Pickle Jar Theory

PICKLE JAR THEORY

The Pickle jar theory is a time management theory developed by Simon Willison in 2002.  The theory shows in a simple way how to better schedule your daily activities from the most important to the unimportant things.

Basically, the theory uses a pickle jar as a metaphor for our daily life. Inside this jar, you can find three elements: Sands (less important tasks), the Pebbles (tasks with average importance), and the rocks (the important tasks). 

If you try to put all the sands first, then the pebbles and finally the rocks, probably all the rocks will not fit. It means that if you spend a lot of your day time with unimportant tasks, like WhatsApp messages and social media, you would not have time to achieve all the most important tasks you have to do on that day, the rock tasks. Otherwise, if you fill the jar with the rocks first, then the pebbles and finally the sand, the sand will fit in the lack spaces between the rocks and the pebbles.

This theory serves to make us aware of time management importance. It allows you to accomplish more with less effort, deliver work on time and reduce stress. 

Reference:

• Mulder, P. (2017). Pickle Jar Theory. Retrieved from ToolsHero: https://www.toolshero.com/time-management/pickle-jar-theory/
• Mathew, M.B.E. (n.d.). The importance of Time Management to become efficient in the Workplace.