[techtalk] Tech-Talk: Increase Productivity with the Pomodoro Technique

Wed Jan 3 13:51:00 PST 2018

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[Pomodoro Technique]<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001nYdmvnNABtjkfSzYoJyiIX3oEblPWwQiG3vpLVaSwy6Ki25Q0i1tyyHIh0Y6VGsUECzsforJ_NSMSARAVYTG4IgyHaq-nkzSm8zg6pGkKbm42SFnK3oKLWQk0F8dJqk9Tbm3gpAX78zJIrSF-BNHMtLL0iIBU-59kbguWHUEGcC67DY7RBBgyRPW-vlk7oQ0Pny-vyFzd11M1cNLO3ZE9zaKkNorDRUx1R0oUvT6fxc=&c=pHVMRTTXNV7c8nTm-cBDxUulDC28Q4Zgg_kF0L50reVP4GOMTrU8ZQ==&ch=RUaYJOYd_9Tm501UBEIlpRGjBNCTOgBtQei8MJRYg7YUczFwmY57EQ==>

 This Week's Tech-Talk: Web Tool

1. VIDEO ...  Increase Productivity with the Pomodoro Technique
2. ARTICLE ...  Increase Productivity with the Pomodoro Technique
3. COMMUNICATING ... Listen to Your Inner Voice

NOTE: To view the VIDEO, click here<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001nYdmvnNABtjkfSzYoJyiIX3oEblPWwQiG3vpLVaSwy6Ki25Q0i1tyyHIh0Y6VGsUECzsforJ_NSMSARAVYTG4IgyHaq-nkzSm8zg6pGkKbm42SFnK3oKLWQk0F8dJqk9Tbm3gpAX78zJIrSF-BNHMtLL0iIBU-59kbguWHUEGcC67DY7RBBgyRPW-vlk7oQ0Pny-vyFzd11M1cNLO3ZE9zaKkNorDRUx1R0oUvT6fxc=&c=pHVMRTTXNV7c8nTm-cBDxUulDC28Q4Zgg_kF0L50reVP4GOMTrU8ZQ==&ch=RUaYJOYd_9Tm501UBEIlpRGjBNCTOgBtQei8MJRYg7YUczFwmY57EQ==>. Enter the User Name and Password!

Tech-Talk: Increase Your Productivity with this Simple Technique
Intermediate

I am talking to a colleague about a project I just can't get off the ground. It requires me to spend a lot of focused time at my computer, but I keep getting distracted. She asks me if I know about a very simple productivity strategy called The Pomodoro Technique®.

The idea of this method is to set work time with built-in breaks and strict deadlines to get your work done -- so that you will have a highly focused mindset. Working for longer periods, without breaks, actually decreases your overall productivity. So building in short, re-charging time leads to more focused, and often more creative, work.

[Pomodoro Technique]

The Pomodoro Technique® was created by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980's (based on his book of the same name).

He studied time management and devised this way of working so that you are completely focused on the task at hand -- not checking email, peeking at social media, and other distractions.

The structure of this technique is fairly simple. 1) Plan your work in 25-minute sessions, separated by a short, five-minute break. 2) After you complete four "Pomodori", you take a longer break (about 30 minutes).

In case you're wondering, Pomodoro is an Italian word for tomato. Cirillo named this technique after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer he used to time his work sessions.

Let's take a look at the five simple steps to the Pomodoro Technique®.

Transform How You Work

1. Schedule.
Take a look at your to-do list/project and your schedule. Estimate how many Pomodori (25-minute work segments) you should need to complete the task. Schedule these into your day -- or pre-schedule in your calendar.

[timer]

2. Set a Timer.
Before starting the project, make sure you have everything you need. Close your door, and silence your phone if it is an intrusion. Remove possibilities of distractions if necessary.

