The one item to-do list and the pomodoro method
The human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until the day you fall in love try to multitask.
Multitasking is a lie. The closest we ever get to multitasking is rapid switching between tasks, which actually makes both tasks take longer than they would separately and also not be done as well.
During the last year, the two best tools I have found for time management are followup.cc and the pomodoro method.
First--followup.cc. This simply sets you up to be able to email your future self a task. If you use it right, this means you receive a one item to-do list at the exact moment you will be able to perform the task. Which means once you have written the email to your future self, you can forget the task until it is time. So right now you can focus on, well, right now.
Second, the pomodoro method. This is very simple:
You set a 25 minute timer. Focus for that 25 minutes on the task at hand without allowing ANYTHING to take you off task, even for a second. Then set the timer for 5 minutes and take a break. Check facebook, go to the bathroom, whatever.
Google pomodoro app and you'll find lots of easy apps that automate this on your computer.
And that's it. These two things have changed my life. Now, when it's not my work time and I think of something that needs to be done, I email my future self at the work time that task can be done. Then I forget about it and go back to family time or whatever I was doing.
When it's work time, I focus for 25 minutes at a time and get what seems like 2 hours worth of work done during each 25 minute period. It probably is, due to the lack of constant distractions and attempts at multitasking.
Try it.
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Recent Comments
27
Very interesting not sure it would work for me but it certainly is worth looking into. Glad it is working for you, good luck.
Great methods Jeremy ,I must say I haven't used the cc method but I do use the pomodoro method a lot .Great post.
Rusty
I highly recommend checking out followup.cc. That's part of what keeps me on task during my pomodoros. I know exactly what needs to be done RIGHT now. :)
Jeremy, perhaps creating a monthly marketing report which includes WA stats and facebook stats very useful to keep tabs on business growth ..
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That sounds really interesting, I will give it a go!