activities. You can get a lot done in 20 minutes. Take my Time Timer challenge and find out. Then you too will be singing “Timers are a Girl’s Best Friend” while you get those dishes sparkling clean.
Kate Varness, CPO-CD, MA
Certified Professional Organizer specializing in Chronic Disorganization
Organizer - Speaker - Life Coach
Green Light Organizing
"Helping you navigate the busy road of life."
More information at www.greenlightorganizing.com
Or call (309) 251-2646
Time Timers for the Bathroom! 10 Ideas
Time Timers for the bathroom? Really? You bet.
Last week, Time Timer fans shared some surprising stories at the OCALI Convention in Columbus, OH and the ASHA Conference in San Diego, California. They had originally purchased Time Timers for special needs therapy – and discovered funny uses for the bathroom too!
"Oh my gosh, My Time Timer is like my toothbrush. I HAVE to have it every day!"
says Canadian author and speaker Jennifer Krumins. She isn't the only one!
Top Ten Fan Tips ~ Time Timers for the Bathroom:
1. Girl Glamour Time:
I have three girls. One of them is ALWAYS in the bathroom! Hair. Makeup. Nails. Everything! So, we got a Time Timer with a blank face, and put each girls' photo on it, spaced every 20 minutes. In the morning, we set the Time TImer for 1 hour. The red disk elapses showing whose turn it is. No more arguing over the mirror. Thank my lucky stars I found this.
2. TIme Zone Routines:
I travel for business. Sometimes I'll speak in two different time zones on the same day. When I'm in a hotel I'll set my Time Timer in teh bathroom and go through my morning coffee/shower routine. You'd be surprised how well a routine can wake you up, even when your body thinks it's 2 a.m.
3. Pampering
When I'm relaxing in the tub and my loud phone alarm goes off, it scares the relaxation right out of me. Your Timer has just a soft little beep. It helps me quiet down for the night.
4. Rewards
Our college sorority house has 23 women. 23! We trade chores for bathroom time. The more housework you do, the more minutes you get in front of the mirror every morning. The bigger my red Time Timer disk, the better!
5. Shorter Showers
I saw this tip on your Facebook. We have a 15-minute shower timer on our iPad. You're right, it really did lower the water bills!
6. 2-Minute Smile
My grandson got 4 cavities. OUCH. Now, he sets a 2-minute Time Timer on his iPod Touch to brush his teeth!
7. Comfort for an Inclusion Student
I have a special ed student in my class. Every day when he arrives, he comforts himself by spending a little quiet time in the bathroom before joining the class. I started setting his Time Timer in the bathroom. First, I gave him 10 minutes. Then, every few days, I'd give him one minute less, until he needed only a few minutes. He's made such great progress!
8. Double Time
Potty training my twins... it's all about taking your time!
9. Quick Clean
I do a 4-minute wash & organize every night. Waking up to a sparkling clean bathroom is such a relief in the mornings.
10. Boys Boys BOYS!
Any Mom of a 3-year-old son will tell you boys need baths ALL THE TIME! My boy knows he can't leave the tub until the red timer is gone. Now if I could just get him to DRY OFF before he goes running around the house! AAAHHH!
Try your Time Timer for the bathroom and tell us what you discover!
