How To Stay Focused With Focus Sessions-Pomodoro Technique!

I don't know about you, but sometimes it can be hard to focus, especially if we have been busy. I have an online business and an offline business; I must admit that I'm fairly focused with my offline business. However, I do find when I work online, there can be potentially more distractions if I am not careful! It's great that we can make money online, but there can be many distractions when we are in front of a computer!

Recently, I asked a question to the community; What do you use to schedule your tasks throughout the week? I received some interesting and helpful answers. You can see the question below.

https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/getting-started/what-do-you-used-to-schedule-your-tasks-throughout-t...

For my offline business, I schedule my work into my Google calendar which is also on my smartphone. This seems to work really well as I can use text messaging, WhatsApp and email from my computer, which is how many people communicate with me.

However, for my online business, the scheduling doesn't seem quite so streamlined. For many years, I have had a folder in my documents where I just create a to-do list in a Word document. This has worked, but I would prefer something a bit more streamlined.

One of the members who responded to my question was Jenni; she suggested that I used Google Todolist, where I can also use tasks. The great thing about tasks is that you can mark your tasks as completed, which may sound simple, but it's also quite rewarding!

I know we can have a notepad or a piece of paper on our desks, but personally, I like to have a tidy desk as I seem to work more effectively. On my desktop computer, I have three monitors, it's absolutely brilliant for carrying out work more efficiently. It may sound like overkill, but I find it leads to much more efficiency.

Tasks can be found on the right-hand side of your Google calendar on a PC and scheduled for a date and time.

Richard also helped to answer my question, which is really helpful. Richard mentioned the "Pomodoro" technique, which I must admit, I hadn't heard of! I had to look it up on Google to find out what it meant.

I have just put the question into ChatGPT, which explains the Pomodoro technique very well.

"The Pomodoro Technique is a time management and productivity method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It's designed to help people improve their focus, concentration, and productivity by breaking their work into short, structured intervals with regular breaks. The technique gets its name from the Italian word for "tomato" because Cirillo initially used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer as a personal timer while he was a university student.

1. Choose a Task: First, decide on the task you want to work on. It could be anything from studying, writing, coding, or any work-related task.
2. Set a Timer: Set a timer for a fixed period, traditionally 25 minutes, which is called a "Pomodoro." During this time, you commit to working on the task with your full attention and avoiding any distractions.
3. Work: Work on your chosen task with complete focus until the timer goes off. Try to make progress and avoid switching to other tasks or getting distracted by email, social media, or other interruptions.
4. Take a Short Break: When the timer rings, take a short break of around 5 minutes. Use this time to stretch, take a walk, or do something relaxing. It's essential to step away from your work briefly.
5. Repeat: After the short break, start another Pomodoro session by setting the timer for 25 minutes and working on your task. Repeat this process.
6. Longer Breaks: After completing four Pomodoro sessions (four cycles of 25 minutes each), take a more extended break of around 15-30 minutes. Use this time to recharge, eat a snack, or do something enjoyable.
7. Continue as Needed: You can repeat the Pomodoro cycles as many times as you want or until you finish your task. The technique helps you maintain focus and productivity while preventing burnout.

The Pomodoro Technique is effective because it leverages the principles of time management, task prioritization, and regular breaks to enhance your productivity. It helps you work in short, manageable chunks, which can make tasks feel less overwhelming and more achievable. Additionally, it encourages self-awareness and tracking of your work, which can help you identify patterns of productivity and areas for improvement.

Many people find the Pomodoro Technique to be a valuable tool for managing their time, reducing procrastination, and increasing productivity. However, it may not work equally well for everyone, so it's essential to experiment and adapt it to your specific needs and work style.

I discovered that there is something called "Focus Sessions" on my PC, I guess Apple may have something similar. I must admit that I am finding the "Focus Sessions" really useful, and it helps to keep me focused. I would often set a timer on my phone to give myself a given time to carry out a task! However, it's much better to have everything on your PC.

The Focus Sessions can be adjusted accordingly, but the recommended focus session is 25 minutes. I guess that this may vary from person to person. Focus Sessions can be adjusted from between 10 minutes and 240 minutes. Personally, I like to give myself enough time to complete a task, unless it's an extra large task.

"Focus Sessions", suggests that you move away from your computer and do something completely different for five minutes. I will often carry out tasks that take over an hour, however, I will then step away from the computer and do something totally different. Like a few push-ups, putting the kettle on, talking to the wife, but just do something totally different!

I have created some training below to demonstrate the "Focus Sessions".

https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/training/how-to-stay-focused-with-focus-sessions-pomodoro-technique

Perhaps you could let me know your thoughts and let me know how you keep your focus when you're in front of a PC. I could go on a lot more, but I will stop here!

Thank you for reading.

Roy