The best productivity hack. Ever.

Hey,

Before we dive into this week’s Museletter:

Would you kindly do me a favor and take this mini survey?

Because I’d love to hear what you’re workin' on. Five min, tops.

With all my heart, thank you!

Now, onto today’s tip.

Summer is coming!

Here in the PNW, that means I need to be inside on my computer less, and outside in the glorious weather more.

This calls for (da da da da...) Project Screentime Optimization!

🦸‍♀️ 

Today I want to share a tool that I’ve taught before, but can’t be overpraised.

It’s the Pomodoro Technique, and it’s here to help you get a lot done in less time.

Here’s how it works.

Decide ahead of time.

- how many intervals you’ll do.

- exactly what projects or tasks you’ll work on for each interval.

Set a timer for 25 minutes.

- Press go, and work straight through those 25 minutes.

- Do not get your butt out of the chair and do not stop working. Period.

When the timer for 25 minutes ends, immediately set your timer for 5 minutes.

- Take a break!

- Even if you’re in the flow, get up. Move your body. Take a bio break.

- Don’t engage in conversation or start other tasks that will take longer than 5 minutes

When the timer ends, immediately set another timer for 25 and start again.

- Start again.

- Rinse and repeat!

- I like to carve out 2 hours and plow through 4 intervals in a row. And I’m always amazed at how much work I get done.

A few extra tips:

• Don’t use this time for research or anything where you need to hop around online or do ‘digital wandering.’

• This time is best used for hyper focus on writing projects, brainstorming, designing, studying, etc.

• Write down specifically what you’ll work on for each sprint session, so you know exactly what to do and not do.

• Keep a post-it and pen handy, and use them to jot down

  • a) any resistance or saboteurs that come up (ie. desire to get a snack mid flow, checking social media, looking for a photo when I’m supposed to be writing...)

  • b) random tasks that you need to attend to. Write them down so you don’t forget, but whatever you do, DO NOT abandon your task at hand to go respond to that text, answer that email, change the laundry, etc

I teach this technique in Spirit-Led Life Design—my signature planning framework—and I’ve also woven it into every co-working or group program session for the last few years. 

It is magic and if you use it correctly, it works wonders.

Give it a try and then let me know how it went!

In your corner (with my interval timer ticking away as we speak),

Ps. I bought this interval timer for my desk and I use it instead of using my phone. Less temptation to get sucked into all the things. More time to work on what matters most.