Countdown timers

For many people, the only way to finish papers and projects is to have deadlines. Deadlines themselves are not always easy to keep track off. One may note down a conference deadline in the diary and earmark a reminder for a few days before. One could also plan email notifications some days before the impending deadline. This way one cannot ignore the deadline as long as one is checking email regularly. One can post the deadline notification on the office wall or if one is overly obsessed on the fridge!

However, if one is really worried that one can still not keep track of the coming deadline, what would be better than a countdown timer. Such a timer is now easily down-loadable on to your Google desk top and also on your personal webpage or blog.

One can set up the timer with name of the coming event and also a brief description of the event. The size of the countdown icon can be changed and even countdown of other looks can be downloaded via Google gadgets. From personal experience, when one sees the counter, it does give you a spring in one’s step. The image of ticking minutes gives you a sense of urgency.

The only problem I foresee is this sense of urgency should not change to panic. One may tend to upload more than a few countdown timers and then all these ticking icons may make you neurotic. That would defeat the purpose of having everything well planned and under control.