2 Ways to Increase Your Productivity 2

I used to have problems with being productive with my time. I have my day planned out and by the end of the day, I might have gotten through half of it. This was definitely becoming an issue and I began researching about being more productive with my time.

My research led me to two different things that really help me become more productive. One is the Pomodoro technique and the other is an application call Workrave. I am going to share with you how I utilize them to increase my productivity.

Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique was invented in the early 90s by Francesco Cirillo.  He was a developer, entrepreneur, and author. The methodology behind the technique was simple: When faced with a large task or series of tasks, break the work down into short timed intervals (called “Pomodoros”) that are spaced out with short breaks.

The Pomodoro Technique is a cyclical system. You work in short sprints to make sure you are consistently productive. You also take regular breaks to boost your motivation and keep you creative.

Pomodoro Technique in Action

The Pomodoro Technique is probably one of the simplest methods to implement. The only thing you need is a timer. The Pomodoro Technique can be done in five steps:

1. Choose a task to accomplish
2. Set timer (Pomodoro) to 25 minutes
3. Work on the task until timer expires, then put a check mark on paper
4. Take a short break
5. Repeat step 1 to 4 except after every 4 Pomodoros you take a longer break

I found what works best for me is to take short breaks of 5 minutes and long breaks of 20 minutes. The long break should allow enough time for you to feel recharged and ready to do another Pomodoro. So you should not feel like 20 minutes is something to aim for if it does not work for you. Just try to keep the long break no longer than 30 minutes.

Dealing with Interruptions during Pomodoro

When I get interrupted during a Pomodoro I do one of two things:

1. End the Pomodoro and save my work for starting a new Pomodoro later
2. Postpone until the Pomodoro is complete

Which option I choose is completely dependent on the urgency of the interruption. So for me most of the time I go with option 2. For option 2, I use the “inform, negotiate, and call back” strategy suggested by Cirillo. Here is a break down of the strategy:

• Inform the other person or party that you are working on something right now
• Negotiate a time when you can get back to them in a timely manner
• Schedule that follow-up immediately
• Call back the other person or party when your Pomodoro is complete and you are ready to tackle their issue

By doing this, it allows me to keep in the “zone” and it also gives me control over my day.

Workrave

Workrave is another tool that I advise you to use if you do a lot of typing during your day. The main purpose of the program is to assist in the recovery and prevention of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). The program frequently alerts you to take micro-breaks, rest breaks, and even restricts you to a daily limit if allowed.

Sometimes when you really get into what you are doing, you may lose a sense of time. Workrave can help by prompting alerts based on your settings for you to take breaks. Without Workrave, I tend to forget to take breaks often and just code until the day ends. Since I started to use Workrave, I have been less worn-out by the end of the day and there was no negative impact on my productivity. With the breaks, I was definitely working less but yet producing more.

At the moment, the Pomodoro technique and Workrave are the only two things I have put into practice that I found beneficial to me. I hope some of you will find them beneficial to you as well. If you have something that works for you in boosting your productivity feel free to share it. Until next post, take care!

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