I love the work I do. My head is always full of new ideas but there are not enough hours in the day to bring them all to fruition. So why am I constantly distracted by the tiniest, most unimportant things? Why do I procrastinate?
When I’m training or working from clients’ offices, I’m completely focused and the day passes incredibly quickly. I often forget to eat! The problem seems to be when I’m left alone, procrastination strikes.
When working from home, it suddenly seems vital that I tidy up, put the washing out, have too many cups of coffee, eat whatever is in the kitchen and spend far too long on the internet and Twitter. Needless to say, I’m about to hire office space. But my children are still young so I have to work from home as well. How can I be more productive?
I have found one tool which has helped me enormously. The Pomodoro Technique. A pomodora is a tomato, as in a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato. When starting an activity, a timer should be set for 25 mins. Nothing else, but the activity, is to be done during this time. Most things can wait a maximum of 25 mins. At the end of the 25 mins an X is marked on a sheet of paper and a 5 min break is taken. The process is then repeated. After 4 x 25 mins, take a longer break eg 15-30 mins.
If you remember something that needs doing during the 25 mins, write it on the piece of paper and forget it until the next break.
This technique was designed for studying and goes into a lot more detail but I prefer to use it in this simple way. It is an amazing way to get things done.
Firstly, I often don’t want to start things because I think they will take longer than the time I have available. If I know I only have to commit to 25 mins, I will get the project started and often carry on, in 25 min chunks, until it is done.
Secondly, I find it is easy to stay focused for 25 mins. In fact it passes very quickly. I usually use the 5 min break to read emails or glance at Twitter.
Thirdly, making a note of things that randomly pop up in my head means I can forget about them until later. I can then enter these in my CRM system, to be done on a convenient day.
Fourthly, marking a cross each time 25 mins has been completed is a very basic but extremely useful time tracking system. At the end of the day I can see how I have spent my time and what has been chargeable.
Just one problem remains. I have to remember to set the timer!
Do you have any tips to help with procrastination?
May 3, 2010 at 9:10 pm
[...] A fair amount of my work is carried out on my own. This is when Twitter keeps me company. A funny or thought-provoking quote is posted or an interesting conversation starts, which I can choose to join in or simply listen – just as if I was working in a busy office full of people. A tiny downside is that I have to be careful not to be distracted from my work (see my previous blog Procrastination)! [...]