Feeling Burnt Out? Try This.
Let’s face it- we are all feeling pretty burnt out. Sitting in
front of a computer screen, battling with iffy WiFi connection, is not exactly what we had planned. We are all a little bit out of our element and this can take the productivity out of our work time.
Enter The Pomodoro Technique. This technique has been
around since the 1980’s and has garnered attention for its intuitive time management strategy. Simple but effective, this strategy is based on incremental goals. The steps are as follows:
- Choose a task you would like to get done. What task it is is not important, but it does deserve your undivided attention.
- Set a timer for 25 minutes to work on that task.
- Work for 25 uninterrupted minutes. This 25 minute round is considered one Pomodoro.
- When the timer goes off, put a check mark on your piece of paper to signify completion of your first interval!
- Take a short breather (3-5 mins)! Stretch, grab coffee/tea, use the restroom, get a snack, etc.
- Repeat 3 more times, and after the fourth Pomodoro, take a longer break (20-30 mins). Repeat, repeat, repeat!
The idea behind the breaks in between short intervals of solid work time is that your brain will use this time to assimilate new information and rest before the next round. It is slowly training the brain to stay focused, which increases overall productivity. Instead of looking at time as the enemy, this technique teaches you to maximize time instead of struggling to keep up with it.
Especially given the virtual climate we are living in today, it can be hard to go completely uninterrupted when our phone is buzzing and our computers are dinging every 10 seconds. But The Pomodoro Technique is completely dependent on the continuous and uninterrupted work time – so lock up your electronics if you have to!
Nailing this technique will give you a better work-life balance and help to battle the burnout that we are all feeling! Try it out, and let me know how you like it – jelder@sustainablecfo.com
