4 ms·

The "Pomodoro Technique" works for me. http://pomodorotechnique.com/get-started/#how http://pomodorotechnique.com/get-started/#how I don't do all the extra stu

The "Pomodoro Technique" works for me. http://pomodorotechnique.com/get-started/#how http://pomodorotechnique.com/get-started/#how I don't do all the extra stuff with time-tracking that the full method goes into; I just sit for a bit and make a little list of a few Things I'd Like To Do Today, with 6-8 checkboxes (for the total list, not each task) next to them, each representing a 25-minute block of work. Then I take the timer sitting on my desk (it's shaped like a cute ladybug, and has had everything after the 25 minute mark painted over, whimsey is important), wind it up, and start working on one of those things. When it dings, I stop for a break. Get up and stretch, go to the bathroom, get more water. Maybe get right back to working on what I was doing, if it needs more work and I'm excited about it; maybe work on one of the other things because I need a break from that thing, maybe just fuck off and take a longer break for lunch/slacking off/whatever. There are ways to do this entirely in software, but I find I like the physicality of winding up the timer and having it sitting there on my desk ticking away. And all that said, (a) I haven't been doing this lately, (b) I've procrastinated on my taxes until the last minute. Which is pretty much today I guess, ugh.

markyc 11y ago
do you track how many pomodoros you do each day? do you have a daily target?
- egypturnash 11y ago
  No. Unless "having a pile of post-its kicking around my desk, each with 6-8 checkboxes and 2-6 of them checked" counts as "tracking". Yes, usually around 4 of the 6 or so I write down at the day's start.
codecamper 11y ago
I've been mixing pomorodoros with walks outside. Lots of programmers die young and I think too much time sitting is the culprit. Sedentary standing may not help. Plus, if you can walk outside in nature, there are recent studies that show your brain just figures things out then. You can use the walk time to work out what you have been working on. If you don't need to work it out, then listen to a podcast, or have google text to speech read you your HN articles that you have sent to pocket.

markyc 11y ago

do you track how many pomodoros you do each day? do you have a daily target?

egypturnash 11y ago
No. Unless "having a pile of post-its kicking around my desk, each with 6-8 checkboxes and 2-6 of them checked" counts as "tracking". Yes, usually around 4 of the 6 or so I write down at the day's start.

codecamper 11y ago

I've been mixing pomorodoros with walks outside. Lots of programmers die young and I think too much time sitting is the culprit. Sedentary standing may not help. Plus, if you can walk outside in nature, there are recent studies that show your brain just figures things out then. You can use the walk time to work out what you have been working on. If you don't need to work it out, then listen to a podcast, or have google text to speech read you your HN articles that you have sent to pocket.