Photo by Onlineclock
Time management techniques and strategies are a dime a dozen. We all want to squeeze the living daylights out of each 24 hour day we take for granted.
You may love to play WoW forever. Or you may have a to-do list longer than the neck on that giraffe. But, no matter how hard you squeeze, we’re all equally subjected to the 24 hour day. No more, no less.
That’s where the Pomodoro Timer comes in. Created by Francesco Cirillo during tough study times in college, the tomato timer was his way of freeing himself of “time famine,” as Tim Ferriss puts it in his book “The 4-Hour Workweek.”
Onlineclock.net shares with us the basics of the Pomodoro Technique:
It divides time into blocks of focused work time.
These blocks of time are called pomodoros.
A pomodoro consists of 25 minutes of pure work followed by five minutes of break for a total of 30 minutes.
After four pomodoros the person takes a 15-30 minute break.
The human mind can only stay on task for a certain amount of time before fatigue claims productivity. The Pomodoro Technique’s built-in breaks ensure that work time is at peak efficiency.
The Pomodoro Technique makes use of a daily to-do list.
Tasks for the day are noted in priority and are given an estimated amount of pomodoros for completion. A person sets a timer or an online alarm and begins their task. At the end of 25 minutes the alarm will sound and the task is regarded as temporarily complete. Once the break is done, the person returns to their task.
The next time I come around, you better have that tomato running like an energizer bunny or else..
Let us know what you think about Pomodoro timers and how likely you’ll consider trying the technique.
[via Onlineclock]
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If there’s one thing that software architects focus on more than anything else, it’s clean and clear coding, and ultra performance.
I learned this while working for a Defense contractor, where project after project involved the upgrading of outdated systems and equipment via modifications (software-wise).
Being clear, concise and performing at optimum levels is key to success in various aspects of life as well. Particularly, any employee can benefit tremendously (i.e. more money) by optimizing his/her daily performance and effectiveness at work.
WC Porter hints to us that despite the many small things an employee can do to try to sway a boss to giving her a raise, doing one big thing extremely well can get you to that point much more easily. And that one big thing is being an ultra performer.
Forget about sucking up to your boss or doing favors to get in good with management. It will never be as effective as outperforming the expectations that were set on you.
I’d like to repackage this concept as performance optimization, because if you setup and tweak a system of working effectively until perfection, and follow-through with that system on a daily basis, it pretty much guarantees you outstanding results, and hence frequent raises, promotions, bonuses and the like.
Productivity guru and best-selling author Tim Ferriss teaches a simple technique to staying on the optimum performance track in his book “The 4-Hour Workweek” — making not-to-do lists and setting periodic question reminders that ask something to the effect of “am I spending time focusing on the unimportant?” or “am I doing unimportant things to avoid the important?”
Excessive email checking and idle chat are examples of productivity and performance optimization enemies.
Tim cites a case study in his book that details a computer software salesman having cut down his work hours dramatically (which is equivalent to increasing his per hour pay rate), simply by enhancing his work day by focusing on the important.
This is definitely something that can easily be incorporated in your performance optimization arsenal as well.
So, what one important thing can you accomplish the very first thing at work today or tomorrow that will make the rest of the workday or workweek, much more relaxing and enjoyable?
We want to hear what your thoughts are on this post.
[Wisebread]
photo by [Telerick]
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Time management techniques and strategies are a dime a dozen. We all want to squeeze the living daylights out of each 24 hour day we take for granted.
