We all have times when our to-do lists seem to outweigh the time (and energy) we have available, and it seems that two kinds of people often emerge from this scenario: those who get their heads down and churn out the goods and those who panic, bury their heads in the sand and procrastinate. 

If you’re in the latter camp, the good news is that you’re far from alone. And while that knowledge won’t help you meet those ever-impending deadlines, the pickle jar theory might. Also known as the pebble jar theory, it’s gaining traction as a way of improving our time management skills and reducing stress and overwhelm. 

Sounds good, right? Keep scrolling to find out exactly what the pickle jar theory is, and how to implement it. 

Never heard of the pickle jar theory? Don’t fret; it’s quite simple. First coined in 2002 by business consultant and author Jeremy Wright, the theory is essentially a time management technique based on the idea that all your tasks are different-sized stones, which are added to the jar until it’s full. 

“The pickle jar theory could be defined as a theory of time management which focuses on balance and distribution of effort and priorities,” explains Eloise Skinner, a psychotherapist and careers coach. “The theory is sometimes referred to as the ‘jar of life’. For the exercise, you visualise a pickle jar, which represents your day. Then, visualise several big rocks – these represent the biggest projects and priorities (tasks with the biggest consequences if not completed). Next, visualise smaller pebbles – these represent important but less urgent tasks. After this, visualise adding sand to the mix – this represents the smaller tasks that are often more administrative in nature (checking emails or notifications, for example). And finally, you can add water – this could represent your personal life or other obligations that underlie your day.”

Importantly, the method shows that there’s only so much space in your day, and regardless of how many big stones you have, you’re not going to be able to fit them all in one jar. You’re going to have to prioritise them or be more realistic and honest about what you can achieve. 

For the theory to be effective, you will need to be skilled in other areas of time management. You’ll need to be adept at prioritising tasks, realistic with when and how long your energy bursts are and honest with yourself about what you’re likely to achieve in any given day. 

“The idea is to layer the items in your day with strategic intention,” says Skinner. “Make sure you have enough time for the bigger tasks before the day is full. Start by identifying your rocks, your smaller pebbles, your sand and your water. Then, plan out how to structure your day to fit each element in, prioritising the bigger elements in your jar.”

Once you have the bigger elements in place, you can fill the smaller gaps with sand, and don’t forget the water – this is your headspace – ie going for a walk. 

It’s not difficult to see that any kind of organisational tool can be hepful when it’s properly implemented. But the beauty of the pickle jar theory is that it isn’t simply about fitting more into our day, and being more productive. 

“In last few years, time management and productivity has shifted from ‘hyper-productivity’ (ie spending all your time and energy on getting results) to a focus on what is really important to you,” says creative business adviser and trainer Patricia van den Akker. “It’s about accepting that we have limited time and energy resources and giving ourselves the freedom to make wiser decisions about how to spend it. We have to make decisions about what is and isn’t possible.”

That said, we have to make time and space for the big rocks, which is why we have to put those in first and work around them. For visual learners, this approach can work really well, and it can also help to introduce new ways of thinking about your workload - which can be super helpful if you tend to procrastinate. 

And for those of us prone to feeling overwhelmed, spacing out our big rocks throughout the week can help us to think more clearly, and see that the time we have available over the course of a few days can often be plenty. But if it looks like it isn’t, don’t be tempted to cram that lid on an overflowing jar – something’s got to give. 

In theory, the pickle jar idea can be useful for most people. That said, it’s important to remember that ideas like this tend not to work alone, something Sonya Barlow, an entrepreneur and founder of LFM Network, has discovered. 

“The pickle jar is a metaphor for life. It reminds us that to fill our jar, we need to focus on the largest, more impactful items, which, when done, we can see results,” she tells Stylist. “The sand is a cool way of visualising distraction, which may look like us being productive in the moment and may bring our human side out, but too much can be gritty and fill up the space with no real tangible hold or value. Either way, this time management tool requires motivation, effort and alignment.

“As someone with ADHD, I have used a modified version of the pickle jar theory to focus on tasks, schedule my day and ensure that I am not only feeling productive but also being productive. I also find that complementing this with working tasks around my energy schedules helps me to align my week, and trains my brain to focus.” 

So it seems with the pickle jar theory, self-awareness is the key to success. There’s little point in scheduling a huge task for 5am if you struggle to get motivated in the mornings. Likewise, don’t cram in lots of rocks on a day when you know you’re going to be tired or stressed by outside factors. 

Ultimately, only you can decide the size and amount of your rocks, pebbles and sand, but visualising your work in this way can help to focus your mind on what really needs to be done. “It’s about realising and accepting that life is limited and short and we need to make decisions,” says van den Akker. “And that’s incredibly freeing.”

Images: Getty