Set a timer for 25 minutes. You can use a simple "old school" egg timer, an app on your desktop, or one of these free online tools:

·     https://tomato-timer.com<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001nYdmvnNABtjkfSzYoJyiIX3oEblPWwQiG3vpLVaSwy6Ki25Q0i1tyyHIh0Y6VGsUGlVUKqnB5zq5HXf4R86ZjOQgZzraaZKC89RBJJVXJ5WSzBLA_Q1ck5HsGuHd8UB2wrC_a6vfSm0MupLO0sETxg==&c=pHVMRTTXNV7c8nTm-cBDxUulDC28Q4Zgg_kF0L50reVP4GOMTrU8ZQ==&ch=RUaYJOYd_9Tm501UBEIlpRGjBNCTOgBtQei8MJRYg7YUczFwmY57EQ==>
·     http://www.marinaratimer.com<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001nYdmvnNABtjkfSzYoJyiIX3oEblPWwQiG3vpLVaSwy6Ki25Q0i1tyyHIh0Y6VGsUHI_p3U1_cPC3lyJwAp_zcNywm7QMPh76dkn6Xgd71PfeBQOh5nNeF9-FATG7gaY9-sTNJ0ChNy7_XQJZAWA6yw==&c=pHVMRTTXNV7c8nTm-cBDxUulDC28Q4Zgg_kF0L50reVP4GOMTrU8ZQ==&ch=RUaYJOYd_9Tm501UBEIlpRGjBNCTOgBtQei8MJRYg7YUczFwmY57EQ==>

There are many free and low-cost smart phone apps that work as well.

It is explained that the physical setting of a timer helps you to "commit" to the technique. It may take trying a few different timers before you settle on one that works for you. For example, the sound of a ticking timer may be encouraging (or annoying) to you.

3. Work for 25 minutes.
Work on your task for the first 25-minute block only. Stay completely focused on your goal for that time frame.

Take notes at the end of the time period that you may need for your next work segment. Allow yourself to get completely "in the zone."

You can bundle smaller tasks to fill the 25 minutes. For example, your first Pomoroi for the day could be time spent responding to email. If a single email will take more time, schedule a 25-minute segment for it later in the day.

[take a break]

4. Take a 5-minute break.
You might ask why work sessions and short breaks? Studies have shown that taking regular breaks can actually enhance your focus. Your brain needs this time to take a break too and get re-energized.

Get up and stretch, have a snack, get a drink of water or refill your coffee mug.

Just let your brain shut down for a brief time to re-charge -- but keep it to 5 minutes.

5. Continue working.
Work for a total of 4 work segments (with 5-minute breaks in between) and take a longer break --15-30 minutes. Usually, this is time for a meal.

Use this technique throughout your whole day, or to jump-start special projects and tasks that need complete focus.

[Pomodoro Cycle]

Parkinson's Law states that Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion. So if you need to finish a project "by the end of the week" -- it just may take you that long, doing a little bit here and a little bit there throughout the week.

But if you use the Pomodoro Technique and assign focused blocks of time to complete a task, chances are you will be more successful at reaching your deadline in that assigned period.

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Communications: Inner Voice
A few minutes of calm

Listening to your inner voice is something we could do more of, don't you think?

In the article above, the productivity technique requires a five-minute break after 25 minutes of work. This could be a great time to check-in with your inner voice.

Here's One Way
·     Close your eyes
·     Count backward from 10 to 1, relaxing as you go.
·     Be still and listen

Another Helpful Site
·     Maybe on another break, you want to listen to gentle waves
·     http://www.donothingfor2minutes.com<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001nYdmvnNABtjkfSzYoJyiIX3oEblPWwQiG3vpLVaSwy6Ki25Q0i1tyyHIh0Y6VGsUzAmyT0rGKVISV0dFcxea3ZMBoYzuapOChAfp1-t04BbryPNJ5QPeJGU8Ilq0KuNmk9U5-6_GnEymbAwHu4Kbl5wMXgiZW5Pq&c=pHVMRTTXNV7c8nTm-cBDxUulDC28Q4Zgg_kF0L50reVP4GOMTrU8ZQ==&ch=RUaYJOYd_9Tm501UBEIlpRGjBNCTOgBtQei8MJRYg7YUczFwmY57EQ==>

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